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THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

LIBRARY 

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ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 

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Genealogical  a^~ 
Biographical   Record 


of 


WILL  COUNTY 


ILLINOIS 


Containing  Biographies  of  Well   Known  Citizens  of  the 

Past  and   Present 


BIOGRAPHICAL    PUBLISHING    COMPANY 

CHICAGO 

1900 


5 


%r:        15 


PREFACE. 


A  MONG  the  counties  of  Illinois,  Will  County  occupies  a  foremost  rank.  From  the  earliest 
I  \  period  of  its  settlement  to  the  present  time,  its  citizens  have  been  progressive,  enterprising 
and  public  spirited.  They  have  not  only  developed  the  agricultural,  commercial  and  manu- 
facturing resources  of  the  county,  but  have  maintained  a  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs, 
have  been  liberal  contributors  to  movements  of  an  educational,  religious  and  philanthropic  nature, 
and  have  given  to  their  commonwealth  some  of  its  ablest  statesmen.  In  the  lives  of  the  citizens, 
indeed,  is  the  history  of  the  county  best  narrated;  and  those  who  read  the  following  pages  will 
become  acquainted  with  men  and  movements  inseparably  associated  with  the  county's  progress. 

In  the  preparation  for  the  data  of  this  work  a  number  of  writers  have  been  engaged  for  many 
months.  They  have  visited  leading  citizens  and  have  studied  local  history,  using  every  endeavor 
to  produce  a  work  accurate  and  trustworthy  in  even  the  smallest  detail.  Owing  to  the  great  care 
taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  to  the  fact  that  every  opportunity  was  given  to  those 
represented  to  insure  correctness  in  the  biographies,  the  publishers  believe  that  they  are  giving  to 
their  readers  a  volume  containing  few  errors  of  consequence.  The  biographies  of  some  representa- 
tive citizens  will  be  missed  from  the  work;  this  in  some  instances  was  caused  by  absence  from  home 
when  our  writers  called,  and  in  other  instances  was  caused  by  a  failure  on  the  part  of  the  men 
themselves  to  understand  the  scope  of  the  work.  The  publishers,  however,  have  done  everything 
within  their  power  to  make  the  volume  a  representative  biographical  work. 

The  value  of  the  data  herein  presented  will  grow  with  the  passing  years.  Posterity  will  pre- 
serve the  work  with  care,  from  the  fact  that  it  perpetuates  biographical  history  which  would 
otherwise  be  wholly  lost.  In  those  now  far-distant  days  will  be  realized,  to  a  greater  degree  than 
at  the  present  time,  the  truth  of  Macauley's  statement  that  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  in 

a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people." 

BIOGRAPHICAL  PUBLISHING  CO. 

1900.  Chicago. 


3 


93 1 i 93 


"  Let  the  record  be  made  of  the  men  and  things  of  to-day,  lest  they  pass 
out  of  memory  to-morrow  and  are  lost.  Then  perpetuate  them  not  upon  wood 
or  stone  that  crumble  to  dust,  but  upon  paper,  chronicled  in  picture  and  in 
words  that  endure  forever." — Kirkland. 


'rA 


^ 


"A  true  delineation  of  the  smallest  man  and  his  scene  of  pilgrimage 
through  life  is  capable  of  interesting  the  greatest  man.  All  men  are  to  an 
unspeakable  degree  brothers,  each  man's  life  a  strange  emblem  of  every  man's; 
and  human  portraits,  faithfully  drawn,  are,  of  all  pictures,  the  welcomest  on 
human  walls." — Thomas  Cariaxe. 


INTRODUCTORY 


n  IOGRAPHY  alone  can  justly  represent  the  progress  of  local  history  and  portray  with  accuracy 
V^\  the  relation  of  men  to  events.  It  is  the  only  means  of  perpetuating  the  lives  and  deeds  of 
\^J  those  men  to  whom  the  advancement  of  a  city  or  county  and  the  enlightenment  of  its  people 
are  due.  The  compilers  of  this  work  have  striven  to  honor,  not  only  men  of  present  prominence, 
but  also,  as  far  as  possible,  those  who  in  years  gone  by  labored  to  promote  the  welfare  of  their  com- 
munity. The  following  sketches  have  been  prepared  from  the  standpoint  of  no  man's  prejudice, 
but  with  an  impartial  aim  to  render  justice  to  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  and  to  collect 
personal  records  that  will  be  of  value  to  generations  yet  to  come. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind  from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten 
soon  enough,  in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest  efforts  of  their  friends  to  preserve  the 
memory  of  their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion  and  to  perpetuate  their  memory 
have  been  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed.  The  pyramids  of  Egypt  were 
built  to  perpetuate  the  names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhumations  made  by  the 
archaeologists  of  Egypt  from  buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  their  achievements.  The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  was  for  the  same  purpose. 
Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the  Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and 
monuments,  and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their  great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the 
ages.  It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling  up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but 
this  idea — to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All  these  works,  though  many  of  them 
costly  in  the  extreme,  give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  character  of  those  whose  memory  they 
were  intended  to  perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of  the  people  that  then  lived.  The 
great  pyramids  and  some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity;  the  mausoleums, 
monuments  and  statues  are  crumbling  into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelligent,  undecaying,  immutable  method  of 
perpetuating  a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  unlimited  in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its 
action;  and  this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  indebted  for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable 
system  of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though  he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world 
calls  greatness,  has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history,  through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all;  nothing  of  the  physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which 
his  children  or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  cemetery  will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass 
awav;  but  his  life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished,  which  otherwise  would  be 
forgotten,  is  perpetuated  by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we  engrave  their  portraits;  for  the  same  reason 
we  collect  the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we  think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only 
truth  of  them,  to  wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know  them  are  gone;  to  do  this  we 
are  ashamed  only  to  publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  lives  are  unworthy  of  public 
record. 


lib; 

OF       IE 
UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


HON.  GEORGE  H.  MUNROE. 


NON.  GEORGE  H.  MUNROE.  In  a  career 
honorable  alike  to  himself  and  the  city  long 
his  home,  Mr.  Munroe  has  displayed  those 
traits  of  character  without  which  success  is  im- 
possible. Few  citizens  have  done  more  than  he 
toward  the  development  of  Jolietand  particularly 
toward  the  improvement  of  Chicago  street,  the 
building  up  of  which  is  largely  due  to  his  efforts. 
From  the  time  he  reached  his  majority  to  the 
present  he  has  been  an  important  factor  in  Joliet's 
business  enterprises,  and  his  name  is  intimately 
associated  with  a  number  of  well-known  con- 
cerns, notable  among  these  being  the  Western 
Stone  Company,  of  which  he  is  vice-president 
and  a  large  stockholder;  also  the  Joliet  National 
Bank,  of  which  he  is  a  director  and  one  of  the 
largest  stockholders.  With  his  brother,  Edwin 
S.,  he  conducts  a  real-estate  and  mortgage,  bank- 
ing and  general  trust  company's  business,  and 
has  platted  numerous  additions  and  subdivisions, 
probably  twenty  in  all. 

Near  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Munroe  was  born, 
September  24,  1S44,  being  a  son  of  George  Mun- 
roe, whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page.  He 
was  five  years  of  age  when  the  family  settled  on 
a  farm  in  this  count}',  and  his  education  was  ob- 
tained mostly  in  the  public  schools  of  the  town  of 
Florence  and  in  private  schools  in  Wilmington 
and  Joliet.  From  an  early  age  he  showed  that 
he  possessed  great  energy  and  determination  of 
character,  and  while  still  a  mere  youth  he  filled 
the  position  of  deputy  sheriff  efficiently  for  a 
period  of  two  years.  In  the  year  1865  he  be- 
came connected  with  his  father,  George  Munroe, 
in  the  establishment  of  the  firm  of  G.  Munroe  & 
Son,  of  which  he  was  a  member  until  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1890  caused  its  dissolution.     It  is 


said  that  he  is  the  largest  holder  of  real  estate  in 
Joliet  to-day,  and  certainly  the  firm  of  Munroe 
Brothers  is  by  far  the  largest  teal-estate  firm  in 
the  city.  In  addition  to  his  other  interests  he 
has  had  the  two  most  important  receiverships  in 
the  county.  In  1868,  when  the  state  penitentiary 
changed  from  the  contract  system  to  state  ac- 
counts, he  was  appointed  receiver  of  the  Illinois 
Manufacturing  Company,  which  had  the  lease 
and  all  of  the  business  there  at  the  time.  He 
settled  the  affairs  of  the  company,  made  the  sale 
to  the  state,  and  divided  about  $250,000  net 
among  the  stockholders.  He  also  acted  as  re- 
ceiver of  the  Joliet  Enterprise  Company,  his 
management  .of  which  and  of  other  large  trusts 
added  to  his  already  high  reputation  as  a 
financier. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Munroe  is  connected  with 
Matteson  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  St.  John's 
Universalis:  Church,  of  whose  board  of  trustees 
he  was  for  many  years  the  president,  has  received 
the  benefit  of  his  practical  business  experience, 
and  he  was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  erection  of 
the  large  auditorium  on  the  corner  of  North  Chi- 
cago and  Clinton  streets.  He  assisted  in  organ- 
izing the  Joliet  Business  Men's  Association  and 
was  one  of  its  presidents.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Union  League  and  Marquette  Clubs  of 
Chicago  and  the  Stone  City  Club  of  Joliet.  His 
marriage,  in  this  city,  united  him  with  Miss  Eva 
Weeks,  only  daughter  of  Judge  Charles  H. 
Weeks.  Mrs.  Munroe  was  educated  at  Miss 
Skinner's  private  school  at  Naperville,  111.  She 
is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement  and  is  among 
the  leaders  of  society  in  this  city,  where  her  tact 
as  hostess  and  her  rare  qualities  of  head  and 
heart  have   secured   her   lifelong   friends.     The 


IS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  of  Senator  Munroe  have  been  brightened 
by  the  presence  of  two  children:  Esther,  now 
the  wife  of  Jesse  J.  Shuman,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  George  Fuller  Munroe. 

An}-  review  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Munroe  would  be 
incomplete  without  considerable  mention  of  his 
service  in  the  state  senate  and  his  devotion  to  the 
interests  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker  nor  a  politician,  in  the  or- 
dinary acceptance  of  that  word.  At  the  same 
time  he  is  an  ardent  Republican,  pronounced  in 
his  support  of  party  principles.  In  1894  he 
was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  succeeding  a 
Democrat  and  receiving  a  majority  of  more  than 
twent\--five  hundred,  the  Democratic  city  of  Joliet 
giving  him  a  majority  of  eleven  hundred.  In  the 
thirty-ninth  general  assembly  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  waterways  and  drainage, 
and  a  member  of  the  judiciary,  appropriations, 
canals  and  rivers,  farm  drainage,  mines  and  min- 
ing, fees  and  salaries,  printing,  state  library,  and 
arts  and  sciences  committees.  On  the  convening 
of  the  fortieth  general  assembly  he  was  again 
made  chairman  of  the  committee  on  waterways 
and  drainage,  in  which  capacity  he  secured  valu- 
able concessions  and  improvements  for  the  local 
interests  along  the  great  waterway  and  through 
the  Illinois  valley.  In  this  assembly  he  was  the 
second  member  on  the  Republican  steering  com- 
mittee, and  a  member  of  the  committee  appointed 
to  visit  state  educational  institutions.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  committees  on  railroads, 
finance,  revenue,  insurance,  penal  and  reform- 
atory institutions,  canals  and  rivers,  agriculture 
and  horticulture,  labor  and  manufacture,  county 
and  township  organization,  state  librar}-,  and 
arts  and  sciences.  Among  the  important  meas- 
ures which  were  secured  through  his  efforts  may 
be  mentioned  the  following:  a  bill  for  amending 
rights  of  eminent  domain,  compelling  corpora- 
tions to  pay  expenses  in  condemnation  cases, 
where  they  failed  to  take  the  property;  the  parole 
law;  an  amendment  to  the  general  banking  laws 
of  the  state,  throwing  greater  safeguards  around 
the  bank  for  the  benefit  of  its  depositors;  the 
amending  of  the  school  laws  of  Joliet,  increasing 


the  number  of  school  inspectors;  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  home  at  Wil- 
mington, this  county,  now  a  fine  and  thriving 
institution;  and  the  establishment  of  a  female 
prison  on  separate  grounds  from  those  of  the 
Illinois  state  penitentiary.  When  the  Humphrey 
bills  were  brought  before  the  senate  he  was  largely 
instrumental  in  creating  that  strong  public  senti- 
ment against  the  bills  which  made  their  ultimate 
success  impossible.  It  was  largely  due  to  his 
watchfulness  that  the  sanitary  drainage  district 
did  not  secure  a  single  change  in  their  interest 
from  the  original  bill;  two  tax  bills  only  were 
passed  permitting  the  trustees  to  tax  their  dis- 
trict for  more  funds  and  in  both  of  these  bills 
suitable  amendments  in  behalf  of  the  valley  peo- 
ple were  added,  one  for  the  necessary  amount  of 
water  and  the  other  requiring  swinging  bridges, 
thus  making  it  a  navigable  channel.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  as  senator  he  was  not  a 
candidate  for  re-election.  There  were  man}-  who 
desired  him  to  become  a  candidate  for  governor, 
but,  with  characteristic  unselfishness,  he  threw 
his  influence  toward  securing  another  Will  Coun- 
ty citizen,  Hon.  E.  C.  Akin,  as  nominee  for  at- 
torney-general. 

The  life  of  Senator  Munroe  furnishes  an 
example  worthy  of  emulation  by  the  young  men 
of  this  generation,  many  of  whom  have  occasion 
to  remember  his  fatherly  interest  in  their  per- 
sonal or  business  affairs.  To  those  who  study 
the  history  of  Joliet  in  the  years  to  come  his 
name  will  always  stand  out  pre-eminently  as  its 
most  public-spirited  citizen.  It  is  to  such  men  as 
he  that  Joliet  owes  its  present  prosperity.  When 
the  city  was  far  smaller  than  now  and  few  antici- 
pated its  steady  growth  and  development,  he  al- 
ways had  the  greatest  faith  in  its  future,  and  that 
firm  faith  was  never  shaken  by  times  of  financial 
depression.  It  has  been  a  privilege  to  witness 
the  realization  of  many  of  his  hopes,  although  in 
his  opinion  the  city  has  before  it  a  future  even 
greater  than  its  past.  To  promote  its  progress 
and  to  advance  the  interests  of  its  citizens  have 
formed  no  small  part  of  his  work  in  life,  and 
while  he  has  labored  quietly  and  unostentatiously, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


19 


he  has  labored  none  the  less  effectively  in  the 
promotion  of  enterprises  that  will  conserve  the 
permanent  welfare  of  the  city. 

Few  people  realize  the  true  value  of  a  thor- 
oughly honest  and  capable  public-spirited  citizen 
of  the  Munroe  type,  of  which  this  great  republic 
has  none  too  many.  Though  able  to  fill  any 
office  in  the  gift  of  the  people,  his  modesty  has 
been  a  bar  to  the  realization  of  ambitious  hopes. 
A  future  generation  will  fondly  look  on  the  por- 
traits of  such  men  and  study  their  character  in 
the  annals  of  local  history.  Then  the  unselfish 
work  of  Senator  Munroe  in  the  Republican  part}-, 
in  his  state  and  in  Joliet,  will  be  given  greater 
praise;  his  noble  effort  to  secure  a  home  for  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps  at  Wilmington  will  be 
better  understood,  and  his  conscientious  work  in 
the  affairs  of  the  drainage  canal  more  thoroughly 
appreciated,  and  will  then  be  given  unstinted 
praise. 


^EORGE  MUNROE.     The  genealogy  of  the 

□  Munroe  family  is  traced  back  to  the  year 
1050,  when  it  flourished  in  the  extreme 
north  of  Scotland.  Later  generations  removed  to 
Lanarkshire,  near  the  English  border.  During 
the  seventeenth  century  some  of  the  name  served 
in  the  army  of  the  ill-fated  Charles  I.  The  traits 
of  character  for  which  the  Scotch  are  noted  were 
noticeable  in  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
and  were  large  factors  in  his  business  success. 
He  was  born  in  Lanarkshire  April  4,  iS2i,  a  son 
of  Daniel  and  Jane  (Richmond)  Munroe.  His 
father,  who  was  a  woolen  manufacturer,  brought 
the  family  to  America  in  1827  and  settled  in 
Brownville,  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
followed  his  chosen  occupation.  At  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  Joliet  he  came  to  this  city 
and  acted  as  manager  of  the  woolen  mill  which 
at  that  time  stood  near  the  Jefferson  street  bridge. 
Later  he  improved  a  farm  in  Florence  Township, 
where  he  died  in  i860.  He  had  long  survived 
his  wife,  who  passed  away  in  Brownville  in  1829. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children:  George, 
Angus  and  Barbara. 


Having  learned  the  moulder's  trade,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  made  foreman  of  a  foundry 
in  Brownville.  In  1849  he  settled  in  Florence 
Township,  this  county,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1862  he  was  elected  sheriff,  which 
office  he  filled  for  one  term.  In  1865  he  and  his 
son,  George  H.,  embarked  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, and  they  continued  as  partners  until  his 
death.  For  ten  years  they  occupied  a  building 
on  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Chicago  streets, 
after  which  for  six  years  they  conducted  business 
in  the  Opera  House  building.  In  1884  they 
erected  the  first  large  building  on  Chicago  street, 
and  in  it  they  carried  on  a  very  large  and  suc- 
cessful wholesale  business;  this  building,  since 
remodeled,  is  now  the  Munroe  Hotel.  The  part- 
nership continued  until  the  death  of  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  in  1890. 

In  the  midst  of  his  important  business  interests 
Mr.  Munroe  nevertheless  kept  in  touch  with  local 
affairs  and  contributed  his  quota  to  the  advance- 
ment of  his  city.  As  alderman  and  school  trustee 
he  was  helpful  in  public  and  educational  matters, 
and  for  three  years  he  served  the  county  as  its 
treasurer,  being  first  chosen  to  fill  a  vacancy  in 
the  office  and  subsequently  elected  without  oppo- 
sition. Fraternally  he  was  a  Knight  Templar 
Mason.  He  aided  in  religious  movements  and 
was  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church,  in 
which  he  served  as  a  trustee.  In  his  character 
he  combined  those  qualities  of  heart  and  mind 
that  rendered  him  deservedly  popular  and  secured 
to  him  the  warm  friendship  of  his  associates. 
Beginning  for  himself  with  limited  means  he 
steadily,  by  perseverance  and  good  management, 
won  a  prominent  place  in  the  business  world, 
where  his  talents  were  recognized  and  appre- 
ciated. Methodical  and  exact  in  transactions, 
conservative  in  judgment,  and  careful  in  his 
decisions,  he  possessed  the  qualities  which  go  to 
make  success  in  the  world  of  commerce.  As  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  a  man  whose 
energies  were  devoted  to  the  development  of  its 
resources,  his  name  is  worthy  of  perpetuation  on 
the  pages  of  local  history. 

December  22,  1842,  Sarah  M.  Hentze  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Munroe.    She  was  born  in  Brown- 


20 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ville,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Charity 
(Gould)  Hentze.  Her  father,  who  was  born  in 
Rutland,  Vt.,  was  a  son  of  Henry  Hentze,  a 
Hessian  soldier  brought  by  England  to  America 
at  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war:  who,  later, 
being  in  sympathy  with  the  struggle  for  freedom, 
deserted  and  joined  the  Americans;  he  was  a 
descendant  of  a  large  landed  proprietor  of  Ger- 
many. The  father  of  Mrs.  Munroe  brought  his 
family  via  the  lakes  on  the  steamer  "Mayflower" 
to  Chicago,  where  Mr.  Munroe  met  them  with 
teams  and  brought  them  to  Wilmington.  In  1852 
he  and  his  son  George  went  overland  with  ox- 
teams  to  California,  where  he  engaged  in  mining 
until  his  death;  many  years  afterward  his  son 
came  back  to  Joliet.  Mrs.  Munroe  died  in  this 
city  in  1S95.  Of  her  five  children  all  but  one 
are  still  living.  The  eldest,  George  H.,  is  rep- 
resented 011  another  page.  Jennie  A.  is  the  wife 
of  Rev.  G.  R.  Van  Horn,  of  Rockford,  111.,  who 
is  a  prominent  minister  in  the  Rock  River  con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  B.  Hay  ward,  of 
Joliet:  and  Edwin  S.  is  a  partner  of  his  older 
brother  in  the  real-estate  business. 


NOX.  JOEL  A.  MATTESON,  governor  of 
Illinois  1853-56,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
County,  N.  Y.,  August  8,  1808.  When  a 
boy  he  was  employed  in  Prescott,  Canada.  His 
later  years  were  filled  with  varied  employments, 
teaching  school,  improving  a  farm,  working  on 
railroads  in  the  south,  visiting  the  gold  diggings 
of  northern  Georgia,  etc.  In  1833,  with  his  wife 
and  one  child,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  entered  a 
claim  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At  that 
time  there  were  only  three  or  four  houses  between 
his  place  and  Chicago.  In  1835  he  bought  largely 
at  the  government  land  sales,  but  the  following 
year  sold  his  land  and  settled  in  Joliet.  In  1838 
he  became  a  heavy  contractor  on  the  Illinois  and 


Michigan  canal,  which  contract  he  completed  in 
1S41.  One  of  his  next  ventures  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  woolen  mill  in  Joliet,  which,  with 
subsequent  enlargements,  became  an  enormous 
factory. 

His  connection  with  public  and  political  affairs 
began  in  1S42,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  state 
senate.  His  service  was  so  satisfactory  that  he 
was  twice  re-elected,  and  during  the  entire  time 
held  the  position  of  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
finance.  At  the  same  time  he  superintended  his 
woolen  mill  and  also  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor on  the  canal.  At  the  Democratic  state 
convention,  April  20,  1S52,  he  was  nominated  for 
governor.  At  the  election  he  received  a  good 
majority.  During  his  term  of  office  the  most  ex- 
citing occurrence  wTas  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
compromise  by  congress,  under  the  leadership  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  in  1854,  when  the  bill  was 
passed  organizing  the  territory  of  Kansas  and 
Nebraska.  Before  his  term  expired  the  Repub- 
licans were  fully  organized  as  a  party  and  in  1856 
put  into  the  field  a  ticket,  which  carried  the  state, 
but  not  the  nation.  The  legislature  of  1S55 
passed  two  important  bills,  the  present  free- 
school  system  and  the  submission  of  the  Maine 
liquor  law  to  the  vote  of  the  people.  The  latter 
was  defeated  by  a  small  majority  of  the  popular 
vote.  During  his  term  the  taxable  wealth  of  the 
state  was  trebled;  the  public  debt  reduced;  tax- 
ation reduced;  railroads  increased  in  mileage 
from  less  than  400  to  more  than  3,000;  and  the 
commerce  of  Chicago  quadrupled.  Upon  his 
retirement  from  office  Governor  Matteson  re- 
sumed the  management  of  his  extensive  business 
interests  in  Joliet.  He  did  much  toward  the  up- 
building of  this  city  and  gave  employment  to 
many  workmen.  Toward  those  in  need  he  was 
always  generous,  and  many  a  poor  man  has 
reason  to  remember  him  with  deepest  gratitude. 
Toward  the  close  of  his  life  he  relinquished,  to 
some  extent,  the  management  of  his  extensive  in- 
terests, but  he  continued  to  be,  in  old  age,  as  in 
early  life,  a  very  active,  busy  man.  He  died  in 
Chicago  during  the  winter  of  1872-73. 


OF        E 
UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


M!£/iM>idU 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


23 


MARTIN  C.  BISSELL. 


V  A  ARTIN  C.  BISSELL.     Through  a  life  that 

Y  was   prolonged   to   an   advanced  age    Mr. 
(9     Bissell  proved  himself  to  be  an  active  man 

of  affairs  and  a  successful  financier,  managing 
every  enterprise  that  he  undertook  in  such  a  way 
as  to  bring  it  to  a  fortunate  termination.  Having 
made  his  home  in  this  city  for  many  years  and 
owning  valuable  property  interests  in  this  locality , 
he  became  well  known  by  the  people  of  the  town, 
and  was  by  them  recognized  as  a  man  of  unusual 
force  of  character.  At  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  12,  1888,  a  portion  of  his  estate  was  left  to 
relatives  and  the  remainder  was  bequeathed  to 
the  Swedenborgian  Church,  of  whose  teachings 
he  was  an  ardent  supporter. 

The  Bissell  family  came  from  France  to  New 
England  in  an  early  day.  Noah  Bissell,  who 
was  a  Vermonter,  possessed  the  quality  of  divina- 
tion to  a  remarkable  degree  and  foretold  the  day 
and  hour  when  his  spirit  would  leave  its  earthly 
tenement  house.  Aaron,  a  son  of  Noah,  served 
in  the  war  of  1812  and  spent  his  early  life  near 
Rutland,  Vt.  From  there  he  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  Burlington,  the  same  state,  and  after 
the  war  of  18 12  settled  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y. 
His  son,  the  subject  of  this  article,  was  born  in 
Huntington,  Chittenden  County,  Vt.,  in  June, 
1802.  When  the  family  removed  to  New  York 
he  worked  on  a  farm  for  $4  a  month.  At  four- 
teen years  of  age  he  secured  employment  with  a 
farmer  in  Pompey,  Cayuga  County.  This  man, 
who  was  a  Presbyterian  of  the  old  school,  became 
convinced  that  the  boy  was  one  of  the  elect  and 
decided  to  educate  him  for  missionary  work,  so 
sent  him  to  a  Presbyterian  school  at  Homer. 
The  officers  of  the  school  concluded  to  take  the 
boy,  but  said  they  must  have  absolute  control  of 


him,  but  the  parents  refused  to  give  their  consent 
to  this,  so  Mr.  Bissell's  future  was  changed. 

Learning  the  mason's  trade  at  Lansing,  N.  Y., 
he  afterward  worked  at  Ithaca  and  on  the  Cham- 
plain  canal  locks,  and  was  foreman  in  the  con- 
struction of  masonry  at  Rochester.  While  work- 
ing on  the  canal  at  Elmira,  N.  Y. ,  he  married 
Miss  Eliza  Wells,  in  1826.  Later  he  had  a  con- 
tract for  masonry  on  the  Allegheny  canal  at 
Cuba,  Pa.  On  the  completion  of  that  work  he 
moved  to  Cass  County,  Mich.,  and  bought  a  farm, 
where  he  lived  for  three  years.  However,  agri- 
cultural pursuits  were  not  congenial,  and  he  re- 
turned to  contracting.  He  constructed  a  section 
of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  later  had  a 
contract  on  the  Illinois  Central,  meantime  mak- 
ing Blootnington,  111.,  his  home.  Later  he  had 
contracts  in  Iowa  and  Missouri.  The  year  1854 
found  him  a  resident  of  Joliet,  where  he  afterward 
made  his  headquarters,  although  his  business  in- 
terests required  his  almost  constant  presence  in 
other  places.  As  a  railroad  contractor  he  was 
successful.  Possessing  great  energy  and  force  of 
will,  he  was  fitted  for  the  work  of  superintending 
large  contracts  and  overseeing  a  corps  of  men. 
During  all  of  the  years  in  which  he  engaged  in 
railroad  contracting  he  had  many  experiences  in- 
cident to  life  upon  the  frontier,  in  the  midst  of 
primeval  surroundings.  He  never  forgot  his  ex- 
periences during  the  cholera  epidemic  in  1854, 
and  particularly  one  trip  that  he  made  by  canal 
boat  from  Pekin  to  Chicago,  when  half  of  the  men 
on  the  boat  died  of  that  dread  disease. 

Aside  from  his  contracting  business  Mr.  Bissell 
had  other  interests.  At  one  time  he  owned  a 
store  at  Niles,  Mich.,  which  was  managed  by 
Giles  Heath  with  flattering  success.     His  prop- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


erty  interests  were  valuable,  and  included  a  farm 
near  Chicago,  another  near  Cassopolis,  Mich., 
and  many  tracts  of  land  in  Illinois  and  Iowa,  be- 
sides a  large  amount  of  real  estate  in  and  near 
Joliet.  He  and  his  wife  were  childless,  and  on 
the  death  of  the  latter,  which  occurred  December 
30,  1889,  their  valuable  estate  was  inherited  by 
relatives  and  by  the  church  to  whose  doctrines 
they  had  long  adhered.  He  was  a  man  of 
original  ideas,  very  outspoken  in  the  expression 
of  his  opinion,  and  possessing  the  courage  of  his 
convictions.  At  a  time  when  the  principle  of 
abolition  was  very  unpopular  he  was  known  as  a 
"black  Abolitionist,"  which  in  the  minds  of  many 
was  next  to  being  a  "black  man."  He  did  not 
flinch  in  the  face  of  much  opposition.  He  stood 
beside  Frederick  Douglass  in  Young's  (now 
Werner's)  hall  in  Joliet  and  introduced  him  to  the 
audience  in  the  spirit  of  one  who  believes  all 
men  to  be  brothers.  Though  skeptical  in  busi- 
ness matters,  requiring  every  proposition  to  be 
submitted  to  the  severest  test,  in  religion  he  pre- 
sented a  phase  of  character  directly  opposite,  and 
accepted,  fully  and  completely,  the  transcendental 
teachings  of  the  New  Church,  in  which  faith  he 
lived  and  died. 


\A  ISS  FRANCES  M.  WEED.  The  family 
V  of  which  Miss  Weed  is  a  member  was 
(fj  founded  in  America  by  three  brothers  from 
England,  who  settled  in  Stamford,  Conn.  One 
of  these  was  her  grandfather,  Jonas,  who  served 
as  a  member  of  Washington's  body-guard  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  afterward  acci- 
dentally killed  in  Connecticut.  His  son,  Mun- 
son,  a  native  of  Stamford,  was  bound  to  a  trade 
in  youth,  but  being  of  an  adventurous  disposition 
the  confinement  of  his  work  was  irksome  to  him, 
and  he  ran  away  to  sea,  shipping  on  a  whaler 
engaged  in  the  whaling  business  on  the  Atlantic. 
Later  he  was  in  the  trans- Atlantic  and  West  India 
trade.  After  eleven  years  as  a  sailor  he  returned 
to  his  home.  Later  he  settled  in  Danby,  near 
Ithaca,  N.  V.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 


died  in  1867.  In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist.  He 
was  a  cousin  of  Thurlow  Weed,  whose  father, 
Hezekiah,  came  from  England  with  Jonas  Weed. 
The  mother  of  Munson  Weed  attained  a  great 
age,  lacking  only  a  few  days  of  one  hundred 
years  at  the  time  of  her  death.  She  was  related 
to  the  Wisners,  of  Orange  County,  N.  Y. ,  one 
of  whom  served  as  a  commissioned  officer  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  was  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Minisink.  Her  brother,  Usal  Knapp,  was  the 
last  survivor  of  the  famous  Washington  life 
guards.  When  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  the  service  as  water  boy  for  General 
Washington,  and  blacked  his  boots,  cared  for  his 
horses,  etc.  He  served  for  seven  years  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  For  forty  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  attended 
services  regularly,  even  when  he  had  rounded  a 
century  of  life.  He  was  a  man  of  hospitable  na- 
ture, and  those  who  stayed  beneath  his  roof 
never  forgot  his  large-hearted  hospitality;  his 
guests  always  found  their  boots  blacked  in  the 
morning,  and  in  many  other  ways  he  showed  a 
thoughtful  courtesy  and  kindness  toward  every 
visitor.  He  died  at  Little  Britain,  Orange 
Count)-,  when  one  hundred  and  four  years  of 
age.  His  was  the  largest  funeral  ever  known  in 
the  county.  He  was  buried  with  military  hon- 
ors, seven  military  companies  being  present,  and 
thirteen  cannon  were  fired  over  his  grave.  His 
body  was  interred  at  Washington's  headquarters, 
and  his  resting  place  is  marked  by  a  monument, 
erected  by  the  state,  and  bearing  the  inscription, 
"  The  last  of  the  bodyguard." 

The  marriage  of  Munson  Weed  united  him 
with  Miss  Polly  Bissell,  who  was  born  in  Rut- 
land, Vt.,  September  25,  1796,  and  settled  at 
Danby  in  1818.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Aaron 
and  Mary  Bissell,  and  a  sister  of  Martin  C.  Bis- 
sell, whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume.  Sur- 
viving her  husband  for  many  years,  she  passed 
away  April  6,  1S91,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four 
years,  six  months  and  eleven  days.  She  lived 
under  the  administration  of  every  president  of 
the  United  States  up  to  her  death.  She  distinctly 
remembered  having  heard  the  guns  at  the  battle 
of  Lake  Champlaiu.      Her  memory  remained  un- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


25 


impaired  until  death.  Of  her  ten  children  six 
are  living,  namely:  William,  of  West  Danby, 
N.  Y. ;  Harriet,  Mrs.  H.  N.  Bement,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania; Almira,  who  married  Alfred  Vose,  of 
Spencer,  N.  Y.;  Mary  E.,  who  married  D.  T. 
Fish,  late  of  Newfield,  N.  Y. ;  Edwin,  a  contrac- 
tor in  Ithaca,  N.  Y.;  and  Frances  M.  Not  a  lit- 
tle of  the  success  which  the  children  have  at- 
tained is  due  to  the  influence  of  their  mother, 
who  was  a  woman  of  remarkably  strong  charac- 
ter and  intelligence. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Danby,  N.  Y.,  and  the 
college  at  Naperville,  111.,  Miss  Weed  received 
an  excellent  education,  and  after  leaving  college 
she  was  engaged  in  educational  work  in  this 
county  for  a  number  of  years.  Of  a  benevolent 
disposition,  she  is  identified  with  the  Dorcas  So- 
ciety and  devotes  much  of  her  time  to  relieving 
the  wants  of  the  worthy  poor.  In  the  Ladies 
Order  of  Maccabees  she  holds  office  as  keeper 
of  records.  She  is  a  believer  in  the  teachings  of 
the  Swedenborgian  Church,  of  which  her  uncle, 
M.  C.  Bissell,  was  one  of  the  leading  members, 
and  to  which  he  contributed  much  of  his  fortune. 
She  maintains  an  intelligent  interest  in  public 
affairs  and  upholds  Republican  principles.  The 
management  of  her  property  interests  requires 
much  of  her  time  and  thought,  and  in  it  she  has 
displayed  business  ability  and  good  judgment. 
She  is  the  owner  of  four  acres  comprising  her 
homestead  at  No.  1502  Cass  street,  and  also  owns 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  near  Chicago,  on 
the  Wabash  Railroad,  and  within  a  few  rods  of 
the  feeder  for  the  canal. 


HON.  FREDERICK  WILKE,  chairman  of 
the  board  of  supervisors,  is  one  of  Will 
County's  best  known  citizens.  He  has 
been  one  of  the  property  owners  of  this  county 
since  1857,  when  he  visited  Illinois  and  purchased 
slightly  improved  land  lying  on  section  17, 
Washington  Township.  Three  years  later  he 
returned  to  the  county  and  established  his  home 


on  the  tract,  building  a  frame  house  on  the 
eight-acre  piece,  and  making  other  improvements 
that  added  to  its  value.  As  he  prospered  he 
added  to  his  farm  until  he  owned  three  hundred 
and  thirty-five  acres  on  sections  17  and  18.  Of 
this  he  afterward  gave  his  son  a  quarter  section, 
and  the  two  now  own,  together,  two  hundred  and 
seventy  acres  (fifteen  being  in  Indiana  just  across 
the  state  line).  They  have  brought  the  land  un- 
der first-class  improvement,  and  have  drained  it 
by  means  of  one  hundred  thousand  tile.  He  was 
a  pioneer  in  introducing  tiling,  and  paid  as  much 
as  $38  for  four-inch  tiles  that  now  sell  for  $12. 
The  idea  of  tiling  at  first  seemed  ludicrous  to 
his  acquaintances,  but  after  a  time  they  saw  the 
utility  of  it  and  became  interested  themselves. 
While  he  engaged  in  general  farming,  for  some 
years  his  specialty  was  the  dairy  business,  and 
he  had  on  his  place  a  number  of  full  blooded 
and  high-grade  Holsteins.  In  1889  he  left  his 
place  in  charge  of  his  son  and  moved  to  Beecher, 
where  he  carried  on  a  grain  business  for  a  short 
time,  and  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

Of  a  family  of  eight,  five  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  years,  Mr.  Wilke  was  third  in  order  of 
birth,  and  is  the  sole  survivor.  Four  of  the  fam- 
ily came  to  America,  of  whom  one  daughter  died 
in  Indiana,  another  in  Iroquois  County,  111., 
and  Christ,  who  came  to  America  in  1850,  died 
at  the  home  of  his  brother  Fred.  The  father, 
Herman  Wilke,  a  native  of  Westphalia,  Ger- 
many, was  pressed  into  the  Napoleonic  army  at 
the  time  of  the  march  to  Moscow,  and  was  one 
of  the  few  who  returned  from  that  ill-fated  expe- 
dition. From  that  time  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  he  died,  at  fifty-nine  years.  He  married 
Katherine  Waltmau,  who  was  born  in  West- 
phalia and  died  there  when  thirty-nine  years 
old. 

In  Westphalia,  where  he  was  born  March  17, 
1829,  our  subject  grew  to  ruanhood  on  his  fath- 
er's large  farm,  and  received  his  education  in 
German  schools  and  under  private  tutorship. 
The  death  of  his  father  put  an  end  to  his  classi- 
cal studies  and  forced  him  into  the  world  of 
commercial  activity.  After  working  for  an  uncle 
for  a  time,  in  1850  he  entered  the  Fifteenth  Reg- 


26 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iment  Infantry,  where  he  served  for  two  years 
and  became  a  non-commissioned  officer.  In 
1854  he  left  Bremen  on  a  sailing  vessel  that 
reached  New  York  City  after  a  voyage  of  six 
weeks,  and  from  there  he  proceeded  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  joining  his  brother  Christ.  From 
that  time  until  i860  he  was  employed  on  an  omni- 
bus line  in  that  city.  He  then  came  to  Illinois, 
and  has  since  been  identified  with  the  history  of 
Will  County,  as  farmer,  business  man  and  offi- 
cial. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Wilke  united  him 
with  Miss  Mary  Nuenker,  whom  he  had  known 
in  childhood.  She  died  at  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  Two  children  were  born  of  that  union, 
both  now  deceased,  Henry  having  died  in  child- 
hood in  Cincinnati,  while  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Scheiwe, 
died  in  1890,  leaving  three  children,  two  of 
whom  survive.  The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Wilke 
was  Christina  Brutlag,  who  was  born  in  West- 
phalia. The  only  child  of  this  union,  Herman 
F. ,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bidefeldt  & 
Wilke,  at  Beecher,  owners  of  a  large  lumber  and 
coal  business,  and  an  agricultural  implement 
store,  and  with  their  warehouses  on  the  Chicago 
&  Eastern  Illinois  road.  Twice  married,  by  his 
first  wife  he  had  a  son,  Frederick.  His  second 
wife  was  Sophie  Meier,  by  whom  he  has  eight 
children. 

From  1862  to  1864  Mr.  Wilke  was  assessor  of 
Washington  Township.  Later  he  was  collector. 
In  1870  he  was  elected  supervisor  without  oppo- 
sition and  continued  until  1884,  when  he  re- 
signed, but  after  a  year  and  four  months  he  was 
again    elected   without  solicitation  on    his  part. 


From  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  continued 
in  the  office,  which  he  has  held  for  a  longer  pe- 
riod than  any  other  supervisor  in  the  entire 
state;  and  it  may  be  added  that,  in  all  the  time 
since  1870,  he  has  had  opposition  only  two  times. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  various  committees, 
and  has  worked  in  the  interest  of  all  public  build- 
ings that  have  been  erected,  being  a  member  of 
the  committees  that  built  the  court  house,  im- 
proved the  poor  farm,  put  up  the  residence  on 
that  farm,  and  remodeled  the  sheriff's  residence 
and  jail.  In  1899  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  without  opposition,  and 
by  virtue  of  this  office  he  is  also  chairman  of  the 
board  of  review,  the  first  board  in  the  county  un- 
der the  new  law.  In  1888,  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  leading 
the  ticket  by  three  hundred  majority.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1890,  and  again  in  1892  he  received 
a  large  majority.  In  the  various  bills  that  were 
brought  up  before  the  legislature  he  took  an  ac- 
tive interest,  favoring  movements  in  the  interests 
of  his  constituents  and  the  public  at  large.  As  a 
committee  member,  his  record  was  unexcelled  for 
faithfulness  and  intelligence.  After  three  terms 
of  service  he  retired,  refusing  further  nomination 
for  the  office.  Since  1890  he  has  been  school 
treasurer  of  Washington  Township,  and  he 
handles  and  is  responsible  for  the  township's 
school  fund  of  $11,500.  Religiously  he  is  a 
Lutheran.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  Eagle  Lake  Church,  being  chairman 
of  the  building  committee,  and  he  still  holds  his 
membership  with  this  congregation,  of  which 
for  years  he  was  the  treasurer. 


OF    1  IE 
UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


^^    ^Wz^T^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


29 


GEORGE  H.  WOODRUFF. 


(£J  FORGE  H.  WOODRUFF.  In  the  annals 
I—  of  Will  County  no  name  is  entitled  to  more 
\Jl  lasting  remembrance  than  that  of  Mr.  Wood- 
ruff, who  was  one  of  its  pioneers  and  is  well 
known  as  its  historian.  A  fluent  writer,  he  put 
in  permanent  form,  for  the  benefit  of  future  gen- 
erations, many  incidents  connected  with  the  early 
history  of  the  county  and  its  brave  pioneers. 
Among  his  works  are  "History  of  the  Black 
Hawk  War;"  "Patriotism  of  Will  County,"  a 
record  of  the  men  from  here  who  took  part  in  the 
war  with  the  south;  "Will  County  on  the  Pacific 
Slopes,"  which  gave  sketches  of  the  men  who 
went  to  California  during  the  gold  excitement 
of  1849-51;  and  "Woodruff's  History  of  Will 
County." 

The  first  home  of  the  Woodruff  family  in  Amer- 
ica was  in  Connecticut,  and  later  generations 
lived  in  New  York.  In  the  latter  state  Theor 
Woodruff  was  born  and  spent  much  of  his  life, 
engaging  in  business  as  a  manufacturer  of  scythes 
and  edged  tools,  but  at  an  advanced  age  he  came 
to  this  county,  joining  his  son  in  Joliet,  and  re- 
maining here  until  his  death.  His  son,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Clinton,  N.  Y., 
August  16,  1 8 14,  and  wras  one  of  three  children, 
of  whom  the  other  son  died  in  boyhood,  and  the 
daughter,  Adele,  wife  of  M.  H.  Demtnond,  died 
in  New  York.  George  H.  was  educated  in  Ham- 
ilton College,  at  Clinton,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated at  eighteen  years.  In  the  summer  of  1S34 
he  came  to  Joliet  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Demmond,  for  whom  he  clerked  in  the  general 
mercantile  business.  Prior  to  1840  he  established 
the  Pioneer  drug  store  on  Bluff,  between  Ex- 
change street  and  Western  avenue,  and  afterward 
2 


for  many  years  had  his  place  of  business  at  the 
corner  of  Bluff  and  Exchange,  continuing  there 
until  his  death.  He  was  the  first  circuit  clerk 
and  recorder  of  the  county,  and  also  held  the 
office  of  county  judge  at  onetime.  He  assisted 
in  the  organization  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  and  long  held  office  as  its  treasurer.  A 
stanch  believer  in  Republican  principles,  he  voted 
with  that  party  after  its  organization.  After 
having  been  in  poor  health  for  three  years  he 
died  November  1,  1890,  fifty-six  years  after  his 
arrival  in  the  then  frontier  town  of  Joliet. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Woodruff,  Hannah 
(Lucas)  Woodruff,  was  born  in  New  York  and 
died  in  Joliet,  leaving  a  son,  Henry  Theor  Wood- 
ruff, and  two  daughters,  Annie  Mary,  a  teacher 
in  Marion,  Ala.,  and  Julia  H.,  a  teacher  in  the 
Joliet  high  school.  The  sou  graduated  in  medi- 
cine in  Chicago  and  is  now  practicing  his  profes- 
sion in  Harvard,  111.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
was  surgeon  of  the  One  Hundredth  Illinois  In- 
fantry and  remained  at  the  front  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  when 
he  was  imprisoned  in  Libby.  Mr.  Woodruff's 
last  marriage  united  him,  in  Joliet,  in  1857,  with 
Mrs.  Achsah  (Wheeler)  Perkins,  who  was  born 
in  Berkshire,  Mass.,  and  died  in  Joliet.  Her 
father,  Harry  Wheeler,  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Late  in  life  he 
moved  west  to  Illinois  and  established  a  lumber 
and  nursery  business  in  Aurora,  from  which  city 
he  came  to  Joliet,  and  died  here  at  the  age  of 
ninety-two.  His  father,  Benjamin  Wheeler,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  legislature;  the  latter's  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Achsah  Johnson.     The 


3Q 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mother  of  Mrs.  Woodruff  was  Clarissa,  daughter 
of  Elisha  and  Alice  (Freeman)  Harmau,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Berkshire  Coun- 
ty, Mass.,  and  a  lifelong  resident  there.  Mrs. 
Woodruff  was  one  of  three  children ,  having  two 
brothers:  Henry,  who  died  in  Aurora;  and  Mark 
H.,  who  served  in  a  Connecticut  regiment  during 
the  Civil  war  until  he  was  killed  in  the  storming 
of  Port  Hudson.  When  a  girl  Mrs.  Woodruff 
was  a  student  at  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary,  grad- 
uating in  1S48.  Soon  afterward  she  became  the 
wife  of  Dr.  John  P.  Perkins,  a  graduate  of  the 
Albany  Medical  College.  They  came  to  Joliet 
in  1856,  and  the  doctor  died  in  this  city  while 
still  a  young  man.  Afterward  Mrs.  Perkins  was 
married  to  Mr.  Woodruff,  by  whom  she  had  two 
sons,  namely:  George  F.,  who  is  a  chemist  in 
Chicago  and  makes  his  home  in  West  Grossdale; 
and  Harry  Wheeler,  whose  sketch  follows  this. 

We  cannot  more  appropriately  close  this  mem- 
oir thin  with  the  presentation  of  "Israel's  Pray- 
er," by  Mr.  Woodruff,  as  it  appears  in  "Bitter 
Sweet:" 

Our  father's  God!     To  Thee  we  come  once  more, 

With  united  voice  and  heart,  to  offer 

Thanks  and  prayer.     Thanks  for  the  past,  whether 

Of  good,  or  seeming  ill.     Thanks  that  we  meet 

Once  more  beneath  the  old  roof  !     Our  Father! 

Forgive  our  sin,  for  sin  is  ours,  we  dare 

Not  lay  it  at  Thy  door!     Our  Father,  give 

Us  humility!     May  we  not  presume 

To  comprehend  Thee  or  Thy  way  so  full 

Of  mystery!     We  only  ask  light  enough 

To  guide  us  to  Thee!     We  ask  strength  that 

May  overcome  our  weakness  and  resist 

Temptation,  and  strong  grow  in  virtue. 

Give  us  faith!     Faith  in  Thyself  and  in  Thy 

Wisdom,  power  and  love  and  holiness, 

And  in  Thy  purposes  of  good  to  man. 

Father,  in  Thy  Son,  and  in  His  sacrifice; 

Father  in  heaven  and  in  joy  eternal 

In  store  for  all  who  Thy  dear  Son  accept. 

Give  us  love!     Love  supreme  and  reverent 

To  Thyself  ! — to  each  other  tender  and 

Patient,  and  to  the  world,  outside  Thy  fold, 

Pitiful  and  helpful. 

And  now  once  more 
We  lie  down  to  sleep,  safe  under  Thy  wing. 
May  we  wake  rested  and  with  thankful  heart! 
And  when  we  take  our  last  deep  sleep  may  we  wake 
In  heaven!     We  ask  all  in  Christ's  dear  name.    Amen! 


HARRY  W.  WOODRUFF,  M.  D.  There  is 
no  branch  of  the  medical  science  requiring 
greater  skill  or  more  thorough  knowledge 
of  its  intricacies  than  that  which  relates  to  dis- 
eases of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  In  an 
intimate  knowledge  of  these  specialties  Dr.  Wood- 
ruff has  few  equals  among  physicians  of  his  own 
age  and  few  superiors  even  among  those  of  greater 
experience  than  his  own.  He  has  confined  his 
practice  exclusively  to  the  treatment  of  these  dis- 
eases, believing  that  in  the  present  development 
of  therapeutics  he  is  most  successful  who  devotes 
himself  exclusively  to  one  of  its  departments. 
Since  1893  ^e  ^as  engaged  in  practice  in  Joliet, 
where  he  has  his  office  in  the  Auditorium.  Dur- 
ing all  of  this  time  he  has  also  acted  as  surgeon 
to  the  Illinois  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary  in  Chicago. 
In  1897  he  was  appointed  a  professor  in  the  Chi- 
cago Eye,  Ear,  Nose  and  Throat  College,  and 
has  since  filled  one  of  the  important  chairs  in  that 
institution,  for  this  purpose  making  bi-weekly 
trips  to  Chicago. 

In  Joliet,  where  he  was  born  February  iS. 
1868,  Dr.  Woodruff  grew  to  manhood,  attending 
the  public  schools  and  graduating  from  the  high 
school  in  1886.  His  home  was  one  of  culture, 
and  from  his  earliest  recollections  he  had  the 
advantage  of  refined  surroundings,  his  father, 
George  H.  Woodruff,  being  a  man  of  literary 
tastes,  while  his  mother  was  also  well  educated 
and  cultured.  At  an  early  age  he  began  to  assist 
his  father  in  the  drug  business  and  in  this  way 
first  became  interested  in  the  medical  profession. 
Desiring  to  gain  a  complete  knowledge  both  of 
pharmacy  and  medicine,  he  studied  both  under 
competent  instructors,  graduating  from  the  Chi- 
cago College  of  Pharmacy  in  1S89,  with  the  de- 
gree of  Ph.  G. ,  and  from  the  Chicago  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  1892,  with  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  In  a  competitive  examination  he  was 
appointed  resident  surgeon  to  the  Illinois  Char- 
itable Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary,  where  he  remained 
for  one  year,  but  has  continued  to  be  connected 
with  the  institution  as  a  surgeon  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Every  matter  of  vital  interest  to  his 
profession  receives  his  consideration.  He  has 
been  a  contributor  to  medical  journals,   his  arti- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3i 


cles  usually  bearing  upon  some  theme  that  is 
connected  with  his  specialties.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Chicago  Ophthalmological  Association, and 
is  also  connected  with  the  American,  Illinois  State 
and  Will  County  Medical  Societies,  the  last-named 
of  which  has  honored  him  by  election  to  its  pres- 
idency. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Woodruff,  in  Deerfield, 
N.  Y.,  united  him  with  Miss  Jennie  Coventry, 
who  was  born  in  La  Salle  County,  111.,  and  re- 
ceived her  education  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  the 
Houghton  Seminary  at  Clinton,  N.  Y.  The  two 
sons  born  of  their  marriage  are  George  H.  and 
Robert  C,  who  are  namesakes  of  their  grand- 
fathers. The  family  attend  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  with  which  the  doctor  has  been 
identified  from  boyhood. 


ROYAL  E.  BARBER,  a  resident  of  this  coun- 
ty since  1832,  represents  the  seventh  gener- 
ation of  his  branch  of  the  Barber  family  in 
America,  the  first  of  his  ancestors  in  this  country 
being  Matthew,  who  in  1634  came  from  England 
to  Connecticut.  From  Connecticut  Daniel  Bar- 
ber, with  others,  removed  to  Benson,  Rutland 
County,  Vt.,  about  1780,  and  there  followed  farm 
pursuits.  His  son,  John,  father  of  Royal  E., 
was  born  in  Benson  in  1796,  and  during  the  war 
of  18 1 2  was  one  of  the  volunteers  who  marched 
to  Plattsburg  to  defend  that  city  against  the  Brit- 
ish; however,  his  company  did  not  reach  the 
place  until  after  the  battle  had  been  fought. 
Later  he  served  as  captain  of  the  military  com- 
pany in  his  native  town.  He  married  Emma 
Perry,  who  was  born  of  English  descent  in  Or- 
well, Rutland  County,  Vt. ,  and  was  a  cousin  of 
Commodore  Oliver  H.  Perry.  They  became  the 
parents  of  six  children  who  attained  maturity, 
three  of  whom  are  now  living. 

In  1831  a  party  of  men  from  Rutland  County 
came  west  and  the  reports  they  sent  back  were  so 
encouraging  that  John  Barber  decided  to  seek  a 
home  in  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1S32,  accom- 
panied by  his  family  and  others,  he  started  on  the 


long  journey,  traveling  by  packet  from  Whitehall 
to  Buffalo,  which  took  a  week.  From  there  the 
steamer  "Henry  Clay"  took  them  in  two  days  to 
Detroit,  where  they  boarded  the  schooner  "Aus- 
terlitz"  for  Chicago,  arriving  a  week  later.  The 
schooner  anchored  three  miles  from  land,  owing 
to  a  sand  bar  that  rendered  further  progress  im- 
possible. Passengers  and  freight  were  taken 
ashore  iu  boats,  which,  being  small,  stuck  to  the 
sand  bars,  but  were  pushed  out  by  the  sailors. 
The  passengers  landed  in  the  Chicago  River,  at 
the  foot  of  Wabash  avenue.  At  that  time  Fort 
Dearborn  was  enclosed  by  a  few  stockades.  The 
only  frame  building  in  the  place  had  been  built 
by  J.  H.  Kinzie,  of  lumber  which  he  hauled  from 
Walker's  Grove  (now  Plainfield,  this  county). 
Mr.  Barber  was  offered  by  a  real  estate  agent  a 
lot  on  Lake  street,  85x200,  for  $50,  but  ridiculed 
the  idea  of  "sinking  $50  in  a  mud  hole."  Get- 
ting a  team,  which  forded  the  South  branch  of 
the  river  a  little  south  of  the  junction  of  the 
branches,  he  proceeded  to  Naperville,  where 
some  acquaintances  had  settled.  He  selected 
farm  land  at  what  was  later  known  as  Barber's 
Corners,  this  county,  and  in  February,  1833, 
moved  his  family  into  a  log  house.  The  sur- 
roundings were  primitive.  For  main-  years  oxen 
were  used  iu  ploughing.  At  that  time  the  whole 
country  was  an  open  stretch  of  prairie,  with  the 
exception  of  a  grove  here  and  there  and  generally 
skirting  a  water  stream.  The  only  building  in 
Joliet  was  a  log  house  below  what  is  now  the 
corner  of  Exchange  and  Bluff  streets.  Through 
exposure  in  the  cold  winter,  when  engaged  in 
getting  out  rails  for  his  fences,  Mr.  Barber  con- 
tracted rheumatism,  from  which  he  suffered  al- 
most constantly  during  his  later  years.  His  wife 
died  May  1,  1874,  and  three  years  later  he  passed 
away. 

Much  of  the  work  of  developing  and  improving 
this  part  of  Illinois  had  been  witnessed  by  Mr. 
Barber.  About  three  years  after  he  came  here 
the  canal  was  first  begun  by  the  state.  It  was 
operated  under  contract  for  two  years,  when,  the 
funds  being  exhausted,  the  work  stopped.  In 
1845  the  state  succeeded  in  making  a  loan  of  a 
large  sum  in   England  and   thereupon  resumed 


32 


GENEALOGICAL  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


work,  with  some  changes  from  the  original 
plaus.  When  the  canal  authorities  were  arrang- 
ing the  route  of  the  canal  they  asked  the  proprie- 
tor of  West  Joliet  to  give  them  a  certain  block  of 
land  for  their  headquarters,  and  promised  in  re- 
turn to  give  their  influence  to  aid  the  then  new 
town,  but  the  proprietor  refused.  Upon  that, 
they  laid  out  what  is  now  Lockport,  which  at 
first  was  a  rival  to  Joliet,  the  authorities  doing 
all  in  their  power  to  foster  their  own  town,  which 
indeed  for  a  time  seemed  to  have  the  advantage; 
but  when  in  1852  the  Rock  Island  Railroad  en- 
tered Joliet,  the  town  took  on  new  life  and  in  two 
years  had  left  Lockport  far  in  the  rear.  The  ca- 
nal was  completed  and  opened  in  1847. 

Born  in  Benson,  Vt.,  August  3,  1822,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  ten  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  the  toilsome  journey 
to  the  west.  In  those  days  schools  were  few  and 
consequently  his  advantages  were  meager.  In 
the  spring  of  1833  he  began  to  break  prairie 
land,  using  five  yoke  of  oxen.  From  the  time 
he  was  sixteen  he  taught  school  in  the  winters 
and  farmed  in  the  summer  months.  However, 
he  found  farm  work  (which  was  then  all  done  by 
hand)  too  hard  upon  him,  and  the  recurrence  of 
chills  and  fever  at  each  harvest  season  led  him  to 
determine  to  seek  another  occupation.  When  he 
came  to  Joliet  in  1S45  he  was  the  owner  of  an 
eighty-acre  farm  which  his  energy  and  industry 
had  secured  for  him.  For  several  years  he  was 
employed  as  deputy  in  the  offices  of  the  circuit 
and  county  clerk,  then  known  as  the  county  com- 
missioner's court.  Meantime  he  studied  law 
aud  in  1847  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  be- 
gan to  practice  in  this  circuit,  which  included  all 
the  territory  from  Iroquois  to  Winnebago  Coun- 
ties inclusive.  Judge  Henderson  at  that  time 
presided  over  the  circuit  court,  and  was  one  of 
probably  six  or  seven  circuit  judges  in  Illinois. 
Later,  with  the  increase  of  population,  the  size  of 
the  circuits  was  lessened.  He  has  continued  in 
practice  from  that  time  to  this  and  is  now  the  old- 
est attorney  of  Joliet. 

In  1848  a  circuit  clerk  was  elected  who  was  a 
farmer  and  unfamiliar  with  legal  business.  At 
his  request  Mr.  Barber  took  up  the  duties  of  dep- 


uty, having  practically  the  entire  charge  of  the 
office  for  three  years.  In  1852  he  was  elected 
circuit  clerk,  filling  the  position  for  four  years, 
during  which  time  he  originated  and  compiled  a 
set  of  abstract  books,  giving  the  title  to  real  es- 
tate in  the  county.  Upon  his  retirement  from 
the  clerk's  office  he  resumed  practice  and  during 
the  time  of  his  clerkship  had  charge  of  the  coun- 
ty records.  More  than  ten  years  ago  he  became 
interested  in  a  case  relating  to  the  distribution  of 
property  where  one  child  remains  at  home  during 
the  long  life  of  the  parents  and  the  others  leave 
in  earl}-  life  to  make  their  way  independently  in 
the  world.  It  had  been  the  practice  that  no  dis- 
tinction was  made  in  the  settlement  of  the  prop- 
erty, all  heirs  receiving  the  same;  but  an  instance 
of  this  kind  came  to  practice,  where  a  daughter 
remained  with  her  parents,  the  other  children 
leaving.  When  the  father  died  at  an  advanced 
age  the  other  children  wanted  an  equal  share  of 
the  property.  All  that  saved  the  property  to  the 
daughter  was  the  fact  that  the  father  stated,  in 
the  presence  of  neighbors,  that  he  had  given  the 
homestead  to  this  daughter.  Mr.  Barber  brought 
a  bill  in  equity,  claiming  the  title  to  the  home- 
stead in  return  for  the  daughter's  services;  but, 
although  he  proved  all  the  details  in  the  bill,  the 
judge  followed  established  precedents  and  dis- 
missed the  bill.  Mr.  Barber  then  appealed  to  the 
supreme  court,  by  whom  the  decision  of  the  lower 
court  was  reversed,  and  the  title  given  to  the 
daughter.  In  this  way  a  precedent  was  estab- 
lished that  has  since  been  followed. 

Mr.  Barber  laid  out  several  subdivisions  of 
Joliet,  and  in  1887-88  erected  the  Barber  build- 
ing, which  is  still  one  of  the  finest  office  buildings 
in  the  city.  It  was  the  first  structure  that  devi- 
ated from  the  ordinary  old-fashioned  style  of 
architecture,  with  square  buildings  and  plain 
walls,  and  it  has  since  been  a  pattern  for  other 
private  and  public  buildings.  On  the  Citizens' 
ticket  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Joliet  in  1876. 
For  nine  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  of  which  he  served  as  clerk.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  State  Bar  Association.  In  Cen- 
tral Presbyterian  Church  he  is  a  ruling  elder,  has 
served  as  a  trustee  and  for  many  years  was  Sun- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


33 


day-school  superintendent.  In  1849  ne  al]d  his 
wife  began  housekeeping  in  an  old  frame  house, 
but  later  he  erected  a  commodious  stone  residence 
that  has  since  afforded  the  family  a  comfortable 
home.  While  he  has  been  engrossed  by  profes- 
sional work  and  his  duties  of  citizenship,  he  has 
found  leisure  for  recreation  and  travel.  In  1896, 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  daughter  Emma,  he 
made  a  tour  of  Europe,  Egypt,  the  Holy  Land 
and  Asia  Minor,  spending  considerable  time  in 
Turkey,  Italy,  Greece,  Switzerland,  France  and 
Great  Britain,  and  after  a  trip  of  eight  months  re- 
turned home  on  the  "Paris." 

In  Joliet,  in  1849,  Mr.  Barber  married  Ellen 
Elizabeth  Crowley,  who  died  of  cholera  the  next 
year.  In  1854,  in  Rome,  N.Y.,  he  married  Miss 
Frances  Cornelia  House,  who  was  born  in  that 
city.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children  now 
living.  The  eldest,  Alice  Stillman  Barber,  a 
graduate  of  Houghton  Seminary,  New  York,  was 
appointed  a  missionary  of  the  Presbyterian  board 
at  Beirut,  Syria,  in  1885,  and  has  since  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  her  chosen  work  in  that 
place.  Edward  M.,  the  older  son,  graduated 
from  Hamilton  College,  in  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
now  in  Utica,  that  state  William  C. ,  also  a  grad- 
uate of  Hamilton  College,  has  charge  of  the  ab- 
stract of  titles  and  other  lines  of  business  in  Joliet. 
Emma  F. ,  a  graduate  of  Houghton  Seminary,  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Beckwith,  of  Joliet. 


IILLIAM  C.  BARBER,  A.  B.  By  reason 
of  his  ability  as  a  financier,  Mr.  Barber 
has  been  brought  into  prominence  among 
the  business  men  of  Joliet.  He  is  one  of  the  na- 
tive born  citizens  of  Joliet,  a  son  of  Royal  E. 
Barber,  who  for  so  many  years  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  the  city.  Here  he  was 
born  February  25,  1863,  and  in  the  public  schools 
he.laid  the  foundation  of  his  education.  After 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  18S0,  he  ma- 
triculated in  Hamilton  College  at  Clinton,  N.  Y., 


and  completed  the  course  of  study  in  that  insti- 
tution, from  which  he  graduated  in  1884,  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B. 

Returning  to  Joliet,  Mr.  Barber  became  inter- 
ested in  the  abstract  business,  in  which  he  has 
since  engaged.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1889,  he 
succeeded  to  the  business  which  had  been  estab- 
lished by  his  father  in  June,  1857,  and  which 
antedates  any  similar  enterprise  by  fourteen 
years,  being  the  oldest  office  in  the  county.  In 
the  building  erected  by  his  father  he  has  since 
had  his  office.  At  the  same  time  he  acts  as 
agent  for  the  Barber  building.  He  superintended 
the  construction  and  has  charge  of  the  electric 
light  plant  which  furnishes  light  and  power  for 
this  building,  as  well  as  some  adjoining. 

Perhaps  Mr.  Barber  is  best  known  through  his 
connection  with  the  liquidation  of  various  loan 
and  building  associations.  He  was  appointed 
liquidator  of  the  Borrowers  and  Investors  Build- 
ing Association,  the  Second  (formerly  Peoria) 
Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  the  Wauke- 
gan  Borrowers  and  Investors  Building  Associa- 
tion, all  of  Joliet,  with  assets  aggregating  $300,- 
000.  This  is  the  first  instance  on  record  where 
such  affairs  have  been  closed  up  in  this  way,  and 
it  is  proving  more  economical  for  the  sharehold- 
ers than  the  method  heretofore  followed.  The 
quarterly  statements  issued  by  the  liquidator  are 
models  of  accuracy,  conciseness  and  clearness, 
and  the  manner  in  which  he  is  conducting  affairs 
is  proving  most  satisfactory  to  those  concerned. 

Since  1887  Mr.  Barber  has  been  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  Joliet  public  library. 
From  that  time  until  1896  he  held  the  office  of 
clerk  of  the  board,  but  resigned  the  clerical  posi- 
tion in  the  latter  year.  In  the  work  of  Central 
Presbyterian  Church  he  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest, and  has  served  as  trustee  of  the  church 
and  treasurer  of  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Stone  City  Union  Club, 
in  whose  activities  he  has  been  a  potent  factor. 
While  he  has  never  sought  prominence  in  politics 
nor  positions  of  responsibility  in  the  gift  of  the  peo- 
ple, he  has  always  had  strong  opinions  concerning 
public  questions,  and  has  actively  supported  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party.      He 


34 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  married  in  this  city  in  1889,  his  wife  being 
Margaret  A.  Spangler,  daughter  of  Ezra  L.  and 
Agnes  M.  (Love)  Spangler.  She  was  educated 
in  Joliet  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  high  school. 
The  two  children  born  of  their  union  are  Ruth 
and  Ralph. 


STEPHEN  GLIDDEN  was  one  of  the  best 
?\  known  men  in  Chaunahou  Township.  When 
\yj  he  came  here  in  1S4S  he  was  a  young  man 
with  all  the  eager  determination  and  enthusiasm 
of  youth.  The  privations  of  pioneer  life  did  not 
discourage  him  nor  its  hardships  daunt;  he 
worked  his  way  steadily  forward,  leading  a  busy, 
useful  existence,  and  by  industry  and  frugality 
accumulating  a  valuable  property.  At  the  same 
time  he  gained  the  esteem  of  all  acquaintances. 
He  saw  many  changes  during  the  long  period  of 
his  residence  in  the  same  locality.  Almost  all  of 
the  heads  of  families  who  were  his  neighbors 
fifty  years  ago  (for  in  those  daj-s  people  were 
called  neighbors  even  though  they  lived  many 
miles  apart)  have  now  passed  to  that  land  whence 
no  traveler  returns.  His  farm  stands  in  the 
midst  of  a  thriving  and  populous  farming  com- 
munity that  sprang  into  existence  during  the 
years  he  made  his  home  here,  replacing  surround- 
ings that  had  all  the  aspect  of  a  wilderness  just 
opening  to  civilization.  On  his  farm  of  nine 
hundred  acres  is  one  of  the  imposing  country 
dwellings  of  the  township,  a  house  built  in  1S78 
and  conveniently  arranged  and  tastefully  fur- 
nished. Here  he  spent  the  afternoon  of  his  life 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  his  earlier 
labors  made  possible,  and  here  he  died  January  4, 
1900. 

In  Unity,  Cheshire  County,  N.  H.,  Mr.  Glidden 
was  born  September  15,  1820,  a  son  of  Levi  and 
Sarah  (Glidden)  Glidden.  He  and  his  sister, 
Margaret,  the  widow  of  Ransler  Jenkins,  of  Ma- 
quoketa,  Iowa,  are  the  sole  survivors  of  a  family 
of  eleven.  His  father,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  Unity,  removed  from  there  to  New  York  in  1821 


and  settled  at  Crown  Point,  Essex  County,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same 
place  as  himself,  had  a  brother,  Thomas,  who 
served  in  the  war  of  1S12  ;  shortly  after  the 
battle  of  Plattsburg,  as  the  troops  were  returning 
home,  he  and  some  comrades  stopped  at  an 
orchard  to  get  some  apples,  for  they  had  been  on 
scant  rations  for  weeks  and  were  almost  starved. 
The  owner  of  the  orchard,  incensed  at  the  act, 
shot  him  and  wounded  him  severely.  Levi 
Glidden's  father  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 

When  fifteen  years  of  age  our  subject  went  to 
Vermont  to  live  with  a  brother-in-law,  with  the 
intention  of  remaining  there  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  but  he  soon  became  dissatisfied  and 
made  up  his  mind  to  settle  in  the  west.  It  was, 
however,  impossible  for  him  to  come  to  Illinois 
immediately.  When  he  was  nineteen  he  returned 
to  Crown  Point,  where  he  continued  until  his 
father's  death.  September  3,  1848,  he  arrived  in 
Joliet,  bringing  with  him  $600  that  he  had  saved. 
His  first  work  was  with  a  brother-in-law,  who 
had  a  contract  to  rebuild  a  mill  at  Treat's  Island, 
in  Chaunahou  Township.  While  working  here 
he  purchased  the  mill  on  which  he  was  working, 
and  for  five  years  he  operated  it.  In  1849  he  re- 
turned to  Crown  Point  for  his  betrothed  wife. 
There,  on  the  5th  of  July,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Barnett,  who  was  born  in 
1826.  a  daughter  of  Asa  W.  and  Hannah 
(Lamson)  Barnett.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Hoosick,  N.  Y.,  and  in  early  manhood  removed 
to  Crown  Point,  where  he  became  a  farmer. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Glidden  returned  to 
Illinois,  where  he  continued  milling  until  the  in- 
troduction of  steam  mills  and  the  advent  of  the 
railroad  made  the  business  unprofitable.  In 
1853  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  having 
one  hundred  and  eleven  acres,  which  he  had 
bought  with  the  mill.  He  was  prospered  as  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser.  He  added  to  his  pos- 
sessions until  he  had  fifteen  hundred  acres,  but 
afterward  he  disposed  of  six  hundred  acres. 
From  1894  until  his  death  he  lived  retired,  the 
management  of  his  place  being  in  the  hands  of 
his  son-in-law,    Frank  P.  Bieth.      In  politics  he 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


35 


was  a  Republican,  interested  in  party  matters, 
but  not  caring  for  official  positions  himself.  A 
man  of  earnest  character,  resolute  in  the  support 
of  what  he  believed  to  be  right,  he  won  the  good 
will  of  his  associates,  and,  as  an  honored  pioneer, 
deserves  not  a  little  credit  for  the  effective  work 
he  did  in  the  advancement  of  the  township.  His 
wife  died  September  12,  1887,  and  of  their  eleven 
children  only  four  are  now  living,  one  of  whom, 
Permelia  S.,  has  had  charge  of  the  home  since 
her  mother's  death.  Sarah  J.  is  the  widow  of 
Henry  Haviland,  a  farmer  of  Chaunahon  Town- 
ship; Melissa  is  the  wife  of  Frank  P.  Bieth;  and 
Harvey  O.  lives  in  Kankakee,  this  state. 


there.  However,  they  finally  left  for  Chicago, 
which  was  deemed  a  safer  refuge,  and  their 
effects  were  mostly  taken  or  destroyed  before 
they  could  with  safety  return  to  Will  County. 

In  September,  1831,  Mr.  Beggs  married  Eliz- 
abeth L.  Heath,  who  was  born  in  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  and  died  in  Will  County,  April 
7,  1866.  His  second  marriage,  December  30, 
186S,  united  him  with  Mrs.  Sarah  R.  (Dibhle) 
Frost,  a  native  of  New  York  state.  He  had 
four  children  by  his  first  marriage:  Mary  E., 
James  W.,  George  W.  and  Charles  W. 


[~)EV.  STEPHEN  R.  BEGGS  was  born  in 
U*\  Rockingham  County,  Ya.,  in  1S01.  His 
r  \  father  removed  to  Kentucky  when  the  son 
was  only  four  years  of  age,  and  two  years  later 
settled  on  the  Ohio  River  in  Clark  County,  Ind. 
His  earliest  recollections  were  therefore  of  fron- 
tier scenes.  He  was  seven  years  old  before  he 
had  a  pair  of  shoes,  and  in  after  years  he  was 
wont  to  recall  the  delight  experienced  in  the 
possession  of  his  first  shoes.  In  early  manhood 
he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  afterward  preached  as  an  itinerant  in  Indi- 
ana, Illinois  and  Missouri.  No  salary  was  at- 
tached to  his  work.  He  was  supported  by  the 
gratuitous  contributions  of  his  hearers,  who, 
being  poor  in  purse,  could  make  but  small  con- 
tributions to  his  support.  His  entire  receipts  in 
cash  one  year  amounted  to  only  $23. 

In  the  summer  of  1831  Mr.  Beggs  came  to 
Plainfield,  and  was  afterward  connected  with  the 
history  of  Will  County.  In  1836  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Joliet  circuit,  and  commenced  the 
work  of  building  the  first  Methodist  church  in 
Joliet,  which  was,  in  fact,  the  first  edifice  built 
by  any  denomination  in  the  city.  Upon  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Sac  war  his  house  was  con- 
sidered the  best  adapted  for  a  fort.  It  was  ac- 
cordingly fortified  and  all  the  settlers  gathered 


3 AMES  W.  BEGGS,  of  Plainfield,  was  born 
at  Troy  Grove,  near  Ottawa,  111.,  March  5, 
1835.  When  he  was  a  boy  he  attended  the 
district  schools,  but  these  being  very  poor,  the 
knowledge  that  he  acquired  was  largely  gained 
through  observation  and  experience.  When  he 
became  of  age  he  embarked  in  the  hotel  business 
at  Naperville,  where  he  remained  for  seven  years. 
He  then  returned  to  his  father's  farm  one-half 
mile  south  of  Plainfield,  where  he  assumed  the 
management  of  the  place,  devoting  it  to  the 
raising  of  stock  and  of  farm  products.  He  spent 
three  years  on  the  farm  but,  preferring  the  hotel 
business,  he  came  to  Plainfield,  and  purchased 
the  Central  Hotel  property,  enlarging  the  build- 
ing and  conducting  it  in  a  manner  that  drew 
considerable  trade.  A  man  of  genial  and  ac- 
commodating disposition,  as  a  landlord  he  was 
very  popular,  and  the  traveling  public  made  his 
place  their  headquarters.  He  also  ran  a  stage 
line  to  Joliet,  carrying  mail  prior  to  the  building 
of  the  railroad.  He  continued  to  conduct  the 
hotel  until  1894,  when  he  sold  out  the  business 
and  retired  from  active  cares.  His  interests  are 
large,  and  include  town  property  which  he  rents, 
and  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres 
one  mile  south  of  Plainfield. 

In  politics  Mr.  Beggs  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
borne  his  share  in  the  work  for  the  party  here. 
Both    to    county   and    state   conventions  he  has 


36 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


served  as  a  delegate.  He  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  aldermen,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1899  was  elected  mayor,  a  position  that  he  has 
filled  with  signal  ability  and  tact.  Under  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  he  held  the  office  of  postmaster 
for  two  terms.  His  marriage  united  him  with 
Etnerette,  daughter  of  Hilton  Clary,  and  formerly 
of  Palmyra,  Wayne  County,  N.  Y. 


(J5JELAH  KNAPP,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
/\  in  Homer  Township,  was  born  in  Albany, 
Q)  N.  Y.,  in  1836,  a  son  of  Rev.  Solomon  and 
Maria  (Lanfear)  Knapp.  His  father,  a  native  of 
New  York,  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  early  life  and  afterward  fitted  himself 
for  its  ministry.  He  was  ordained  a  preacher  in 
the  denomination  and  during  the  subsequent 
years  of  his  life  worked  earnestly  in  his  chosen 
field  of  labor.  When  he  came  west  in  1840  he 
settled  in  Will  County  and  purchased  the  land 
that  forms  our  subject's  present  property.  In 
addition  to  the  superintendence  of  this  farm,  he 
gave  considerable  time  to  ministerial  work  and 
served  as  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Hadley. 
His  last  days  were  passed  in  Joliet,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1890,  after  a  busy  life  that  cov- 
ered eighty-seven  years.  In  his  family  were  seven 
children,  namely:  Lanfear;  Warren,  who  lives  in 
Nebraska;  Solomon;  Selah;  Lizzie,  who  married 


John  Cameron  and  lives  in  Omaha,  Neb. ;  Josie, 
deceased;  and  Florence,  wife  of  H.  T.  Stevens. 

When  the  family  came  to  Illinois  Mr.  Knapp 
was  less  than  three  years  of  age;  hence  practically 
his  entire  life  has  been  passed  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives.  He  was  given  such  advantages  as 
neighboring  schools  afforded,  and  to  these  he 
added  by  self-culture,  thus  acquiring  a  good 
practical  education.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  old 
homestead  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on 
which  he  engages  in  the  dairy  and  stock  business 
and  in  the  raising  of  cereals.  The  Republican 
party  has  received  his  active  support  ever  since 
he  attained  his  majority,  and  he  is  a  firm  believer 
in  its  principles.  For  thirteen  years  he  held  of- 
fice as  commissioner  of  highways,  during  which 
time  he  did  much  to  promote  the  building  and 
maintaining  of  good  roads  in  his  township.  As 
a  member  of  the  county  central  committee  of  the 
Republican  party  and  as  a  worker  on  its  execu- 
tive committee  he  has  done  much  to  advance  the 
party's  interests  here.  The  cause  of  education 
has  a  firm  friend  in  him.  For  twenty-one  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and  during 
part  of  the  time  he  served  as  president,  also  as 
secretary  of  the  board. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Knapp  took  place  in 
i860  and  united  him  with  Miss  Emeline  Frazier, 
daughter  of  William  Frazier,  and  a  native  of 
Homer  Township.  They  have  an  only  daughter, 
Hattie  F. ,  who  was  educated  in  the  Joliet  high 
school  and  is  now  teaching  in  the  Joliet  schools. 
The  family  are  connected  with  the  Congregational 
Church  and  aid  in  its  support. 


UrtlVtRSllY   OF   ILLINOIS 


ZW/s'yfyfoY/'Xt 


^*Vv. 


CD  /mc^^-^v^ 


Y 
OF       IE 
UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4i 


HON.  CHARLES  EDWARD  BOYER, 


HON.  CHARLES  EDWARD  BOYER.  In 
reflecting  upon  the  advancement  of  the 
county  of  Will,  men  of  thoughtful  minds 
give  due  credit  to  the  pioneers,  among  whom 
were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyer,  of  Lockport.  Though 
many  years  have  passed  since  the  death  of  Mr. 
Boyer,  his  widow  still  survives,  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  competence  which  his  energy  accumulated, 
and  surrounded  by  the  evidences  of  an  advancing 
civilization.  When,  as  a  child  of  seven  years, 
she  first  saw  the  county  where  she  has  since  re- 
sided, its  settlers  were  few  and  widely  scattered, 
its  towns  were  mere  hamlets  and  its  farms  wholly 
unimproved.  Looking  back  over  the  long  vista 
of  years,  she  can  narrate  many  an  interesting 
story  of  those  early  times  when  hardships  were 
many  and  the  obstacles  to  success  innumerable. 
In  the  prosperity  of  the  present  no  one  rejoices 
more  than  she.  The  finely  improved  farms  of 
the  county;  the  clanking  of  machinery;  the  hum- 
ming of  the  saw;  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  locomo- 
tive and  the  long  trains  of  freight  and  passenger 
cars  that  pass  in  every  direction;  the  well-built 
schools;  neat  houses;  handsome  churches  and 
flue  business  blocks,  all  proclaim  this  region  to 
be  the  abode  of  peace  and  prosperity,  in  the  se- 
curing of  which  the  early  settlers  were  a  potent 
factor,  and  which,  indeed,  would  not  have  been 
possible  without  their  self-sacrificing  and  constant 
labors. 

Mr.  Boyer  was  born  and  reared  in  Reading, 
Berks  Count}*,  Pa.,  and,  as  a  young  man,  clerked 
in  a  store  in  Philadelphia.  Coming  west  in  1836, 
he  was  employed  in  the  Chicago  office  of  the 
company  that   had  charge  of  the  building  of  the 


Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  For  a  time  he  had 
the  supervision  of  their  office  work,  but  later  took 
a  contract  on  the  canal,  and  in  this  way,  in  1838, 
he  was  first  induced  to  come  to  Will  County. 
In  the  filling  of  his  contracts  he  displayed  so 
much  efficiency  and  intelligence  that  his  standing 
as  a  contractor  was  assured  from  that  time  forth, 
and  he  was  thus  enabled  to  gain  a  constantly  in- 
creasing success.  When  the  canal  was  being 
deepened  he  had  a  number  of  large  contracts  in 
connection  with  the  same,  and  at  the  time  of  the 
building  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  through 
the  county  he  was  one  of  its  heaviest  contractors. 
While  his  extensive  business  interests  took  much 
of  his  time,  he  did  not  allow  them  to  prevent  him 
from  participating  in  public  affairs.  He  was  a 
stanch  believer  in  Democratic  principles  and 
never  lost  an  opportunity  to  promote  the  success 
of  his  party.  His  fellow  citizens,  recognizing 
his  fitness  for  public  office,  offered  him  the  high- 
est gifts  within  their  power.  In  1864  he  repre- 
sented the  district  in  the  state  legislature,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  September 
21,  1868,  he  was  his  party's  candidate  for  the 
state  senate.  Successful  in  business,  he  left  his 
family  a  large  property,  consisting  principally  of 
city  real  estate  and  farm  lands.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  had  so  much  work  planned  for  the 
future  that  it  required  two  years  for  his  widow  to 
complete  all  of  the  contracts,  and  she  successfully 
managed  the  same  until  they  were  filled. 

The  lady  who  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Boyer, 
at  Lockport,  April  14,  1840,  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  Runyon  and  was  born  in 
Preble  County,   Ohio,   February  22,  1823.     Her 


42 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


father,  Armstead  Runyoii,  was  a  native  of  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  and  at  fourteen  years  of  age  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  lived  on  a 
farm  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1827  he  brought 
his  family  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Danville. 
From  there,  in  the  fall  of  1830,  he  came  to  what 
was  then  Cook  (now  Will)  County,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  one  and  one-half  miles  from  the  present 
site  of  the  city  of  Lockport,  being  one  of  the  very 
earliest  settlers  in  this  vicinity.  During  the 
Black  Hawk  war  he  was  obliged  to  take  his 
family  for  protection  to  old  Fort  Dearborn,  where 
they  remained  for  several  weeks;  he  and  several 
others  then  returned  to  Will  County  and  built  a 
blockhouse  on  Mr.  Sissou's  farm,  in  which  the 
families  of  the  neighborhood  lived  for  some  time. 
While  the  men  cultivated  the  land,  the  women 
remained  in  the  blockhouse.  From  the  building 
a  good  view  could  be  had  of  the  surrounding 
country,  and  when  any  Indians  came  in  sight, 
the  women  would  notify  their  husbands  by  rais- 
ing a  flag  on  a  pole.  During  the  building  of  the 
canal  Mr.  Runyon  left  his  farm  and  opened  a 
hotel  in  Lockport.  In  the  fall  of  1849  he  went  to 
California  and  purchased  a  large  ranch  on  the 
Sacramento  River,  twenty  miles  from  Sacramento, 
where  he  remained  for  twenty  years  extensively 
engaged  in  raising  fruit.  In  1869  he  removed  to 
Santa  Rosa,  Cal. ,  but  still  continued  to  manage 
his  farm.  He  died  in  that  town  when  seventy- 
six  years  of  age.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  in  religion  a  Uuiversalist.  His  father, 
Michael  Runyon,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  settled  in 
Will  County  about  1834  and  afterward  made  his 
home  on  Hickory  Creek,  where  he  died  in  1S57. 
His  wife  was  a  cousin  of  Robert  Black  well,  one 
of  the  early  and  well-known  Chicago  attorneys. 

Of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyer,  William 
and  Charles  died  in  boyhood.  The  older  daugh- 
ter, Emma  B. ,  became  the  wife  of  David  E  Cor- 
neau,  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  one  son,  Perry 
B.  Corneau.  The  younger  daughter,  Florence 
B.,  Mrs.  Olaus  Paulson,  resides  with  Mrs.  Boyer, 
and  has  four  children:  Elizabeth  B. ,  Louise, 
Norman  B.  and  Emma  C.  Paulson.  The  only 
sou  who  attained  manhood  was  Julius  A.,  who 
operated   a  quarry   in   this  county   and    died    in 


Lockport,  at  thirty-six  years  of  age.  He  married 
Helen. Cook  (daughter  of  Isaac  Cook),  now  Mrs. 
Robert  Aull,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  They  had  three 
children:  Julius  A.,  Charles  E.  (deceased)  and 
Douglas  C.  Boyer.  Since  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band Mrs.  Boyer  has  superintended  the  property 
and,  in  spite  of  her  seventy-six  years,  she  is  quite 
active  and  business-like.  In  the  beautiful  resi- 
dence built  by  Mr.  Boyer  in  1856  she  has  con- 
tinued to  reside,  hospitably  entertaining  her 
friends  and  beloved  by  all  who  know  her.  As 
one  of  the  oldest  living  settlers  of  the  vicinity  of 
Lockport  she  is  entitled  to  the  esteem  in  which 
she  is  held. 


HS.  G.  BLAKELY,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Plainfield  Enterprise,  was  born  in 
,  Morristown,  Vt.,  May  9,  1868.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Linnwood  Bartholomew,  at  Reading, 
Mich.,  September  25,  1887.  In  company  with 
R.  A.  Marvin  he  established  the  Enterprise 
August  10,  1887,  and  in  1888  bought  his  part- 
ner's interest.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Modern 
Woodmen  fraternities. 


q)EORGE  B.  MOSS,  a  farmer  and  stockman 
_  of  Plainfield  Township,  has  spent  his  entire 
^Jl  life  in  the  vicinity  of  his  present  home  and 
has  not  only  witnessed,  but  also  contributed  to, 
the  advancement  of  local  interests,  especially  to 
the  development  of  the  farming  resources.  He 
was  born  in  this  township  on  Christmas  day  of 
1839.  His  father,  William,  a  native  of  North- 
amptonshire, England,  grew  to  manhood  in  that 
shire  and  learned  the  millwright's  trade  and  the 
milling  business.  When  about  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  came  to  the  United  States.  After  a 
short  time  in  a  mill  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  he  came 
west  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Will   County   and  se- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


43 


curing  work  in  the  building  of  the  old  Walker 
mill  near  Plainfield.  On  the  completion  of  the 
mill  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  it.  Later  he  re- 
moved to  Plainfield  and  helped  to  build  a  mill 
there,  taking  charge  of  it  upon  its  completion. 
Failing  health  finally  obliged  him  to  seek  an  oc- 
cupation affording  outdoor  exercise.  In  1845  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  prairie  land,  upon  which 
he  settled  and  to  the  improvement  of  which  his 
subsequent  years  were  devoted.  As  he  pros- 
pered he  added  to  his  property  until  he  owned 
two  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  all  well  improved 
and  cultivated.  In  politics  he  allied  himself 
with  the  Republican  party  on  its  organization 
and  afterward  voted  for  its  principles.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  held  the  office  of  school  director. 
He  was  a  very  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  doctrines  of  this  denom- 
ination he  upheld  by  his  life,  which  was  that  of 
an  honest,  honorable  man,  and  a  good  citizen, 
whose  word  was  as  good  a?  his  bond.  Personally 
he  was  of  a  quiet  disposition,  with  domestic 
tastes.  He  died  on  his  home  farm  when  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Sarah  Baxter,  was  born  in  Nor- 
folk, England,  and  came  to  America  in  girlhood, 
settling  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  she  first  met 
Mr.  Moss.  Like  him,  she  was  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  Her  death  occurred 
on  the  homestead  when  she  was  fifty  years  old. 
Of  her  six  children  George  B.  was  the  eldest; 
William  is  a  farmer  in  this  township;  Mary  A. 
is  the  wife  of  Emory  D.  Platts,  of  Plainfield;  Mrs. 
Martha  O'  Leary  lives  in  this  township;  Mrs.  Phi- 
lenda  Thompson,  a  widow,  lives  in  Colorado;  and 
Oliver  is  engaged  in  railroading  in  Wyoming. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Plainfield.  When  he  was  twenty-one 
he  started  out  for  himself,  renting  a  portion  of 
his  father's  farm  and  afterward,  when  his  father 
became  too  old  to  engage  in  manual  labor,  he- 
succeeded  to  the  management  of  the  homestead. 
On  his  father's  death  he  purchased  a  part  of  the 
farm  and  has  since  bought  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs,  being  now  the  sole  owner  of  the  old 
homestead.  Under  his  management  the  place  is 
kept  improved  and  its  buildings  in  good  repair. 


The  Republican  party  receives  his  vote  and  he 
has  been  active  in  its  rank.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  served  as  school  director  and  trustee. 
In  1862  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Platts,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  state  and  died  in  this  town- 
ship in  1891.  The  children  born  of  their  union 
are  named  as  follows:  Sherman,  a  farmer  in  this 
township;  Lillie  J.,  deceased;  Minnie,  wife  of 
George  Tower;  Nellie,  Mrs.  Meyers,  of  Joliet; 
George  A.  and  Cora,  who  are  on  the  old  home- 
stead with  their  father. 


HOMAS  F.  DEMPSEY,  who  has  made  his 
home  in  Troy  Township  since  1848,  and 
for  years  has  been  one  of  the  township's 
successful  farmers  and  stock-raisers,  was 
in  County  Kildare,  Ireland,  August  19, 
a  son  of  John  and  Ellen  (Shaughnassey) 
Dempsey.  During  the  latter  part  of  1848  the  fam- 
ily sailed  from  Ireland,  in  the  good  ship  "Hot- 
tinger,"  and  after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks  and  three 
days,  during  which  time  they  encountered  two 
severe  storms  and  were  wrecked,  they  arrived  in 
New  York.  From  there  they  proceeded  up  the 
Hudson  River  to  Albany,  then  crossed  the  state 
on  the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  going  from  that  city 
via  the  lakes  to  Chicago.  While  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan a  heavy  storm  arose,  in  which  theirshipwas 
wrecked  and  then  towed  into  port  at  Milwaukee. 
From  Chicago  they  came  to  Joliet  on  one  of  the 
first  canal  boats  that  made  the  trip  to  this  point. 
Settling  in  this  county  the  father  took  up  a  tract 
of  land  in  Troy  Township,  which  he  bought  at 
the  land  sale  at  Lockport  in  the  spring  of  1849. 
No  improvements  had  been  made  on  the  land, 
and  there  was  not  a  house  between  here  and  Jo- 
liet Mound.  The  family  moved  into  a  log  cabin, 
in  which  openings  had  been  made  for  doors  and 
windows;  these  apertures  they  closed  with  blan- 
kets. All  night  the  wolves  howled  near  the  little 
cabin,  their  cries  being  the  only  sound  that  broke 
the  stillness  of  the  lonely  region.  Growing  bold, 
they  caught  and   killed  a   fine  dog  of  which  the 


44 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


family  were  proud:  but,  fortunately,  their  en- 
croachments stopped  on  the  outside  of  the  house. 
Those  early  days  were  busy  ones  for  the  family, 
all  of  whom  helped  the  father  in  his  work  of  get- 
ting the  land  under  cultivation  and  making 
needed  improvements.  He  continued  to  reside 
on  the  same  place  until  his  death,  in  January, 
1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy  eight  years.  The 
mother  died  August  19,  1864,  aged  fifty-four 
years.  She  was  the  mother  of  seven  children, 
viz.:  Malachi,  Thomas,  John,  Joseph,  Mrs.  Ann 
Ivans,  Mrs.  Bridget  Riley,  and  David,  of  Des- 
Moines,  Iowa. 

Owing  to  the  need  of  his  assistance  on  the 
home  farm,  it  was  not  possible  for  our  subject  to 
attend  school  regularly,  and  he  studied  mostly  at 
night,  with  the  help  of  his  father  and  mother. 
When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago, with  only  $3  in  cash,  but  with  energy,  de- 
termination and  good  health.  He  secured  em- 
ployment in  butchering.  Two  months  later  he 
married.  Economical  and  industrious,  he  was 
prospered  and  at  the  end  of  four  years  and  seven 
months  he  had  $2,Soo  in  cash.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  home  farm,  as  his  father,  who  was 
growing  old,  needed  his  aid.  The  work  was  not 
new  to  him,  as  from  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he 
had  been  actively  at  work  on  the  homestead, 
mostly  buying  and  selling  cattle,  although  he 
also  cultivated  the  land.  When  he  returned  he 
took  hold  as  before  and  assumed  the  management 
of  the  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  in  the 
place.  Afterward  he  purchased  other  land  and 
now  has  about  four  hundred  acres,  which  repre- 
sents his  energy  and  ambitious  efforts.  He  has  al- 
ways been  a  man  of  great  energy  and  perseverance. 
Perhaps  no  term  so  well  expresses  his  character  as 
the  word  '  'hustler. ' '  He  well  deserves  the  prosper- 
ity he  has  gained .  He  is  known  as  a  thrifty,  indus- 
trious and  honest  farmer,  who  manages  his  affairs 
in  a  systematic  manner.  In  farm  products  his 
specialties  are  corn  and  oats,  of  which  he  annual- 
ly sells  three  and  four  thousand  bushels,  respec- 
tively. On  his  place,  among  other  farm  imple- 
ments, is  a  corn  sheller  with  a  capacity  of  over 
three  thousand  bushels  daily,  operated  either  by 
horse  or  steam  power.     He  does  the  hauling  to 


Troy  and  Channahon  for  the  two  creameries, 
hauling  from  one  to  two  thousand  pounds  a  day. 
Cattle,  horses  and  hogs  are  to  be  found  on  his 
place,  his  specialty  being  the  breeding  of  Norman 
horses  and  good  roadsters. 

As  his  father,  Mr.  Dempsey  supports  Demo- 
cratic principles.  For  fourteen  years  he  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  for  two  years  held  the  of- 
fice of  supervisor,  and  was  also  school  trustee  for 
many  years.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's 
Roman  Catholic  Church  in  Minooka.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1869,  he  married  Nora  Kenney,  whose 
father,  Michael,  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Troy 
Township  and  later  removed  to  Joliet.  Mrs. 
Nora  Dempsey  died  in  1884  and  was  interred  in 
St.  Patrick's  cemetery  in  Joliet.  The  second 
marriage  of  Mr.  Dempsey,  in  October,  1896, 
united  him  with  Josephine  Burns,  of  Chicago. 
By  his  first  marriage  he  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  Lennie  and  Josie  are  deceased.  Ervin  and 
John  reside  in  this  county;  Alice  is  the  wife  of 
John  Cudahy,  of  Manhattan;  Thomas,  Jerome, 
Robert,  Bernard  and  Edward  assist  their  father 
at  home  and  relieve  him  of  much  of  the  work  of 
managing  the  farm. 


30HN  I.  EVARTS,  cashier  and  owner  of  the 
Plainfield  Bank,  was  born  in  Yorkville, 
Kendall  County,  111.,  February  18,  1866. 
His  father,  Jeremiah,  a  native  of  Georgia,  Vt., 
born  in  1836,  received  his  education  in  the  acad- 
emy of  his  home  town.  When  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  came  west,  which  he  believed  offered 
greater  opportunities  for  a  young  man  than  did 
his  own  state.  He  secured  a  position  as  teacher 
in  Kendall  County  and  his  work  was  so  satis- 
factory that  he  was  soon  given  a  more  important 
place,  becoming  principal  of  the  Piano  school. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  resigned  as  prin- 
cipal and  went  to  the  front  as  lieutenant  of  a 
company  of  volunteers,  serving  for  two  years, 
when  illness  obliged  him  to  resign  his  commis- 
sion.     His  service   was  one  that  reflected   credit 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


45 


upon  his  loyalty  to  the  country,  as  well  as  his 
personal  bravery.  A  year  after  his  return  he 
was  elected  clerk  of  Kendall  County,  and  this 
office  he  held  for  twenty-four  years,  meantime 
making  Yorkville  his  home.  He  was  so  promi- 
nent and  influential  that  many  desired  him  to  be- 
come a  candidate  for  congress  and  he  therefore 
allowed  his  name  to  be  presented  before  the  Re- 
publican convention,  where  he  came  within  four 
or  five  votes  of  receiving  the  nomination.  In 
188S  he  moved  to  Plaiufield  and  established  the 
Plainfield   Bank,    which   he  conducted  until  his 


death,   February   3,  iJ 


His  success  was  en- 


tirely the  result  of  his  own  industry  and  wise 
judgment.  While  his  residence  in  Plainfield 
covered  only  a  few  years,  yet  he  became  well 
known,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  enterprises 
calculated  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the  people. 
Through  his  honorable  methods  of  transacting 
business  he  gained  the  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity. In  Yorkville,  where  for  so  long  a  time 
he  made  his  home,  he  was  a  very  influential  citi- 
zen. For  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  blue  lodge  there  and  he 
also  held  membership  with  the  Grand  Army 
post  there.  His  father,  Tod  Evarts,  traced  his 
ancestry  to  one  of  two  brothers,  surveyors,  who 
assisted  in  surveying  much  of  Vermont  and  in 
return  were  given  by  the  government  a  large 
grant  of  land  in  that  state.  Hon.  William  M. 
Evarts,  United  States  senator  from  New  York, 
was  a  cousin  of  Jeremiah  Evarts. 

The  marriage  of  Jeremiah  Evarts  united  him 
with  Emma  Custin,  who  was  born  in  Unionville, 
Ohio,  and  now  makes  her  home  with  her  only 
child.  In  religion  she  is  of  the  Congregational 
belief.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  the  Yorkville  schools  and  the  Aurora 
high  school,  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the 
Illinois  University  at  Champaign,  where  he  was 
a  student  for  two  years.  He  was  eighteen  when 
he  received  an  appointment  in  the  United  States 
railway  mail  service,  and  during  the  seven  years 
he  retained  the  position  he  had  a  run  from  Chi- 
cago to  Burlington,  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  Railroad,  being  on  the  fast  mail  train. 
He  accompanied  his  father  to  Plainfield  and  en- 


tered the  bank  in  1S92.  On  the  death  of  his  fa- 
ther he  and  his  mother  were  planning  to  sell  the 
bank,  when  a  petition  was  brought  to  him,  signed 
by  one  hundred  and  fifty  leading  citizens  of  this 
section,  asking  him  to  continue  the  business. 
Feeling  that,  with  so  strong  a  support,  he  could 
not  but  succeed,  he  decided  to  continue,  and  the 
results  have  proved  the  decision  was  a  wise  one. 
He  is  a  bright,  capable  young  business  man,  and 
his  business  career,  though  yet  but  begun,  is  a 
credit  to  him.  He  is  trusted  and  honored,  and 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him  has  never  been  be- 
trayed. Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Woodmen,  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  Plainfield 
Lodge  No.  536,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  chapter, 
commandery  and  council  of  the  Masonic  order  at 
Joliet. 


HOMAS  WHITE.  Those  who  best  knew 
Mr.  White  most  fully  appreciated  his  worth 
of  character  and  his  breadth  of  intelligence. 
His  success  in  life  indicates  that  he  possessed 
business  qualifications  of  a  high  order.  Though 
he  began  without  means,  and  had  little  to  assist 
him  in  getting  a  start,  he  nevertheless  became 
well-to-do,  acquiring  the  ownership  of  valuable 
property  both  in  this  county  and  in  Nebraska. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  three  hundred 
and  twent}-  acres  here  and  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  Nebraska,  and  he  also  owned  a  good 
home  in  Joliet. 

Mr.  White  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
September  23,  1830,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Veasey)  White,  natives  respectively  of 
England  and  Scotland.  His  father,  who  crossed 
the  ocean  to  Canada,  settled  in  the  United  States 
about  1850  and  spent  his  last  days  with  a  son  in 
Ohio,  but  died  in  Lake  County,  111.,  at  sixty 
years  of  age.  Of  his  ten  children  only  one  sur- 
vives. The  subject  of  this  article  learned  the 
miller's  trade  in  England  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1852,  settling  near  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
About  1855  he  proceeded  to  Dupage  Count}-, 
111.,  where  he  began  to  till  rented  land.     In  1S63 


46 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  came  to  Will  County  and  soon  bought  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Peotone,  where  he  remained  for 
four  years.  After  residing  in  Naperville  one 
year,  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  Manhattan  Town- 
ship in  1S69,  buying  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  and  at  once  beginning  its  improvement.  A 
few  years  later  he  bought  an  eighty- acre  tract 
adjoining.  For  seventeen  years  he  made  his 
home  on  that  place,  but  in  1886  rented  the  farm 
and  removed  to  Gage  County,  Neb.,  where  he 
purchased  a  section  of  land  and  carried  on  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  an  extensive  scale.  In 
1889  he  retired  from  active  labors,  returned  to 
this  county  and  built  a  residence  in  Joliet,  where 
his  last  days  were  spent. 

In  England,  in  July,  1851,  Mr.  White  married 
Miss  Kitty  Reason,  who  survives  him,  making 
her  home  in  Joliet.  They  became  the  parents  of 
six  children,  but  three  are  deceased.  The  older 
of  the  surviving  sons,  William,  was  born  in  Du- 
page County,  111.,  in  1859,  and  grew  to  manhood 
in  this  county,  but  since  1882  he  has  resided  in 
Nebraska.  He  is  now  proprietor  of  a  general 
mercantile  store  at  Table  Rock,  Neb.,  and  is  a 
leading  business  man  of  his  town.  He  married 
Jennie,  daughter  of  George  Andrews,  of  Joliet, 
and  they  have  three  children:  Leroy,  Earl  and 
Mildred.  The  other  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
White  are  Fannie,  who  resides  with  her  mother, 
and  John  Thomas,  an  attorney  of  Joliet. 


30HN  E-  BUSH  came  to  this  county  in  i860 
and  has  been  engaged  as  a  grain  dealer  in 
Joliet  since  1864.  During  the  early  days  of 
his  experience  in  the  grain  business,  the  farmers 
from  a  radius  of  twenty  miles  in  this  and  sur- 
rounding counties  brought  him  their  grain,  and, 
as  he  made  his  shipments  by  canal,  he  was  able 
to  pay  two  cents  more  than  could  those  who 
shipped  by  railroad.  His  shipments,  amounting 
to  almost  one-half  million  bushels  per  annum, 
were  made  in  his  own  canal  boats  and  in  those 
hired  from  other  parties.     After  a    time  the  rail- 


road, in  order  to  gain  the  trade,  began  cutting 
rates  and  finally  gave  a  better  price  that  the 
canals  could  give,  so  the  latter  ceased  to  be  a 
medium  of  transportation,  and  all  shipments  were 
made  by  rail.  In  187 1  Mr.  Bush  built  an  ele- 
vator on  the  Michigan  Central  road,  corner  of 
Washington  street  and  Eastern  avenue,  at  a  cost 
of  $25,000,  and  containing  good  improvements, 
including  steam  power.  This  building  still 
stands.  In  1880  he  built  the  River  block,  on 
Exchange  street,  which  was  three  stories  in 
height  and  60x95  feet  in  dimensions.  Water 
power  was  furnished  from  the  canal.  It  was  in 
this  block  that  the  Bates  Machine  Company 
started  in  business,  and  it  was  also  used  by  other 
manufacturing  companies.  On  Desplaines  near 
Jefferson  street  he  had  an  elevator  which  he  used 
until  it  and  the  business  block  were  condemned 
and  removed  by  the  drainage  board  in  1897. 

The  Bush  family  originated  in  Scotland  and 
was  later  represented  in  the  north  of  Ireland. 
Early  identified  with  American  history,  several 
of  its  members  took  part  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Stephen  Bush,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
settled  at  Orwell,  Vt. ,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. During  the  war  of  18 12  he  went  to  the 
front  and  fought  for  American  interests.  His 
sou,  Stephen  N.,  who  was  born  at  Orwell,  re- 
moved to  Whitehall,  Washington  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  owned  and  cultivated  three  hundred 
acres  of  land  and  also  carried  on  a  meat  market. 
In  1862  he  came  to  Illinois  and  bought  a  farm  in 
Will  County  across  the  Washington  street  bridge, 
over  Hickory  Creek,  a  part  of  which  land  is  now 
in  Brooklyn.  In  later  years  he  sold  seventeen 
acres  of  his  property  for  a  fair  ground,  and  after- 
ward the  remainder  of  the  land  was  sold  and  sub- 
divided into  city  lots.  He  then  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  west  of  the  city.  He  died 
in  Joliet  in    1885,  when  eighty-five  years  of  age. 

The  wife  of  Stephen  N.  Bush  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Salome  Moise  and  was  born  at  Cornish 
Flats,  N.  H.,  being  the  daughter  of  a  miller  who 
died  at  Whitehall,  N.  Y.  She  died  in  1858. 
Twice  married,  by  her  first  husband  she  had  two 
sons  who  settled  in  Will  County,  111.,  in  1856, 
both  of  whom  volunteered  in  the  One  Hundredth 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


47 


Illinois  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  rebellion.  One  of  them, 
W.  W.  Bartlette,  who  was  captain  of  his  com- 
pany, died  in  Salina,  Kans.,  and  the  other, 
R.  F. ,  who  was  first  lieutenant  of  the  same  com- 
pany, is  now  living  in  Salina.  To  the  marriage 
of  Stephen  N.  and  Salome  Bush  four  sons  and 
one  daughter  were  born,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. John  E.  is  the  oldest  now  living  and 
the  only  one  in  Joliet.  His  brother,  H.  F. ,  who 
served  in  the  One  Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry,  is 
now  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Hono- 
lulu, .Sandwich  Island. 

At  Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  our  subject  was  born 
November  5,  1835.  He  prepared  for  college  in 
Whitehall  Academy,  and  in  1856  entered  Will- 
iams College  at  Williamstown,  Mass.,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  i860,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
During  the  same  year  he  came  to  Illinois  and  se- 
cured a  clerkship  in  a  Joliet  grocery.  Two  years 
later,  on  the  organization  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  he  became  a  stockholder  and  director  and 
entered  the  bank  in  a  clerical  capacity.  In  1S64 
he  resigned  his  position  in  order  to  engage  in  the 
grain  business,  but  he  still  retains  his  stock  in 
the  bank  and  has  been  one  of  its  directors  from 
the  first.  He  owns  property  in  Joliet  and  a  farm 
in  the  county.  In  1872  he  laid  out  the  Bush 
addition  to  Joliet,  on  Richards  and  Hickory 
streets,  and  in  1895  he  made  a  subdivision  of 
property  on  Jasper  street.  Bush  Park  originally 
belonged  to  him  and  is  named  in  his  honor. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Bush  was  Cornelia, 
daughter  of  George  Woodruff,  late  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank.  She  was  born  in  Joliet 
and  died  here  in  1876,  leaving  two  children.  The 
son,  George  Woodruff  Bush,  who  was  educated 
in  the  University  of  Michigan,  is  a  member  of  the 
hardware  firm  of  Bush  &  Handwerk,  in  Joliet. 
The  daughter,  Jennie  C,  who  was  educated  at 
Vassar,  has  spent  most  of  her  time  abroad  since 
leaving  college.  The  present  wife  of  Mr.  Bush 
was  Bella  G.  Kenyon,  who  was  born  at  Thorn  p- 
sonville,  Conn.,  and  accompanied  her  father, 
John  Kenyon,  to  Illinois,  settling  on  a  farm  at 
Tamarack,  this  county.  For  a  time  she  was 
principal  of  the  East  avenue  high  school  of  Joliet. 


Three  sons  were  born  of  this  marriage,  namely: 
John  K.,  who  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1900, 
University  of  Illinois;  Edward  M.,  a  member  of 
the  high  school  class  of  1900;  and  Ralph  H. 

At  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  courthouse 
Mr.  Bush  served  as  assistant  supervisor  for  two 
terms.  He  was  also  school  inspector  for  two 
terms,  and  filled  the  position  with  the  greatest 
efficiency.  Atone  time  he  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  old  Chicago  University. 
In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  is 
connected  with  the  Williams  College  Alumni  As- 
sociation and  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  Society. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  chairman  of  the 
board  of  trustees  in  the  Eastern  Avenue  Baptist 
Church  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  building 
committee  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the 
church.  He  also  served  for  years  as  Sunday- 
school  superintendent.  In  1885  he  was  largely 
instrumental  in  starting  a  Sunday-school  at  Three 
Points  mission  in  Joliet,  and  ever  since  then  he 
has  acted  as  its  superintendent.  He  possesses 
qualities  of  a  high  order  and  is  a  gentleman  of 
kind  heart,  sanguine  temperament,  whole-souled 
and  liberal-minded,  one  who  easily  wins  and  re- 
tains the  confidence  of  associates,  and  whose  in- 
tegrity has  won  for  him  the  respect  of  his  ac- 
quaintances. 


|"}HILIP  I.  CROMWELL,  M.  D.,  of  Wilming- 
LS  ton,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  sur- 
\3  geons  of  the  county,  was  born  at  Lake 
George,  Warren  County,  N.  Y.,  July  12,  1848,  a 
son  of  James  and  Sarah  C.  (Bradshaw)  Crom- 
well. He  was  named  after  his  grandfather, 
Philip  I.  Cromwell,  who  for  years  made  his  home 
at  Carlisle,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  proprietor  of  a 
hotel  and  a  prominent  man  in  public  affairs. 
For  years  James  Cromwell,  M.  D.,  carried  on  a 
general  practice  at  Lake  George,  meantime  gain- 
ing recognition  as  the  most  skillful  physician  in 
the  town.  In  the  latter  town  he  died  in  1874, 
when  he  was  sixty-four  years  of  age.  Wherever 
he  made  his  home  it  was  his  custom  to  identify 
himself  with  movements  tending  toward  the  ad- 


48 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


vancement  of  local  interests.  In  religious  belief 
he  was  an  Episcopalian  and  for  years  served  his 
church  as  an  elder  and  senior  warden.  His  wife 
survived  him  for  3-ears,  dying  at  Lake  George  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one.  Their  six  children  were 
as  follows:  Edward,  who  enlisted  in  the  Civil 
war  and  was  killed  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run;  John  B.,  of  Denver,  Colo.;  Philip  I.;  James 
J.,  who  is  the  only  representative  of  the  farnily 
now  at  Lake  George;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Jerome 
M.  Hubbell;  and  Ellen  B.,  who  married  Thomas 
N.  Conant  and  lives  at  Dekalb,  111. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  received  prin- 
cipally at  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y.  From  an  early  age 
he  manifested  an  interest  in  medical  pursuits  and 
as  a  boy  determined  that  he  would  some  day  be 
a  physician.  With  this  object  in  view,  in  1867 
he  entered  Albany  Medical  College  at  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1870.  Dur- 
ing the  following  year  he  held  a  position  as  phy- 
sician to  the  Albany  city  dispensary.  Afterward 
he  joined  his  parents  at  Lake  George.  After 
about  one  year  he  located  at  Cleveland,  N.  Y., 
where  he  established  himself  in  practice.  It  was 
his  belief,  however,  that  he  could  succeed  better 
in  the  west,  and  he  therefore  decided  to  come  to 
Illinois.  In  1874  he  opened  an  office  at  Dekalb, 
111.,  where  he  remained  for  fourteen  years,  but 
the  demands  of  his  constantly  increasing  practice 
finally  undermined  his  constitution  and  a  com- 
plete change  of  climate  was  rendered  necessary. 
In  1887  he  went  to  Colorado,  hoping  that  the 
genial  air  of  the  mountain  regions  would  prove 


health-restoring.  In  this  hope  he  was  not  dis- 
appointed. During  the  two  years  he  remained  in 
that  state  he  engaged  in  practice  at  Sterling  and 
also  served  as  coroner  of  Logan  County.  On  his 
return  to  Illinois  in  1889  he  settled  at  Wilming- 
ton, where  he  has  since  built  up  a  very  large 
practice.  It  has  always  been  his  aim  to  keep 
abreast  with  the  developments  made  in  the  sci- 
ence of  medicine,  and  to  this  end  he  reads. cur- 
rent medical  literature  and  keeps  in  touch  with 
various  medical  societies.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Desplaines  Yalley  Medical  Association  and  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society. 

Always  believing  in  protection  of  home  indus- 
tries, Dr.  Cromwell  naturally  found  himself  in 
accord  with  Republican  principles.  However,  in 
1896,  when  his  party  declared  for  a  gold  stand- 
ard, he,  being  in  sympathy  with  the  movement 
looking  to  the  free  coinage  of  silver,  allied  him- 
self with  the  silver  forces.  Both  as  mayor  and  as 
alderman  he  has  been  active  in  advancing  the 
welfare  of  Wilmington  and  promoting  its  inter- 
ests. He  is  interested  in  secret  society  work  and 
is  connected  with  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows. 
His  first  wife,  who  was  Catherine  Hallagan,  and 
whom  he  married  in  1874,  died  in  1891,  leaving 
four  children,  namely:  Edward  G. ,  a  physician 
and  surgeon  at  Henry,  111.;  Harry  D. :  Clinton  B., 
who  is  teaching  school  at  Custer  Park,  this  coun- 
ty; and  George  B.,  who  is  in  the  United  States 
navy.  The  present  wife  of  Dr.  Cromwell  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Adeline  Hudson  and  was 
united  with  him  in  marriage  in  1898. 


W-Aift  <Ll-tL&- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5i 


HON.  DORRANCE  DIBELL. 


HON.  DORRANCE  DIBELL  is  directly  de- 
scended from  the  families  of  Baldwin,  Lord, 
King,  Ward,  Strong  and  Waite,  who  lived 
in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  prior  to  1800. 
His  Puritan  descent  is  evident  from  the  maiden 
names  of  his  grandmother  and  great-grandmother, 
Patience  Baldwin  and  Submit  Lord,  and  is  also 
shown  by  the  following  given  names  found  on  his 
family  tree  between  the  years  1 650  and  1750,  viz.: 
Desire,  Unity,  Relief,  Prudence,  Thankful,  De- 
liverance, Increase,  Experience,  Silence,  Record, 
Remember,  Mercy,  Hopestill  and  Mindwell. 

On  his  father's  side  he  is  fifth  in  descent  from 
John  Dibell,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut  in 
1702,  and  who  died  at  Mount  Washington,  Mass., 
August  1,  1773.  The  ancestors  of  John  Dibell 
are  believed  to  have  come  to  Massachusetts  from 
England  in  the  year  1635.  They  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Connecticut.  In  1757  the  family  settled 
at  Mount  Washington,  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
Massachusetts,  and  members  of  the  family  still 
live  upon  and  own  part  of  the  farm  then  bought. 
The  branch  from  which  Dorrance  Dibell  de- 
scended removed  to  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and  then  to 
New  Durham,  N.  Y.,  about  1789,  and  from  there 
about  1 81 7  removed  to  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio, 
where  members  of  the  family  still  reside. 

On  his  mother's  side  he  is  the  eighth  in  de- 
scent from  William  Ward,  who  in  1639  (nineteen 
years  after  the  Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth 
Rock)  was  living  with  his  family  at  Sudbury, 
Mass. ,  when  the  proprietors  of  that  plantation 
made  a  first  division  of  their  lands  in  which  he 
shared.  Tradition  says  he  was  born  in  Eng- 
land. He  afterwards  removed  to  Marlborough. 
He  suffered  great  losses  in  King  Phillip's  war, 
when  his  buildings  were  fired,  his  cattle  destroyed 


and  one  of  his  sons  was  killed.  The  dwelling 
house  of  one  of  his  sons  was  used  as  a  garrison 
in  that  war.  The  widow  of  William  Ward 
settled  his  estate  at  Boston  before  the  tyrannical 
colonial  Governor  Andros,  who  also  acted  as 
judge  of  probate.  Gen.  Artemus  Ward  of  Boston, 
another  distant  relative,  was  commander-in-chief 
of  the  forces  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
and  was  the  first  person  appointed  a  major-gen- 
eral in  the  army  of  the  Revolution;  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  continental  congress,  but  did 
not  take  his  seat,  and  was  twice  a  member  of 
congress  under  the  Federal  Constitution.  Several 
of  Mr.  Dibell's  kinsmen  of  the  Ward  name  were 
members  of  the  "General  Court,"  and  held  other 
places  of  trust  in  their  primitive  communities. 
One  uncle,  William  Ward,  D.  D.,  spent  most  of 
his  active  life  in  Assam,  India,  as  a  missionary. 
A  great  uncle,  Elihu  W.  Baldwin,  D.  D.,  was 
first  president  of  Wabash  (Ind.)  College. 

Dorrance  Dibell  was  born  February  16,  1844, 
at  Wooster,  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son 
of  Rev.  Jonathan  Baldwin  Dibell,  of  Kingsville, 
Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  and  Louisa  (Ward) 
Dibell,  of  Ellington,  Tolland  County,  Conn.  His 
father  was  a  Baptist  minister.  In  1850  his  par- 
ents removed  from  Ohio  to  Will  County,  111., 
where  they  lived  almost  continuously  until  his 
father's  death,  September  10,  1881.  His  father 
had  unusual  purity,  sincerity  and  strength  of 
character,  was  greatly  respected  and  had  a  wide 
influence  in  Will  County,  especially  in  Homer, 
New  Lenox  and  Frankfort.  After  his  death,  the 
mother,  with  her  daughter,  Julia  Louisa,  made 
her  home  with  her  son  Dorrance  in  Joliet,  where 
she  resided  until  her  death,  October  17,  1885. 
Julia  met  a  sad  and  untimely  death  at  a  railroad 


52 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


crossing  in  that  city,  September  20,  18S9,  which 
left  the  subject  of  this  sketch  the  only  remaining 
member  of  his  father's  family.  Mr.  Dibell  mar- 
ried Sarah  M.,  oldest  child  of  Hon.  Henry  Snapp, 
at  Joliet,  August  29,  1872,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Charles  Dorrance  Dibell,  a  graduate  of  the 
University  of  Chicago,  who  was  admitted  to 
practice  law  in  June,  IS99,  and  has  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  that  profession  at  Joliet. 

Judge  Dibell,  as  he  is  now  familiarly  called, 
was  but  six  years  old  when  his  parents  settled  in 
the  Prairie  state,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm  in  New  Lenox  Township,  attending 
the  public  schools  in  boyhood,  and  subsequently 
prosecuting  his  studies  in  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago for  about  four  years.  After  beginning  his 
studies  at  the  university  he  was  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools,  then  returned  to  the  university, 
and  afterward  was  employed  as  a  telegraph  oper- 
ator at  Racine,  Wis.,  and  at  Wheatland  and  De 
Witt,  Iowa.  During  that  time  he  studied  law 
without  an  instructor  in  Racine  and  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  Will  Count}-.  While  still  engaged 
as  a  telegraph  operator  he  studied  law  with 
Hon.  John  C.  Polley,  at  De  Witt,  Iowa,  and 
then,  having  determined  to  make  that  profession 
his  business  in  life,  he  abandoned  telegraph  oper- 
ating, came  to  Joliet,  and  resumed  the  study  of 
law  with  Goodspeed,  Snapp  &  Knox,  of  Joliet. 
In  1869  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Parks  &  Hill 
as  a  law  student  and  clerk  at  a  small  salary, 
barely  sufficient,  with  rigid  economy,  to  supply 
the  necessaries  of  life.  The  room  on  Bluff  street, 
at  $3.00  a  month,  where  he  did  his  own  house- 
keeping, as  well  as  the  grocery  and  bakery  which 
supplied  his  frugal  meals,  are  still  remembered 
by  the  judge  and  his  friends  with  a  feeling  akin 
to  pride  and  pleasure.  August  23,  1870,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme  court  of  this 
state.  During  this  brief  period  of  his  novitiate 
as  a  student  with  the  firm  of  Parks  &  Hill  he 
made  himself  so  useful  to  the  members  of  that 
firm,  and  gave  such  promise  of  future  usefulness 
and  ability  as  a  lawyer,  that  he  was  at  once 
offered  a  partnership  with  the  junior  member  of 
the  firm,  which  he  accepted.  Mr.  Hill  was  then 
state's  attorney  of    the   old  seventh  judicial  cir- 


cuit, comprising  the  counties  of  Will  and  Grundy. 
The  new  firm  of  Hill  &  Dibell  was  organized 
September  3,  1870,  and  continued  without  inter- 
ruption, and  with  a  constantly  increasing  busi- 
ness and  reputation,  for  a  period  of  more  than 
fifteen  years  and  until  dissolved  November  13, 
1885,  because  of  the  election  of  Mr.  Dibell  No- 
vember 3,  1885,  to  the  bench  as  judge  of  the 
ninth  judicial  circuit.  During  that  time  the  firm 
enjoyed  a  large  practice,  constanth-  increasing  in 
character  and  importance  as  the  years  went  by, 
both  members  holding  high  positions  at  the  bar. 
During  these  years  of  active  practice,  the  founda- 
tions of  Judge  Dibell's  career  and  usefulness  as 
a  judge  were  laid.  He  was  never  content  to 
look  at  one  side,  his  client's  side,  of  a  case  or 
question  presented  for  his  consideration,  however 
plausible  or  fair  that  side  might  at  first  appear; 
his  mind  was  eminently  and  normally  judicial  in 
tone  and  character.  Instinctively  it  turned  to 
the  other  side  of  the  question  or  case  in  hand  and 
sought  uurestingly  to  find  the  real  facts  of  the 
case  and  the  law  applicable  to  those  facts.  This 
tone  and  bent  of  his  mind  was  always  manifest 
in  consultations  with  clients  and  in  the  discussion 
of  the  case  or  question  involved  with  his  partner, 
as  well  as  in  argument  in  courts.  When  sure  he 
was  right,  his  conclusions  of  law  and  fact  were 
presented  with  convincing  force  and  ability.  He 
always  had  a  great  faculty  of  generalizing  a  mass 
of  details  and  of  seeing  the  real  point  involved  in 
a  case.  This  was  especially  true,  or  seemed  es- 
pecially true,  in  chancery  cases,  involving  many 
questions  of  law  and  fact.  His  strong  memory, 
great  reasoning  powers  and  strength  of  mind, 
seemed  to  guide  him  with  apparent  ease  through 
the  most  involved  controversies.  This  character- 
istic soon  became  known  to  bench  and  bar,  as 
well  as  to  his  friends  and  clients,  and  to  some 
extent  to  the  public  at  large.  During  this  time 
Mr.  Dibell  was  also  for  some  years  a  member  of 
the  city  council  of  Joliet,  carrying  to  that  work 
the  same  fidelity  of  trust  and  earnestness  of  pur- 
pose that  had  characterized  him  as  a  lawyer.  He 
was  in  the  council  when  the  change  was  made 
from  the  old  special  charter  to  incorporation 
under  the  general  incorporation  law  of  the  state, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


53 


and  was  influential  in  making  that  and  other 
changes  of  importance  in  the  city  government, 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  from  first  to  last  during 
his  service  in  the  council  the  public  good  was  his 
first  consideration.  No  suggestion  of  corruption 
or  even  of  unfairness  was  ever  made  against  him 
either  as  a  lawyer,  a  councilman,  or  as  a  judge. 
This  is  high  praise,  but  nevertheless  strictly  true. 
A  lifelong  Republican,  thoroughly  schooled  in 
the  platforms  and  principles  of  that  party,  he  was 
nevertheless  first  and  always  a  patriot,  command- 
ing alike  the  respect  of  his  opponents  and  the 
admiration  of  his  friends;  and  when,  in  1885,  the 
death  of  Judge  McRoberts  created  a  vacancy  on 
the  bench  of  the  ninth  judicial  circuit,  then  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Will,  Grundy,  La  Salle 
and  Bureau,  many  eyes  were  turned  to  Mr. 
Dibell  to  fill  the  place.  His  partner,  Mr.  Hill, 
realizing  from  long  association  his  peculiar  fit- 
ness for  the  position,  was  among  the  first  to  sug- 
gest it,  and  to  urge  it  upon  him,  but  Judge 
Dibell  is  as  modest  as  he  is  strong  and  judicial, 
and  being  at  that  time  comparatively  a  young 
man,  at  first  declined  to  consider  it.  A  conven- 
tion was  called,  and  he  was  nominated  for  the 
position  and  was  elected. 

In  the  Will  County  convention,  upon  being 
nominated  for  circuit  judge,  he  said,  "I  believe 
in  progress  in  the  methods  of  legal  procedure. 
In  fact,  a  reform  in  this  direction  has  already 
begun.  When  I  came  to  Joliet  to  study  law  I 
was  told  that  the  common  law  docket  had  not 
been  called  through  in  twelve  years,  and  there 
were  then  upon  the  docket  many  cases  which 
had  been  pending  twelve  or  fifteen  years.  Since 
then  much  has  been  done  to  remedy  this  evil 
and  to  facilitate  the  transaction  of  legal  business, 
but  much  remains  to  be  done  before  our  legal 
tribunals  fulfill  all  the  people  have  a  right  to  de- 
mand of  them.  Courts  are  but  public  agencies 
for  the  transaction  of  business;  they  are  tribunals 
appointed  to  settle  business  disputes;  they  ought 
to  be  conducted  in  a  business  manner  and  so  as 
to  secure  his  rights  to  the  party  who  ought  to 
win  before  time  has  made  even  success  unprofit- 
able. If  the  selection  you  have  made  shall  be 
ratified  by  the  convention  at   Morris,  and  at  the 


polls  in  November,  I  assure  you  I  shall  do  all  in 
my  power  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  court 
in  which  I  may  preside  and  to  cause  business  to 
be  there  prosecuted  with  celerity  and  dispatch 
and  in  a  business-like  manner."  This  promise 
has  been  faithfully  kept.  Promptly  to  the 
minute  court  opens  and  business  proceeds  "with 
celerity  and  dispatch."  No  unnecessary  delays 
or  unseemly  wranglings  are  tolerated.  Attorneys 
and  litigants  understand  what  is  expected  and  the 
wheels  move  unceasingly  and  almost  without  a 
jar.  The  trials  calendars,  law,  chancery  and 
criminal,  are  kept  under  constant  control.  Liti- 
gated cases  are  tried  and  disposed  of  within  a  few 
months  after  their  commencement.  Lawyers  as 
well  as  litigants  have  learned  to  appreciate  this 
kind  of  work  and  to  feel  even  when  beaten  that 
they  have  had  their  day  in  court.  The  court 
room  where  Judge  Dibell  presides  is  a  great 
workship.  The  scenes  are  constantly  shifting 
and  passing.  Cases  come  and  go  until  both  mind 
and  body  are  weary  with  the  work,  but  when 
court  closes  the  judge's  work  does  not  end. 
Questions  of  law,  cases  submitted  without  a  jury, 
chancer}'  cases  and  other  pending  matters  occupy 
his  evening  and  morning  hours.  The  judge  is  a 
rapid  writer  as  well  as  a  great  worker.  As  a 
telegraph  operator  he  learned  to  abbreviate  words 
so  that  his  pen  follows  closely  upon  his  rapidly 
working  mind.  Cases  submitted  receive  his  care- 
ful consideration  and  often,  in  disposing  of  them, 
he  sheds  new  light  upon  questions  carefully 
argued  by  able  attorneys. 

In  1 89 1  Judge  Dibell  was  re-elected  by  a 
largely  increased  majority.  In  the  winter  of  1897 
the  legislature  re-arranged  the  circuits,  and  placed 
Will,  Kankakee  and  Iroquois  Counties  in  the 
twelfth  judicial  circuit.  That  spring  Judge 
Dibell  was  nominated  as  one  of  the  judges  of 
that  circuit  by  both  political  parties,  and  in  June, 
1897,  he  was  elected  by  a  practically  unanimous 
vote.  A  few  days  after  that  election  he  was  as- 
signed by  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  to  sit  as 
one  of  the  justices  of  the  appellate  court,  second 
district,  at  Ottawa,  111.,  for  a  term  of  three  years, 
and  is  now  serving  upon  that  assignment.  The 
duties  of  that  position  occupy  about  eight  months 


54 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  each  year.     The  rest  of  the  time  he  gives  to 
the  duties  of  circuit  judge. 

Socially  the  judge  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
panionable of  men.  His  extensive  reading,  great 
memory,  keen  interest  in  current  topics,  coupled 
with  a  rare  gift  of  expression,  combine  to  make 
an  hour  spent  in  his  company  an  occasion  to  be 
remembered.  His  habits  and  tastes  are,however, 
retiring,  and  his  every-day  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances best  appreciate  his  social  qualities.  Rev. 
A.  H.  Laing,  of  Joliet,  who  has  known  the  Judge 
intimately  for  over  seventeen  years,  and  who  is 
himself  widely  known  as  a  critic  and  scholar, 
writes  of  him:  "Judge  Dibell  is  a  large  brained, 
broad  minded,  generous  spirited  man,  who  com- 
mands the  affectionate  esteem  and  confidence  of 
all  who  know  him.  Like  most  students  he  is  not 
in  any  sense  a  society  man,  but  his  equable 
temper  and  amiable  disposition  have  made  him  a 
prime  favorite  with  his  neighbors  and  friends. 
The  exacting  demands  and  large  requirements  of 
his  profession  have  not  dulled  his  taste  for  gen- 
eral literature.  He  has  gathered  a  large  and 
miscellaneous  library  not  for  ornament,  but  for 
his  own  use  and  enjoyment.  The  great  poets  and 
dramatists  are  represented  there  and  the  special- 
ties of  science,  philosophy  and  political  eeonomy 
have  not  been  neglected  or  overlooked.  Even 
theology  is  not  neglected,  as  is  too  frequently  the 
case  among  lawyers.  In  short,  to  legal  training 
he  adds  a  cultivated  taste  and  a  large  store  of 
general  information."  But  from  this  it  must  not 
be  gathered  that  the  judge  is  in  any  sense  a 
recluse  or  indifferent  to  social  duties  or  obliga- 
tions. He  is  often  seen  in  public,  where  his 
warm-heartedness  and  great  conversational 
powers  make  him  ever  welcome.  But  it  is  at 
home,  among  his  friends  and  books,  that  he  is 
seen  at  his  best. 


V/|AJ-     JOHN    M.    THOMPSON,    who    re- 

V      sides  in   New   Lenox  Township,  near  the 

(i)     Joliet    line,   was   born   near    St.    Thomas, 

twenty    miles   from    London,    Canada,   in    1832. 


His  father,  James,  a  native  of  Salem,  Mass.,  born 
in  1787,  became  a  machinist  in  early  life  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  was  made  superintendent 
of  a  large  cotton  factory  in  Massachusetts.  About 
1820  he  removed  to  Canada  and  settled  on  the 
Twenty,  a  large  stream,  where  he  built  and  be- 
gan the  carding  of  wool  and  manufacturing  of 
woolen  cloth.  Ten  years  later  he  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Thomas  and  bought  a  large  tract 
of  land,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  besides 
building  and  operating  a  saw  and  grist  mill  and 
also  a  woolen  factory  on  Beaver  Creek.  After 
the  Canadian  rebellion  of  1 837  he  left  his  family  on 
the  homestead  and  went  west  to  look  up  a  new 
location.  He  finally  selected  a  site  for  water 
power  in  Roscoe,  Winnebago  County,  111.  There 
he  built  a  woolen  factory  and  a  few  years  later  a 
grist  mill.  On  the  completion  of  this  work  he 
returned  to  Canada  and  brought  his  family  to  his 
new  western  home.  From  1840,  the  date  of  his 
settlement  in  Illinois,  until  his  death  in  1853,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  he  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacturing  of  woolen  goods  and  in  merchan- 
dising. His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Sarah  Snure,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  died 
in  Illinois  in  1886,  aged  eighty-three  years.  Of 
their  ten  children  seven  are  still  living. 

The  eldest  of  the  family,  Clark,  deceased,  was 
for  several  terms  a  member  of  the  assembly  and 
for  two  terms  a  state  senator  in  Minnesota,  also 
served  as  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  during 
the  massacre  of  1863-64.  He  was  also  president 
of  the  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad.  Edward, 
who  was  also  a  senator  in  Minnesota,  was  a  mer- 
chant miller,  owning  mills  at  Hokah,  Houston 
County,  Minn.  He  is  now  living,  retired,  in 
California.  Mary  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  J.  \Y. 
Abbott,  a  dry-goods  merchant  of  Beloit,  Wis. 
Eliza  died  in  1871.  John  M.  is  the  subject  of 
this  article.  Agnes  died  soon  after  her  gradua- 
tion from  the  Rockford  Female  College  in  1855; 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  Major  Wagner,  of  Tracy,  111.; 
Marie  married  Seely  Perry;  James  lives  in  Du- 
luth,  Minn.;  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  a  physician 
in  Lyons,  France;  and  Albert  died  when  two 
years  old. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  our  subject  went  to 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


55 


Hokah,  Houston  County,  Minn.,  and  acted  as 
superintendent  of  a  saw  and  grist  mill  owned  by 
his  brothers,  Clark  and  Edward,  who  were  at 
that  time  giving  their  attention  largely  to  public 
affairs.  At  the  same  time  he  read  law.  In  1869 
he  returned  to  Roscoe,  111.,  to  complete  his  law 
studies.  The  day  after  Fort  Sumter  was  fired 
upon  he  started  out  to  raise  a  company  of  volun- 
teers and  upon  the  completion  of  the  work  he 
tendered  the  services  of  the  company  to  Gov- 
ernor Yates,  but  as  several  companies  were  ten- 
dered from  his  county  and  only  one  could  be 
accepted,  the  choice  fell  upon  a  company  raised 
by  Stephen  A.  Hurlbert  (afterward  a  major- 
general)  . 

Immediately  afterward,  Mr.  Thompson  went 
to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  but  his  mind  was  so  occupied 
by  the  national  struggle  that  he  could  not  apply 
himself  to  his  law  books  nor  could  he  concentrate 
his  mind  on  business  affairs;  so  he  went  to  Fort 
Snelling  and  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Fourth 
Minnesota  Infantry.  Two  weeks  after  his  en- 
listment he  was  elected  first  lieutenant  and  later 
was  selected  as  adjutant  on  Col.  John  B.  San- 
born's staff.  Late  in  1862  he  was  unanimously 
elected  and  commissioned  captain  of  Company  E, 
Fourth  Minnesota  Infantry,  and  served  at  the 
head  of  the  company  in  many  hard-fought  bat- 
tles, including  the  siege  of  Corinth,  Iuka,  battle 
of  Corinth  and  Champion  Hills.  On  the  battle- 
field of  Iuka  he  served  as  acting  major,  in  the 
absence  of  the  major,  and  was  favorably  men- 
tioned by  his  colonel  for  gallantry  and  recom- 
mended for  promotion.  In  that  battle,  though  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight,  he  was  not  injured, 
though  having  many  narrow  escapes;  at  one  time 
his  hat  band  was  shot  off  his  hat.  Shortly  after- 
ward Adjutant-General  Thomas,  of  the  United 
States  army,  while  on  a  tour  of  inspection  in  the 
west,  offered  him  the  rank  of  colonel  of  a  colored 
regiment,  which  he  accepted,  but  requested  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  remain  with  and  com- 
mand his  company  until  after  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  The  request  was  granted  and  he  remained 
with  his  company. 

At  Champion  Hills,  May  16,  1863,  Major 
Thompson  was  reported  mortally  wounded  by  a 


gun  shot  through  the  left  lung  and  was  left  on 
the  field  to  die,  as  was  supposed.  In  a  few  days 
all  the  wounded  were  removed  for  whose  recov- 
ery the  slightest  hope  was  entertained,  but  as  he 
had  been  given  up,  he  with  many  others  was  left 
to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  and  the  rebel  surgeons  also 
reported  him  mortally  wounded;  but,  ou  account 
of  his  strong  constitution  and  good  habits,  his 
wound  did  not  prove  fatal.  After  six  months  he 
was  exchanged  and  ordered  to  report  at  the  St. 
Louis  barracks.  From  there  he  was  sent  to  Fort 
Snelling,  on  the  way  visiting  his  mother  at  Ros- 
coe, 111.  He  remained  at  Fort  Snelling  and  St. 
Paul  until  his  marriage,  which  took  place  at 
Joliet,  111.,  January  14,  1864.  On  the  day  he 
was  made  a  Benedict  he  received  a  telegram  an- 
nouncing his  promotion  to  be  first  major  of  the 
Second  Minnesota  Cavalry.  With  his  regiment 
he  took  part  in  the  Indian  warfare  of  1864,  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  was  ordered  to  report 
to  and  take  command  of  Fort  Ripley,  on  the  head 
waters  of  the  Mississippi.  Later  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  St.  Paul  as  president  of  court  martial, 
where  he  remained  until  mustered  out  of  service, 
May  5,  1865. 

Coming  to  this  county  the  same  month,  Major 
Thompson  built  what  was  at  the  time  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  the  county  and  probably  the 
finest  farm  house  in  the  state.  In  1867,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  he  went  to  Europe  and  spent 
eight  months,  visiting  Italy,  France,  Germany, 
Switzerland  and  the  British  Isles.  On  his  return 
he  gave  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  high-grade 
horses  and  cattle.  During  the  war  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, afterward  became  independent  and  dur- 
ing Cleveland's  first  term  he  supported  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  believing  it  to  be  more  favorable  to 
the  farmer  in  its  tariff  platform.  From  1887  to 
1893  he  was  master  of  the  state  grange,  during 
which  time  he  traveled  over  the  entire  state, 
speaking  in  almost  every  county.  He  also  trav- 
eled in  the  interest  of  the  Grange  in  the  United 
States,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  thirty-ninth  General  Assembly. 
At  the  close  of  his  term  the  Chicago  Herald 
placed   his   name  on    a    roll   of  honor  with    the 


56 


GKXEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


names  of  seventeen  others,  stating  that  even- 
vote  these  gentlemen  cast  was  in  the  interests  of 
agriculture  and  labor.  In  1897  the  Democratic 
party  nominated  him  to  represent  the  twelfth  dis- 
trict in  congress,  but  he  declined  the  nomination 
in  the  convention.  However,  in  response  to  the 
appeal  of  the  district  committee  and  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  party,  he  withdrew  his  resignation 
and  reluctantly  consented  to  represent  the  party 
during  the  fall  campaign.  Although  he  was  not 
elected,  yet  he  reduced  the  majorities  formerly 
given  his  opponent,  J.  G.  Cannon,  of  Danville, 
who  had  represented  his  district  for  twenty 
years. 

The  marriage  of  Major  Thompson  united  him 
with  Miss  Mary  Jane  Davidson,  daughter  of 
Judge  John  J.  Davidson,  a  pioneer  of  1834.  They 
have  had  four  daughters  and  one  son,  viz.:  Jen- 
nie Marie,  John  D.,  Helen  E.  (Mrs.  Charles 
Fish),  Agnes  (deceased)  and  Vera. 


3OHX  FEIL,  member  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, is  a  well-known  merchant  of  Frank- 
fort Station.  He  is  a  man  of  good  business 
ability,  enterprising  and  persevering,  and  by  his 
well-directed  efforts  has  won  prosperity.  Since 
he  began  in  business,  in  the  fall  of  18S0,  he  has 
enjoyed  a  steady  growth  in  his  trade  and  now  has 
in  his  store  a  stock  that,  for  size  and  quality,  is 
not  surpassed  by  any  establishment  for  miles 
around.  Three  clerks  assist  him  in  attending  to 
the  wants  of  customers.  By  his  reliability, 
courtesy  and  well-known  integrity  he  has  gained 
and  held  the  patronage  of  people  throughout  his 
section  of  the  county. 

The  entire  life  of  Mr.  Feil  has  been  passed  in 
this  county.  He  was  born  April  20,  1S54,  in 
Greengarden  Township,  to  which  his  father, 
John,  had  come  two  years  before.  The  latter 
was  born  in  Codweilen,  Prussia,  Germany,  in 
1822,  and  in  1S47  accompanied  his  parents, 
George  and  Elizabeth  (Scheer)  Feil,  to  America, 
settling  in  Frankfort  Township,  this  county,  but 


in  1852  removed  to  Greengarden  Township,  where 
he  bought  sixty  acres  of  land  and  made  his  home 
for  twelve  years.  In  1S64  he  moved  a  mile  west, 
settling  on  section  8,  where  he  devoted  his  re- 
maining years  to  general  farm  pursuits.  He  was 
a  successful  farmer  and  owned  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land.  Personally,  he  was  quiet  and 
reserved,  but  those  who  knew  him  well  found 
him  to  be  a  man  possessing  many  noble  qualities 
of  heart.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  October  6, 
1871,  he  was  forty-nine  years  of  age.  Hisfather, 
George,  spent  his  life,  after  1847,  in  this  county, 
his  closing  years  being  passed  in  Mokena. 

By  the  marriage  of  John  Feil,  Sr.,  to  Catherine 
Klose,  a  native  of  Germany,  thirteen  children 
were  born.  The  nine  now  living  are  as  follows: 
John,  of  this  sketch;  Louis,  who  makes  his  home 
in  Englewood,  Chicago;  Jacob,  who  occupies  the 
old  homestead;  Charles  C,  who  lives  in  Charles 
City,  Iowa;  Henry,  of  Joliet:  Valentine,  of  Man- 
hattan; Caroline,  wife  of  Jacob  Felton,  of  Hunt- 
ington County,  Ind. ;  Lizzie,  who  married  Arnold 
Funstein,  of  Manhattan;  and  Lena,  Mrs.  Chris- 
tian Hauck,  of  Joliet.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
grew  to  manhood  in  Greengarden  Township. 
When  he  was  twenty-five  he  moved  to  Frankfort 
Township,  and  entered  upon  the  life  of  a  farmer 
here.  In  1880  he  traded  his  farm  for  a  stock  of 
merchandise,  and,  with  Charles  Deist  as  a  part- 
ner, began  his  present  business.  In  the  spring  of 
1893  ne  bought  his  partner's  interest  and  has 
since  carried  on  the  business  alone. 

In  politics  Mr.  Feil  is  a  Republican.  For  four- 
teen years  he  has  served  as  police  magistrate  of 
the  village.  During  President  McKinley's  ad- 
ministration, in  1897,  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster  at  Frankfort  Station.  In  1898 
he  was  elected  supervisor  for  a  term  of  two  years. 
In  this  office,  as  in  every  position  he  has  held, 
it  has  been  his  aim  to  advance  the  interests  of  the 
people  and  the  welfare  of  the  county.  Xo  laud- 
able movement  is  allowed  to  fail  for  want  of  sup- 
port on  his  part.  Such  citizens  as  he  are  a  credit 
to  the  community.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Evangelical  Church  and  in  it  served  as  a 
trustee  for  several  years.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected  with    the    Court  of  Honor   in  his  home 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


57 


town.  February  20,  1879,  lie  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Christina  Deist,  by  whom  he 
has  had  four  children.  Only  two  are  now  living. 
The  son,  Edward  J.,  is  a  student  in  the  Chicago 
Business  College;  the  daughter,  Esther  E.,  is  at 
home. 


GILBERT  PHELPS.  Notwithstanding  the 
l_|  many  years  that  have  elapsed  since  the  death 
/  I  of  Mr.  Phelps,  he  still  lives  in  the  memory 
of  his  acquaintances  in  this  county  and  especially 
in  the  hearts  of  his  former  associates  in  Dupage 
Township.  His  life  was  not  a  long  one  as  we 
count  time,  for  it  covered  little  more  than  twenty- 
six  years;  yet  it  was  a  busy  and  useful  existence, 
passed  in  the  quiet  routine  of  farm  work  and  in 
the  faithful  discharge  of  every  duty,  as  citizen, 
neighbor,  friend,  husband  and  father. 

Mr.  Phelps  was  born  in  Willsboro,  Essex 
County,  N.  Y.,  December  12,  1846.  He  was 
reared  upon  a  farm  in  that  county  and  received 
his  education  in  its  common  schools.  When  a 
young  man,  with  the  future  stretching  before 
him,  full  of  opportunities  and  openings,  he  de- 
cided to  come  west,  where  the  rewards  of  toil 
were  greater  than  in  the  more  thickly  settled  east. 
He  had  a  sister  living  in  Will  County  and  joined 
her  here.  From  that  time  until  his  death  he  was 
engaged  in  farm  pursuits  in  Dupage  Township. 
In  connection  with  the  raising  of  farm  products 
he  carried  on  a  dairy  business,  which  proved  a 
profitable  source  of  revenue.  His  attention  was 
given  closely  to  his  chosen  occupation.  He  did 
not  take  an  active  part  in  politics,  although  he 
never  failed  to  vote  the  Democratic  ticket.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  connected  with  the  blue  lodge  of 
Masonry  in  Naperville.  He  aided  in  the  support 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with  the  work  of 
which  he  was  in  sympathy.  When  he  died 
March  6,  1873,  he  was  followed  to  his  last  rest- 
ing place  by  his  neighbors  and  friends,  all  of 
whom  realized  that  in  his  death  the  township  had 
lost  one  of  its  most  honorable  men  and  substan- 
tial farmers. 


His  wife  and  two  sons  survive  Mr.  Phelps. 
He  was  married,  November  5,  1869,  to  Miss 
Harriet  L-,  daughter  of  Thomas  J.  Sprague, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
She  was  born  in  this  township  December  8,  1850, 
and  received  her  education  in  local  schools  and 
at  Lockport.  Among  the  people  in  whose  midst 
her  life  has  been  passed  she  is  honored  and  es- 
teemed for  her  many  worthy  traits  of  character 
and  for  her  devotion  to  her  family.  She  is  justly 
proud  of  her  sons,  both  of  whom  are  exceptional- 
ly capable  young  men.  The  older,  Herbert 
Reuben,  makes  his  home  with  his  mother  and 
has  charge  of  the  farm,  maintaining  an  intelligent 
supervision  of  its  interests.  The  younger,  Al- 
bert C,  graduated  from  the  Illinois  State  Uni- 
versity and  afterward  took  a  special  course  of 
study  in  Munich,  Germany.  He  is  now  instruc- 
tor in  architecture  at  Cornell  University,  Ithaca, 
N.  Y. 


"HE  FRANCIS  FAMILY.  For  years  the 
representatives  of  this  family  have  been 
inseparably  associated  with  the  growth  of 
Will  County.  The  first  of  the  name  to  settle 
here  was  Abraham  Francis,  who  was  born  in 
County  Cavan,  Ireland,  September  29,  1808. 
He  was  a  descendant  of  ancestors  who,  during 
the  religious  persecution  of  1696,  fled  from  Scot- 
land to  Ireland,  where  subsequent  generations 
made  their  home.  In  1816  William  Francis,  a 
farmer,  emigrated  from  County  Cavan  and  settled 
in  Brown  County,  Ohio.  He  was  a  hardworking 
man,  whose  life  and  surroundings  offered  few  op- 
portunities for  education  or  advancement.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  his  son,  Abraham,  was 
a  youth  of  fifteen  years,  and  he  afterward  con- 
tinued in  Brown  County  for  some  years.  In  the 
spring  of  183 1  he  and  a  young  German  left  Ohio 
and  rode  on  horseback  to  Shawnee  Mound,  Tip- 
pecanoe County,  Ind.  From  there  they  walked, 
carrying  knapsacks  and  axes,  to  Illinois,  explor- 
ing the  region  around  the  headquarters  of  the  Kan- 
kakee River.      With  canoes  they  had  constructed, 


58 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


they  floated  down  the  river  to  Wilmington,  and 
then  followed  the  Indian  trail  to  New  Lenox 
Township.  Choosing  a  location,  Mr.  Francis 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  govern- 
ment land  and  "floated"  another  tract  of  similar 
size,  comprising  the  north  half  of  the  east  half  of 
section  nine,  where  his  son,  A.  A.  Francis,  and 
his  family  afterwards  resided. 

After  building  a  log  cabin  Mr.  Francis  re- 
turned'to  Ohio.  There  he  married  Miss  Mary 
A.  J.  Davison,  who  was  born  in  Adams  County, 
that  state,  March  17,  1815,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Mary  (Iugraham)  Davison,  both  of 
whom  died  in  Tippecanoe  County,  Iud.  Novem- 
ber 16,  1 83 1,  Mr.  Francis  and  his  bride  arrived 
at  their  new  home  in  Illinois.  On  that  day  snow 
began  to  fall  and  they  did  not  see  the  bare  ground 
again  that  winter,  which  will  be  recalled  as  the 
winter  of  the  great  snow  so  disastrous  to  pioneers. 
At  one  time,  when  Mrs.  Francis  was  attending  to 
her  household  duties,  Rev.  Stephen  R.  Beggs, 
the  minister  of  the  community,  drove  up  to  the 
cabin.  When  she  met  him  at  the  door,  he, 
judging  from  her  youthful  face  that  she  was  the 
daughter  of  the  family,  inquired  where  her  father 
was.  She  answered  that  he  was  on  the  home 
farm  back  in  Ohio.  "Then,"  said  he,  "what 
are  you  doing  here?"  "I  am  keeping  house  for 
my  husband  and  his  brother  Thomas,"  was  her 
answer.  Both  Mr.  Francis  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church; 
and  in  early  days  the  Sunday  meetings  of  the 
congregation  were  often  held  in  his  barn,  which 
is  still  standing.  It  is  probable  that  the  first 
religious  services  in  the  borders  of  New  Lenox 
Township  were  held  in  this  building. 

When  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out,  in  June, 
1832,  Mr.  Francis  was  one  of  six  men  appointed 
to  investigate  the  report  of  the  Indian  outrages 
on  Fox  River.  Finding  that  the  reports  of  the 
outrages  were  true,  Mr.  Francis  removed  his 
family  to  Shawnee   Mound,   Ind.     He  then    re- 


turned and  served  as  second  lieutenant  under 
Captain  Seissions.  When  hostilities  ceased  he 
resumed  the  cultivation  of  his  farm.  At  the  time 
of  the  cholera  epidemic  he  was  engaged  in  team- 
ing for  the  government  at  Chicago.  Prior  to  the 
division  of  Cook  County  and  the  separation  of 
Will  County,  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff  and 
held  other  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  In  politics 
he  was  for  years  a  Democrat,  but  at  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war  became  an  adherent  of  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

The  family  of  Abraham  and  Mary  Francis  con- 
sisted of  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  attained 
mature  years  and  married.  The  eldest,  Margaret 
L.,  wife  of  Needham  P.  Cooper,  of  New  Lenox 
Township,  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first 
white  child  born  in  this  township.  The  eldest 
son,  William  D.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years.  Mary  A.  J.  married  J.  S.  Blackstone,  of 
Kankakee.  A.  Allen,  the  second  son,  is 
represented  in  the  following  sketch.  John,  who 
was  born  January  8,  1843,  is  a  prominent  stock- 
raiser  and  dairyman  of  this  township  and  for 
years  held  the  office  of  supervisor;  his  biography 
is  presented  upon  another  page.  Lydia  E.  is  the 
wife  of  William  S.  Nichols,  of  this  township. 
Charles  is  a  farmer  near  the  old  homestead. 
Clara  M.  died  when  sixteen  mouths  old. 
Adalina  A.  married  Jesse  Meharry,  of  Tolono, 
111.  George  L-  is  a  machinery  merchant  in  New 
Lenox  and  also  engages  in  agricultural  pursuits 
near  the  old  homestead.  Carrie  D.  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years.  One  sister,  two  of  the 
brothers,  and  the  widow  of  the  second  brother, 
live  nearly  all  on  the  same  road,  the  sister  occu- 
pying the  center  farm,  while  the  others  have 
places  that  adjoin.  All  are  honored  and  respected 
in  the  locality  and  are  recognized  as  people  of 
superior  worth  and  intelligence.  The  father  of 
the  family  died  at  the  old  homestead  November 
28,  1862,  and  his  wife  passed  away  January  15, 
1884. 


lib: 

OF 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


J\  Qmu^,  i 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


61 


A.  ALLEN  FRANCIS. 


Gl  ALLEN  FRANCIS.  Intimately  associated 
LI  with  the  history  of  New  Lenox  Township 
/  I,  throughout  his  entire  life,  Mr.  Francis  long 
held  a  conspicuous  position  among  its  stock- 
raisers  and  land-owners.  For  years  before  his 
death  he  was  the  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  stock 
farms  in  the  county.  Through  the  exercise  of 
his  remarkable  business  ability  he  became  the 
owner  of  over  one  thousand  acres  of  laud,  be- 
sides which  he  had  other  valuable  interests.  Nor 
was  his  success  merely  that  of  gaining  ample 
means,  but  he  was  also  successful  in  winning  the 
confidence  of  his  associates  and  the  affectionate 
regard  of  his  friends.  As  an  instance  of  the  es- 
teem in  which  he  was  held,  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  when,  after  having  served  as  president  of  the 
Farmers'  Institute  since  1S88,  he  expressed  a  de- 
sire to  retire  from  the  office  in  1S9S,  there  was  a 
unanimous  demand  for  his  continuance.  When 
he  finally  consented,  a  demonstration  was  given 
him  that  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
were  present.  Perhaps  greater  enthusiasm  was 
never  shown  for  a  citizen  of  Will  County  than 
was  exhibited  at  that  time. 

On  the  farm  where  his  entire  life  was  spent 
Mr.  Francis  was  born  September  7,  1840,  the 
oldest  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary  A.  J.  (Davison) 
Francis,  natives  respectively  of  County  Cavan, 
Ireland,  and  Adams  County,  Ohio.  He  was  ed- 
ucated in  country  schools  and  the  Joliet  high 
school.  From  an  early  age  he  was  interested  in 
the  raising  of  cattle,  in  which  he  was  uniformly 
successful.  In  New  Lenox  Township,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1870,  he  married  Miss  Lizzie  J.  Haven, 
who  was  born  here  March  31,  1849,  and  received 
her  education  in  common  schools  and  Dearborn 
Seminary,    Chicago.       She   was   a    daughter   of 


Hon.  Dwight  Haven  (see  sketch  on  another 
page)  and  was  the  eldest  of  his  family  of  five 
daughters  and  one  son.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Francis  were  born  five  children,  of 
whom  two  are  living,  namely:  Mary  L.,  wife  of 
W.  Foster  Burns,  an  attorney  in  Chicago;  and 
Daisy  H.  There  was  also  an  adopted  daughter, 
Anna  H.,  Mrs.  Willis  I.  Doig,  of  Joliet,  who  was 
a  member  of  the  household  from  the  age  of  four 
j' ears. 

When  a  young  man  Mr.  Francis  became  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
New  Lenox,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee;  he  also 
served  as  treasurer  of  the  building  committee  at 
the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  new  church.  For 
years  he  was  superintendent  and  treasurer  of  the 
New  Lenox  Camp  Meeting  Association,  the  suc- 
cess of  which  was  in  a  large  measure  due  to  his 
indefatigable  efforts.  Nor  did  his  interest  in  this 
movement  wane.  Up  to  the  last  he  labored  for 
its  welfare,  and  even  after  his  fatal  illness  began 
he  was  on  the  camp  meeting  grounds  to  see  that 
the  work  was  progressing  satisfactorily.  He  was 
a  stockholder  in  the  Will  County  National  Bank 
and  had  moneyed  interests  in  other  local  enter- 
prises. In  his  business  transactions  he  was  sys- 
tematic and  exact;  a  man  of  the  utmost  probity, 
whose  integrity  was  never  questioned  and  whose 
character  was  above  reproach.  Ever  guardful  of 
the  best  interests  of  his  township,  he  was  one  of 
its  most  progressive  citizens,  and  as  a  Republican 
he  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  life  of  the 
community.  At  one  time  he  was  president  and 
a  director  of  the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
Association  of  Will  County  and  the  New  Lenox 
Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  was  a  firm  friend 
of  the  public  school  system  and  served  efficiently 


62 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


as  a  school  director  of  his  district.  All  enter- 
prises having  for  their  object  the  good  of  the  lo- 
cality, or  the  increase  of  its  material  wealth,  found 
in  him  an  advocate  and  friend,  and  his  township 
had  no  resident  more  closely  identified  with  its 
progress  than  was  he. 

His  strength  as  a  leading  Republican  was 
shown  at  the  Republican  convention  of  1898, 
when  his  friends,  against  his  wishes,  nominated 
him  for  state  senator. 

In  addition  to  the  many  tributes  of  sympathy 
received  by  the  family  upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
Francis,  the  Will  County  Farmers'  Institute 
passed  the  following  resolutions  unanimously: 

"Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to 
remove  by  death  Hon.  A.  Allen  Francis,  our  be- 
loved friend  and  president,  from  our  midst,  and 

"Whereas,  In  the  various  relations  of  life,  as 
husband,  father,  brother,  friend,  officer,  neigh- 
bor, citizen,  he  was  devoted,  affectionate,  kind, 
true,  efficient,  sympathetic  and  public-spirited, 
each  day  living  a  noble  and  exemplary  life; 
Therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  By  the  Will  County  Farmers'  In- 
stitute, in  session  assembled  this  eleventh  day  of 
January,  A.  D.,  1900,  fully  realizing  his  good  in- 
fluence and  in  his  death  our  great  loss,  we  desire 
to  bear  testimony  to  his  worth  and  offer  this  lov- 
ing tribute  of  precious  memory  and  respect.  Be 
it  also  further 

''Resolved,  That  we  extend  to  his  wife  and 
family  our  heartfelt  sympathy  in  their  great  be- 
reavement, and  would  fain  place  by  the  side  of 
theirs  the  kindred  feeling  of  sympathy  and  of 
sorrow." 

On  every  hand  were  heard  expressions  of  re- 
gret at  the  loss  of  a  citizen  so  progressive  and 
noble.  Such  tributes  as  these  were  spoken  by 
those  who  appreciated  the  worth  of  such  a  char- 
acter: "He  was  the  best  farmer  in  Will  County. 
He  preached  the  necessity  of  keeping  up  the  vir- 
ginity of  the  soil.  His  whole  life  stood  for  better 
methods  in  agriculture."  "No  man  has  had  a 
greater  influence  in  Will  County  than  A.  Allen 
Francis. ' '  "Never  was  I  in  his  presence  but  I  felt 
the  inspiration  to  do  something  good."  "Men 
are  drawn  nearer  to  God  when  a  good  man  dies." 


y  /IERRITT  O.  CAGWIN.  During  the  colo- 
y  nial  period  of  American  history  the  Cag- 
(«J  win  family  came  from  Scotland  to  this 
country.  Thomas  Cagwin  was  the  son  of  a  Rev- 
olutionary soldier,  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
war  of  1S12,  and  married  Eunice  Joslyn,  who 
was  also  of  Scotch  lineage.  Born  in  Massachu- 
setts, he  removed  from  there  to  Oneida,  N.  Y. , 
and  later  settled  near  Brockport,  Monroe  County, 
purchasing  a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  in  and 
adjoining  the  village.  From  his  laud  he  platted 
a  portion  of  the  town.  He  continued  to  reside 
there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  sixty 
years. 

While  the  family  lived  in  Oneida  County, 
Abijah,  son  of  Thomas  Cagwin,  was  born,  and 
he  was  reared  there  and  in  Monroe  County, 
learning  the  trades  of  tanner  and  shoemaker.  For 
a  time  he  conducted  a  tannery  at  Brockport,  but 
it  burned  down  in  1834,  entailing  a  total  loss. 
Having  no  longer  any  interests  in  the  east,  he 
determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  and  grow- 
ing west.  Coming  to  Illinois  in  1835,  he  bought 
a  large  tract  of  land  just  east  of  Joliet,  on  Hick- 
ory street,  purchasing  the  same  at  the  land  sale 
in  Chicago.  He  then  returned  east  and  bought 
the  necessary  equipments  for  a  sawmill,  which 
he  shipped  to  Chicago  and  thence  conveyed  by 
wagon  to  Joliet.  Building  a  sawmill,  he  began 
the  manufacture  of  hardwood  lumber,  and  on  the 
4th  of  Jul}',  1S36,  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of 
patriotic  citizens,  who  came  more  than  twenty 
miles,  he  sawed  the  first  board  used  in  the  build- 
ing of  one  of  the  first  frame  houses  in  Joliet.  As 
sawmills  were  scarce,  he  was  successful  in  the 
work,  and  continued  to  manufacture  lumber  there 
for  fifteen  years. 

Meantime  Mr.  Cagwin  served  eight  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  At  the  same  time  he 
bought  real  estate  in  Joliet,  which  he  improved 
with  residences  and  then  sold.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  as  justice  he  was  elected  county 
judge,  filling  the  office  for  many  years.  In  both 
cases  he  was  endorsed  and  elected  by  both  par- 
ties. Later  he  embarked  in  the  grain  and  mer- 
cantile business  on  what  is  now  North  Chicago, 
near  Cass  street,  his  being  the  first  business  place 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


63 


in  that  section  of  the  city.  For  man}'  years  he 
continued  in  the  grain  trade,  at  the  same  time 
improving  lands  and  farming.  He  laid  out  and 
named  Cagwin  and  Scribner  streets,  the  latter 
being  named  in  honor  of  his  wife.  The  property 
is  still  in  the  family  and  is  handled  by  Munroe 
Brothers.  He  was  an  active  factor  in  organizing 
the  Will  County  Bank,  of  which  he  served  as 
president  until  he  disposed  of  his  stock,  Henry 
D.  Higinbotham  being  vice-president,  and  Ben- 
jamin Richardson,  cashier.  Politically  he  was 
a  Democrat,  and  fraternally  a  Knight  Templar 
Mason.  In  the  organization  of  the  Universalist 
Church  of  Joliet  he  took  an  active  part  and  con- 
tinued to  be  one  of  its  leading  members  during 
his  remaining  years.  He  died  Octocer  2,  1890, 
when  eighty -two  years  of  age. 

The  wife  of  Abijah  Cagwin  was  Hannah 
Scribner,  who  was  born  in  Poultney,  Vt.,  a 
daughter  of  Deacon  Peter  Scribner,  an  English- 
man by  birth.  On  coming  to  America  her  father 
settled  in  New  Hampshire,  but  later  went  to 
Vermont,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
sheep- raising.  When  he  was  ninety-four  years 
of  age  he  was  accidentally  killed  by  a  fall  from  a 
tree.  His  brother,  Samuel,  settled  in  New  York 
City  and  founded  Scribner's  Magazine,  long  one 
of  the  standard  periodicals  of  the  country.  Mrs. 
Cagwin  died  March  30,  1892,  when  eighty-four 
years  of  age.  Of  her  eight  children  we  note 
the  following:  Merritt  O.  is  the  eldest  of  the 
family;  Mrs.  Helen  Harwood  lives  in  Atlanta, 
Ga. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Barrett  makes  her  home  in 
Joliet;  Thomas  P.  lives  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.; 
Hamden  A.,  a  grain  merchant,  and  Nancy,  both 
died  in  Joliet;  Mrs.  Rosa  Briggs  is  living  here; 
and  Abijah,  the  youngest,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  Mississippi  squadron,  U.  S.  N.,  during  the 
Civil  war,  is  now  in  California. 

The  subject  of  this  article  was  born  in  Brock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1828,  and  was  eight  years 
of  age  when  his  father  returned  east,  making  the 
trip  on  an  Indian  pony,  and  then,  with  a  team 
and  wagon,  brought  the  family  to  Illinois  via 
Canada  and  Michigan,  arriving  in  Joliet  May  8, 
1836,  after  a  trip  of  one  month.  From  the  age 
often  he   assisted  on  the  farm   and  in  the  mill. 


When  he  was  fifteen  his  father  opened  a  store, 
in  which  he  clerked  during  the  next  three  years. 
He  then  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked  for 
an  uncle,  who  was  an  auctioneer,  and  later  trav- 
eled for  two  years.  Meantime  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  state  land  at  a  canal  sale,  and  on 
this  he  began  in  the  stock  business.  By  the  pur- 
chase of  additional  property  he  became  the  owner 
of  about  four  hundred  acres  lying  east  of  Joliet. 
The  discovery  of  gold  in  California  awakened  in 
Mr.  Cagwin's  mind  a  determination  to  seek  the 
far  west.  In  1851  he  went  to  San  Francisco  via 
New  York  and  the  Nicaragua  route,  and  taking 
his  course  up  the  American  River  engaged  in 
mining.  A  year's  experience,  however,  satisfied 
him  with  the  life  of  a  miner,  and  he  returned 
home  via  Panama  and  New  York.  On  arriving 
in  this  county  he  started  in  the  grain  business, 
which  he  followed  for  four  years,  and  then  traded 
for  twelve  hundred  acres  in  Wilton  Township. 
There  he  engaged  in  raising  high-grade  cattle. 
During  the  war  he  was  serving  as  township  su- 
pervisor. It  was  his  desire  to  enlist  in  the  army, 
but  could  not  pass  the  required  medical  examin- 
ation. Nevertheless,  he  did  all  in  his  power  to 
advance  the  Union  cause,  and  donated  $10  to 
each  member  of  the  first  company  organized  in 
his  vicinity. 

Returning  to  Joliet,  Mr.  Cagwin  purchased  a 
grain  elevator  on  the  canal,  which  he  conducted 
with  his  father.  Next  he  spent  three  years  in 
the  grain  business  at  Wilmington,  after  which 
he  built  the  White  Cloud  mill  and  manufactured 
flour.  Nine  years  were  also  spent  in  the  grain 
business  in  Elwood.  Again  coming  to  Joliet,  he 
bought  an  elevator  on  the  west  side,  which  was 
known  as  the  Jesse  elevator.  On  selling  out  he 
bought  a  farm  on  Spring  Creek,  in  Lockport 
Township,  three  miles  from  Joliet,  and  engaged  in 
superintending  the  management  of  its  one  hun- 
dred and  five  acres  until  1891,  when  he  returned 
to  Joliet,  leaving  the  estate  in  charge  of  his  son, 
Harlow.  Since  his  return  to  the  city  he  has  re- 
sided on  Cass  street,  in  the  old  home  of  the  Hig- 
inbotham family. 

Until  the  first  presidential  campaign  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  Mr.  Cagwin   was  a   Democrat,  but 


64 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


since  then  he  has  been  stanch  in  his  adherence 
to  Republican  principles.  He  is  a  demitted  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  in  religion  is  a  Universalist.  During  the 
early  days,  while  holding  the  office  of  highway 
commissioner,  he  laid  out  Cass  street  as  a  road 
and  also  opened  up  Washington  street.  He  also 
served  as  collector  of  Joliet  Township  and  su- 
pervisor of  Wilton  Township.  During  his  term 
of  service  as  highway  commissioner  he  made 
twelve  miles  of  hard  gravel  road  in  the  township. 
He  has  ever  been  active  in  measures  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  people.  The  welfare  of  Joliet  and  Will 
County  is  ever  uppermost  in  his  mind,  and  he  has 
favored  every  enterprise  calculated  to  promote 
their  progress.  No  citizen  has  shown  greater 
public  spirit  than  he.  Having  been  so  long  and 
intimately  identified  with  the  business  interests 
of  the  county,  he  has  witnessed  the  development 
of  its  commerce,  the  extension  of  its  influence 
and  the  enlargement  of  its  resources. 

On  the  Higinbotham  farm,  in  January,  1851, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Cagwin  and  Miss 
Ambrosia  Higinbotham.  They  are  the  parents 
of  five  children,  namely:  Albert,  who  is  connec- 
ted with  a  tobacco  manufacturing  business  in 
Chicago;  Mrs.  Almeda  Pritz,  of  Pueblo,  Colo.; 
Nellie,  at  home;  Fred,  a  business  man  in  Michi- 
gan City,  Ind.;  and  Harlow  T.,  who  operates  the 
home  farm.  Mrs.  Cagwin's  father,  Henry  D. 
Higinbotham,  was  born  in  Otsego  Count}',  N.  Y., 
and,  in  1834,  when  a  young  man,  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  entered  a  large  farm,  becoming  in  time 
one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  this  county. 
In  1854  he  established  his  home  at  No.  ioogCass 
street,  where  he  died  in  1865,  aged  fifty-nine 
years.  He  was  the  only  one  of  four  brothers 
who  came  to  this  county.      In  many  respects  his 


success  was  remarkable,  for  in  spite  of  hardships 
and  obstacles  in  earl}-  days  he  accumulated  what 
was  for  that  time  a  fortune.  Of  the  Universalist 
faith,  he  was  one  of  the  most  generous  contribu- 
tors to  the  church  of  that  denomination  in  Joliet. 
He  was  a  Knight  Templar  Mason  and  in  politics 
a  stanch  Democrat. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  D.  Higinbotham  uni- 
ted him  with  Miss  Rebecca  Wheeler,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  state.  Her  father,  Samuel 
B.,  was  born  in  New  England  and  removed  to 
New  York,  where  he  worked  as  a  wagon  maker 
until  his  death.  In  1832,  his  son,  Mansfield, 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  what  is 
now  Will  County.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Higinbotham  were  seven  in  number,  the 
most  prominent  being  Harlow  Niles  Higin- 
botham, of  the  firm  of  Marshall  Field  &  Co., 
Chicago.  Years  ago,  on  starting  out  in  busi- 
ness, he  was  employed  by  Potter  Palmer  and 
continued  with  the  latter's  successors,  Field  & 
Leiter,  as  a  credit  man.  In  time  he  purchased 
L.  Z.  Leiter's  interest  in  the  business  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm.  In  public  affairs  he 
has  also  been  very  active,  and  is  one  of  Chicago's 
best  known  citizens.  At  the  time  of  the  World's 
Fair  he  held  the  office  of  president  of  the  same, 
and  the  remarkable  success  of  his  work  attracted 
world-wide  attention.  Politically  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. The  other  sons  and  daughters  of  H. 
D.  Higinbotham  are  as  follows:  Albert,  who 
served  in  Scott's  Chicago  regiment  during  the 
entire  Civil  war  and  died  in  Joliet;  Mrs.  Ambro- 
sia Cagwin;  Mrs.  Ann  Eliza  Demmond,  of 
Joliet;  Mrs.  Gertrude  Leddy,  who  died  in  Jo- 
liet; Mrs.  Ellen  Darwin,  who  also  passed  away 
in  this  city;  and  Charles,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Elgin  postoffice. 


OF       iE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


>  /  r  /? 


^^frS^^f^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


67 


ANDREW  H.  SHREFFLER. 


G]  NDREW  H.  SHREFFLER.  Few  lives  of 
LI  Joliet  citizens  have  borne  a  grander  exem- 
I  I  plification  of  integrity  and  stability  of  char- 
acter than  that  of  Mr.  Shreffler.  From  the  early 
history  of  Will  County  his  name  stood  out  prom- 
inently in  each  era  of  development  and  growth. 
He  was  intimately  associated  with  the  rise  of  the 
tide  of  commercial  advancement  from  the  cabin 
and  forest  to  busy  and  populous  cities  and  pros- 
perous farmers.  In  the  financial  world  and  in 
the  hearts  of  his  fellow-men  alike  he  held  a  proud 
position.  His  was  a  career  that  knew  no  such 
word  as  failure.  Energy  and  vitality,  coupled 
with  his  innate  conception  and  appreciation  of  all 
that  is  true  and  noble,  made  of  the  struggling 
youth  a  man  fitted  to  fill  a  high  place  in  the 
world;  and  such  a  place  he  held  throughout  his 
allotted  years.  When  death  came  he  was  ready 
for  the  summons,  and  thus  quietly  passed  into 
eternity's  joys  one  of  Joliet's  most  beloved  pio- 
neers. 

The  history  of  the  Shreffler  famil}'  appears  in 
the  sketch  of  John  D.  Shreffler.  Andrew  Hafer 
Shreffler  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Potter's  Mills, 
in  Center  County,  Pa.,  June  9,  1826.  He  came 
to  Joliet  with  his  father  in  May,  1846,  and  soon 
afterward  settled  in  Plain  field,  where  he  began  to 
carve  out  his  dream  of  a  successful  career.  June 
7,  1849,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth,  second 
daughter  of  Michael  Dillman.  This  estimable 
lady  died  January  23,  1893;  of  their  five  children 
only  one  is  living,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  S.  Witwer. 

In  the  spring  of  1849  Michael  Dillman  and  his 
sons  started  in  Plainfield  the  first  manufacturing 
establishment  in  Will  County.  In  the  fall  of 
1851  Mr.  Shreffler  entered  the  employ  of  the  firm 


and  became  interested  with  them  in  the  manu- 
facture of  stoves,  plows,  mowers  and  other  imple- 
ments. In  the  spring  of  1863  the  business  was 
transferred  to  Joliet.  The  firm  name  was  Dili- 
man  &  Co.,  the  "Company"  being  Mr.  Shreffler. 
In  1867  the  firm  was  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  the  state  as  the  Joliet  Manufacturing  Co.,  with 
Mr.  Shreffler  as  the  first  secretary.  This  office 
he  filled  so  creditably  and  with  such  foresight  of 
contingencies  that  in  1873  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent, which  position  he  held  from  that  time  until 
his  death.  In  1873  he  bought  out  the  interest  of 
Andrew  Dillman  and  in  1890  that  of  L.  E.  Dili- 
man,  at  which  time  he  became  the  sole  owner  of 
the  valuable  manufacturing  plant. 

Though  reared  in  the  Evangelical  faith  Mr. 
Shreffler  was  identified  with  the  Ottawa  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  during  almost  the 
entire  period  of  his  residence  in  Joliet.  In  every 
sphere  of  activity  he  proved  himself  to  be  a  man 
of  sincere  and  earnest  Christian  character.  His 
name  was  a  synonym  of  integrity  and  honor.  He 
was  also  a  man  of  great  energy,  to  whose  enthu- 
siasm and  determination  the  success  of  the  manu- 
facturing plant  was  largely  due.  As  one  who 
contributed  effectively  to  the  progress  of  Joliet, 
his  name  is  entitled  to  a  lasting  place  in  the 
annals  of  the  city.     He  died  December  28,  1896. 


ELEM  SENSENIG  WITWER.      The  Joliet 
Manufacturing    Company,    of    which     Mr. 
Witwer   is    vice-president   and  manager,  is 
one  of  the  old-established  and  successful  concerns 


68 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Joliet.  Some  time  during  the  '40s  it  was 
started  by  Michael  Dillman  in  Plainfield,  where 
agricultural  implements  were  manufactured  on  a 
very  small  scale.  In  March  of  the  year  1S63 
removal  was  made  to  the  present  site,  comprising 
four  acres  on  Cass  street  and  Youngs  avenue,  in 
Joliet,  where  are  now  large  buildings  thoroughly 
equipped  for  the  various  processes  of  manufac- 
turing. In  1867  the  company  was  incorporated. 
During  the  long  history  of  the  company  its  fac- 
tory has  never  been  closed,  except  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  annual  inventor}-.  Employment  is 
furnished  about  one  hundred  skilled  laborers. 
For  years  reapers  and  mowers,  plows  and  corn 
shellers  were  manufactured,  but  for  some  time 
the  manufactures  have  been  restricted  to  the 
Eureka  Ironsides  corn  sheller,  the  ShiefHer  and 
the  Rural  corn  shellers,  the  Original  Joliet  Cylin- 
der corn  sheller  and  Joliet  Dustless  Cylinder  corn 
sheller  No.  2;  also  the  celebrated  line  of  Pitts  and 
Cary  patent  horse  power,  the  firm  being  now  the 
only  exclusive  manufacturers  of  shellers  and 
powers  in  the  United  States.  In  January,  1897, 
Mrs.  Witwer  was  elected  president  and  treasurer 
of  the  company,  and  Mr.  Witwer  vice-president 
and  manager,  and  thtse  official  relations  have 
continued  since.  The  paid-up  capital  of  the 
company  reaches  $70,000.  The  business  is  car- 
ried on  through  jobbers,  principally  the  Kingman 
Company,  of  St.  Louis  and  Des  Moines;  Avery 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Kansas  City;  Van 
Zaut  Hardware  and  Implement  Company,  of 
Wichita  and  Hutchinson,  Kans. ;  Lininger  & 
Metcalf,  of  Omaha;  Harber  Bros.,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  111.;  and  the  Shannahan-Wrightson  Hard- 
ware Company,  of  Eastou,  Md.  The  products  of 
the  plant  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  country, 
and  the  reputation  gained  by  the  company  is  un- 
excelled for  reliability  of  business  transactions 
and  perfection  of  machinery. 

Mr.  Witwer  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  February  26,  1862,  and  was  one  of  twelve 
children,  all  but  three  of  whom  are  still  living. 
There  are  seven  brothers  and  two  sisters,  viz.: 
John  S.,  a  dealer  in  agricultural  implements  in 
Dallas,  Tex.,  and  postmaster  there  under  Presi- 
dent Harrison;  T.  W.,  who  is  cashier  of  the  firm 


of  Studebaker  Bros.,  of  Chicago;  George  M.,  pri- 
vate secretary  to  J.  M.  Studebaker;  Clem  S.,  of 
this  sketch;  Edward  C,  superintendent  of  the 
carriage  department  of  Studebaker  Bros.'  factory 
at  South  Bend,  Ind. ;  J.  F.,  who  represents  Stude- 
baker Bros,  in  Ohio,  making  Columbus  his  head- 
quarters; H.  E.,  secretary  and  manager  of  the 
Studebaker  and  Lamb  ranch  at  Kersey,  Colo.; 
Mrs.  Joseph  Kopcsay,  of  South  Bend,  Ird.;  and 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Mohler,  of  Joliet. 

The  Witwer  family  originated  in  Germany, 
where  they  were  a  sturdy  race,  inhabiting  the  two 
provinces  on  the  banks  of  the  upper  Rhine.  On 
account  of  religious  and  social  persecutions  they 
left  their  native  land  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
Members  of  this  family  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Earl  Township,  Lancaster  County,  Pa., 
whither  they  went  as  early  as  1730,  one  year  af- 
ter the  organization  of  the  county.  Among  the 
papers  of  Rev.  George  Witwer  was  found  a  deed 
from  William  Penn  to  William  Sensenig,  bear- 
ing date  1734,  in  which  appears  the  name  of 
Michael  Witwer,  an  ancestor  of  our  subject. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Rev.  George  Wit- 
wer, was  born  in  Earl  Township,  Lancaster 
County,  August  25,  1824,  a  son  of  Isaac  Witwer. 
During  the  '50s  he  removed  to  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  general  mercan- 
tile business,  served  as  postmaster  at  Ashland, 
and  also  preached  in  the  Dunkard  Church.  In 
1863  he  settled  in  LaPorte  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  carried  on  farm  pursuits  and  also  engaged  in 
ministerial  work.  In  1S67  he  went  to  Missouri 
as  agent  for  Studebaker  Bros,  (his  brother-in- 
laws),  and  established  an  agricultural  implement 
store  at  Hamilton,  Mo.  While  living  in  that 
state  he  preached  in  his  denomination.  Return- 
ing to  Indiana  in  188 1  he  was  connected  with 
the  Studebaker  factory  in  South  Bend,  and  died 
in  that  city  in  October,  1886,  aged  sixty-six 
years.  Until  one  month  before  his  death  he  con- 
tinued to  preach.  His  wife,  who  was  Elizabeth 
Studebaker,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and 
makes  her  home  in  South  Bend.  Her  father, 
John,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Ash- 
land, Ohio,  where  he  followed  the  wagon-maker's 
trade  and  would   have  been  very  successful  had 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


69 


he  not  lost  several  thousand  dollars  by  endorsing 
a  note  for  a  friend.  His  two  oldest  sons,  Henry 
and  Clement,  started  in  business  with  a  capital  of 
$68,  and  now  give  employment  to  more  than  two 
thousand  men,  the  output  of  their  factories  being 
between  seventy-five  and  eight}'  thousand  vehi- 
cles annually. 

Accompanying  his  parents  in  their  various  re- 
movals, the  subject  of  this  sketch  received  com- 
mon school  advantages  in  the  towns  where  he 
lived  in  boyhood.  While  clerking  in  a  store  in 
Hamilton  he  also  herded  cattle  at  odd  times  for 
Dwight  &  Booth.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
was  given  $500  cash  by  his  employers  and  was 
sent  twenty  miles  on  horseback  to  buy  cattle, 
which  he  did,  weighing  them  and  paying  for 
them  and  then  driving  them  to  the  nearest  rail- 
road at  Kidder,  Mo.  From  1879  to  1881  he  was 
employed  as  assistant  to  Studebaker  Bros.,  at 
South  Bend,  Ind.  While  there  he  joined  the 
South  Bend  Light  Guards  and  continued  the 
membership  at  the  DePauw  University,  where  he 
was  a  student  in  1881-82.  On  leaving  the  Uni- 
versity he  became  inspector  and  buyer  in  the 
lumber  department  of  Studebaker  Bros.,  also 
gained  some  experience  as  traveling  salesman. 
In  1883  he  went  to  Dallas,  Tex.,  where  he  man- 
aged the  business  of  his  brother,  J.  S.  Two 
years  later  he  traveled  for  Studebaker  Bros. ,  in 
Indiana,  continuing  with  the  firm  until  he  be- 
came interested  in  the  Joliet  Manufacturing 
Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  National  Im- 
plement and  Vehicle  Manufacturers'  Association. 
At  one  time  he  was  active  in  the  Business  Men's 
Association  and  was  offered  its  presidency,  but 
declined.  Frequently  he  has  been  selected  to 
serve  as  a  delegate  to  Republican  conventions  and 
as  a  member  of  committees;  offices  of  trust  have 
been  offered  him,  among  them  that  of  mayor  of 
Joliet,  but  he  prefers  to  devote  himself  to  his  bus- 
iness affairs,  having  little  taste  for  official  life. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Union  Club  of  Joliet 
and  the  Hamilton  Club  of  Chicago. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Witwer  is  an  elegant  resi- 
dence on  Cass  street.  He  was  married  in  Joliet, 
October  5,  1887,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Shreffler, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Hafer  Shreffler,  whose  large 


financial  interests  were  inherited  at  his  death  by 
his  only  surviving  child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witwer 
attend  the  Ottawa  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  Mr.  Witwer  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees.  They  are  liberal  supporters 
of  all  church  and  benevolent  institutions.  Their 
home  is  the  scene  of  many  social  functions,  the 
pleasure  of  which  is  heightened  by  their  courte- 
ous hospitality  and  refined  surroundings.  They 
are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Andrew  Hafer  Shref- 
fler Witwer,  born  February  21,  1894.  Their 
daughter,  Irene,  was  born  July  17,  1890,  and 
died  September  30,  1891. 


NON.  EDWIN  PORTER,  president  of  the 
E.  Porter  Brewing  Company  and  the  E. 
Porter  &  Son's  Stone  Company,  both  of 
Joliet,  and  sole  proprietor  of  the  Gold  King  mine 
in  Cripple  Creek,  Colo.,  was  born  in  Granger, 
Medina  County,  Ohio,  April  19,  1828.  He  was 
one  of  the  three  children  forming  the  family  of 
Harvey  and  Harriet  (Culbert)  Porter,  natives  of 
New  York.  He  comes  of  patriotic  lineage,  for 
his  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  181 2  and 
his  grandfather  Porter  served  through  the  entire 
seven  years  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle.  He 
was  educated  in  common  schools  and  Brooklyn 
Academy,  and  for  a  time  was  connected  with  a 
coal  business  in  1856.  The  year  1856  found  him 
in  Joliet,  where  he  started  in  the  malting  and 
brewing  business  on  the  Desplaines  River.  At 
first  his  business  was  very  small,  but,  being 
energetic  and  judicious,  he  increased  it  constantly 
though  gradually,  and  it  has  now  become  the 
largest  brewery  in  the  city  and  one  of  the  largest 
in  the  state.  It  has  a  capacity  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  barrels  a  day,  ninety-five  per  cent  of  the 
output  being  beer.  Mr.  Porter  is  president  of 
the  company  and  has  a  most  efficient  co-laborer 
in  Joseph  Braun,  Jr.,  secretary  and  treasurer,  in 
whose  judgment  and  experience  he  reposes  the 
utmost  confidence.     In  1889  the  brewery  was  re- 


70 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


modeled  and  made  first-class  in  every  respect. 
The  plant  covers  two  blocks  and  is  provided 
with  all  modern  improvements.  Water  is  fur- 
nished from  two  artesian  wells  and  is  declared  by 
chemists  to  be  especially  adapted  for  the  brew- 
ing of  beer,  the  wells  being  in  bed  rock,  where 
no  surface  water  can  reach  them.  On  the  incor- 
poration of  the  firm  in  1893,  the  name  was  made 
E.  Porter  Brewing  Company,  and  continues  as 
such  to  the  present.  The  work  of  brewing  is  in 
charge  of  Henry  Leser,  who  has  had  experience 
with  some  of  the  largest  breweries  in  the  country 
and  who  has  held  his  present  position  since 
1886. 

It  is  not  always  that  a  man  can  successfully 
conduct  two  enterprises,  different  in  nature  and 
requiring  the  exercise  of  different  talents.  How- 
ever, Mr.  Porter  has  not  only  been  successful  as 
the  head  of  a  large  brewery,  but  he  has  also  built 
up  an  important  stone  business.  In  1883  he  be- 
came interested  in  quarrying.  Two  years  later 
E.  Porter  &  Son's  Stone  Company  was  incor- 
porated, with  him  as  its  president  They  have 
since  operated  quarries  in  the  east  part  of  the 
city,  adjoining  the  limits,  from  which  shipments 
are  made  to  many  points.  This  business  is  under 
the  management  of  Harry  E.  Porter.  In  1895 
Mr.  Porter  bought  the  Gold  King  mine  on  Gold 


Hill,  in  the  Cripple  Creek  district,  and  has  since 
been  sole  proprietor  of  the  same,  taking  an  active 
interest  in  its  development. 

In  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Mr.  Porter  married  Miss 
Almena  A.  Curtis,  who  was  born  in  that  city. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  sons,  namely: 
Charles  and  Joseph  C,  deceased;  and  Harry,  who 
is  manager  of  the  stone  business. 

The  Democratic  party  usually  receives  Mr. 
Porter's  support.  In  1864  he  was  elected  mayor 
of  Joliet  and  was  again  elected  in  1865  and  1871. 
Under  the  new  city  charter  he  was  twice  elected 
to  the  mayor's  office  for  two  years  (in  1879  and 
1881)  and  in  1883  was  elected  for  a  term  of  four 
years,  his  entire  service  in  this  position  covering 
a  longer  period  than  that  of  any  other  mayor  the 
city  has  had.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Business 
Men's  Association.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Matteson  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which 
he  is  a  past  officer.  In  personal  characteristics 
he  is  conservative,  unassuming  and  reserved; 
deliberate  in  forming  his  judgment,  but  not  easily 
changed  when  once  a  course  of  action  is  decided 
upon;  devoted  to  his  business  and  finding  his 
keenest  enjoyment  in  the  management  of  large 
financial  enterprises;  yet  withal,  to  those  who 
know  him  well,  a  genial  companion  and  warm 
friend. 


UNIVERSITY    OF    ILLINOIS 


C,  u^C^CU^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


73 


CHRISTOPHER  C.  ROBINSON. 


EHRISTOPHER  C.  ROBINSON,  deceased, 
was  during  his  active  years  one  of  Lockport's 
most  successful  citizens.  He  was  recognized 
as  a  man  of  unusual  ability  as  a  financier.  Quick 
to  see  an  opportunity  for  a:i  advantageous  invest- 
ment, he  was  equally  quick  to  avail  himself  of  it. 
He  had  many  and  varied  interests,  all  of  which, 
with  scarce^-  an  exception,  proved  a  source  of 
profit  to  him.  Coming  to  Lockport  at  the  time 
when  everything  was  booming,  he  furnished  the 
contractors  on  the  canal  with  beef  and  also  dealt 
in  stock.  At  different  times  he  bought  property 
in  Chicago  and  Lockport,  the  rise  in  the  value  of 
which  greatly  enhanced  his  wealth.  With  no 
desire  for  personal  display,  he  was  economical 
and  even  frugal  in  his  life,  but  free  from  a  spirit 
of  parsimony. 

In  Chelsea,  Vt. ,  where  he  was  born  March  28, 
1812,  Mr.  Robinson  passed  the  years  of  his  youth, 
meantime  learning  the  machinist's  trade.  In 
1836  he  came  to  Lockport,  after  which  he  worked 
very  little  at  his  trade,  finding  other  enterprises 
that  were  more  profitable.  He  made  the  first 
drill  that  was  used  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal.  In  1857,  in  partnership  with  A.  S.  An- 
derson, he  bought  a  farm  just  across  the  line  in 
Dupage  County,  and  for  seven  years  made  his 
home  on  that  place,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Lockport  and  continued  to  reside  here  until  his 
death,  February  22,  1872,  at  the  age  of  about 
sixty  years.  While  he  did  not  care  for  office,  he 
never  failed  to  vote  the  Republican  ticket  at  elec- 
tions and  was  always  interested  in  the  success  of 
his  party.  Though  not  identified  with  any  de- 
nomination, he  was  a  believer  in  the  Christian 
religion  and  aided  in  works  of  a  charitable  and 
religious  nature. 

4 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  Robinson,  April  22,  1857, 
united  him  with  Miss  Lydia  A.  Turner,  who  was 
born  in  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Lockport 
in  girlhood,  since  which  time  she  has  made  her 
home  in  or  near  this  place.  No  children  were 
born  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Robinson,  but  they 
adopted  a  daughter,  Hettie  C,  who  married 
Fred  A.  Bartlett,  and  resides  in  a  house  adjoin- 
ing the  one  occupied  by  Mrs.  Robinson  in  Lock- 
port,  and  whose  love  and  affection  have  bright- 
ened the  home  life  of  Mrs.  Robinson. 

The  home  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson  was 
ideal,  and  much  of  the  success  of  his  life  was  due 
to  the  wise  counsels  of  his  wife,  who  was  a  true 
helpmeet.  His  Christianity  was  shown  by  help- 
ing his  fellow-men,  regardless  of  their  social  posi- 
tion or  creed.  The  inner  life  is  the  real  life  of 
any  man,  and  those  who  knew  Mr.  Robinson  best 
admired  and  honored  him  most. 


3OHN  P.  PATTERSON,  secretary,  treasurer 
and  manager  of  the  Dupage  Valley  creamery 
in  Wheatland  Township,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, March  12,  1855,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Ag- 
nes (Palmer)  Patterson.  His  father,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  moved  to  England  when  thirty  years 
of  age  and  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  at  Man- 
chester. In  1858  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  Amer- 
ica, coming  direct  to  Will  County  and  buying 
sixty  acres  in  Wheatland  Township,  where  his 
sou's  home  now  is.  Here  he  followed  farming 
and  carpentering.  He  built  a  number  of  bridges, 
as  well  as  several  farm  houses,  including  the  large 


74 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


residence  of  Thomas  Clow.  Politically  he  favored 
Republican  principles.  For  many  years  he  held 
office  as  a  school  director.  He  was  reared  in  the 
United  Presbyterian  faith  and  always  held  mem- 
bership with  that  church.  By  prudence,  econo- 
my and  good  judgment  he  accumulated  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  bearing  excellent  improve- 
ments. He  died  October  24,  1878,  when  fifty-six 
years  of  age.  Of  his  five  children  two  died  in 
infancy.  Those  living  are  John  P.,  Agnes  (Mrs. 
McPherson)  and  Elizabeth. 

Ever  since  he  was  three  years  of  age  our  sub- 
ject has  lived  in  Illinois.  He  was  reared  in  this 
township  and  received  his  education  in  its 
schools.  Under  his  father's  supervision  he  gained 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  farm  work.  Unlike 
many  young  men,  he  had  no  desire  to  leave 
home  and  seek  his  fortune  among  strangers,  but 
was  content  to  remain  in  the  place  familiar  to 
him  from  early  childhood.  On  his  father's  death 
he  took  charge  of  the  homestead,  engaging  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  was  one 
of  the  original  stockholders  of  the  creamery  and 
one  of  the  commissioners  who  secured  its  charter. 
The  company  was  organized  in  Ma}',  1894,  and 
the  creamery  was  started  August  15  of  the  same 
year,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $9,750.  The  enter- 
prise has  proved  a  most  profitable  one  and  has 
paid  its  projectors  large  dividends.  A  large, 
well-equipped  building  is  utilized  for  a  creamery. 
For  the  year  there  is  an  average  daily  receipt  of 
eighteen  thousand  pounds  of  milk.  The  most  of 
the  butter  is  sent  to  the  Fox  River  Butter  Com- 
pany at  Aurora.  The  quality  of  the  dairy  prod- 
uct is  exceptionally  fine  and  has  given  invariable 
satisfaction.  This  gratifying  result  is  almost 
wholly  due  to  Mr.  Patterson's  judicious  manage- 
ment. Upon  the  formation  of  the  company  he 
was  chosen  secretary  and  treasurer  and  one  year 
later  was  made  manager,  a  position  that  he  has 
since  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  the  stock- 
holders. 

Politically  Mr.  Patterson  is  a  Republican.  He 
has  served  as  a  delegate  to  almost  every  county 
Republican  convention  since  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  For  six  years  he  held  office  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  for  a  similar  period  served  as 


highway  commissioner.  February  20,  1886,  he 
married  Emma,  daughter  of  Jacob  Matter,  and  a 
sister  of  Elton  E.  Matter,  of  Wheatland  Town- 
ship. To  their  marriage  seven  children  were 
born,  namely:  Ralph; Sterling:  Bernice,  deceased; 
Rodger,  deceased;  Gladys;  James  and  Homer. 


ILLIAM  GOUGAR,  one  of  the  old  settlers 
of  New  Lenox  Township,  was  born  in 
Pickaway  Count}-,  Ohio,  a  son  of  William 
and  Catherine  (Abel)  Gougar.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  born  in  Germany  and  emigrated 
from  there  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  in  Berks 
County,  where  he  developed  a  farm  and  remained 
until  his  death.  His  two  brothers  came  with 
him;  one  settled  in  Virginia  and  the  other  in 
Kentucky.  From  Berks  County  William  Gou- 
gar, Sr.,  and  his  wife  removed  to  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio,  in  1S18,  the  year  of  their  son's 
birth.  They  bought  a  farm  which  the  father 
began  to  develop,  but  after  four  years  he  sold  out, 
removing  to  Vermilion  County,  Ind.  In  1831  he 
brought  his  family  to  Will  County,  111.  (accom- 
panied by  his  father) ,  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
raw  prairie  on  Hickory  Creek.  At  once  he  began 
the  task  of  improving  the  property,  and  from  time 
to  time  he  added  to  his  holdings  until,  when  he 
died,  he  was  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising.  For  years  his  home  was  in  a  log 
cabin  destitute  of  the  improvements  and  furnish- 
ings of  our  modern  residences,  but  in  later  days 
he  erected  a  more  commodious  house.  For  many 
years  Nicholas  Gougar  was  postmaster  at  the  old 
Gougar  homestead,  which  office  has  since  been 
transferred  to  Joliet. 

On  the  Democratic  ticket  William  Gougar,  Sr. , 
was  elected  to  various  township  offices,  including 
that  of  commissioner,  which  he  held  for  several 
years.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  his  district.  In  the  division  of  Will 
from  Cook  County  he  took  an  active  part,  as  well 
as  in  other  important  movements  of  early  days. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


75 


He  had  been  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  and  often  those  of  similar  belief 
met  at  his  home  for  religious  worship,  there  being 
no  organized  church  of  the  denomination  in  the 
vicinity.  He  was  spared  to  attain  eighty  years 
of  age,  and  passed  away  in  i86r.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  died  at  the  Will 
County  homestead  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  John,  the 
eldest,  who  lives  in  New  Lenox  Township  and  is 
now  almost  ninety  years  of  age;  Jacob,  of  Kan- 
kakee County;  Daniel,  whose  home  is  in  Joliet; 
William;  Lewis  and  Joseph  E.  (twins),  the  for- 
mer of  Denver,  Colo.,  the  latter  of  this  county; 
and  Eliza,  wife  of  William  Wilson. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  boyhood  days 
of  our  subject,  William  Gougar,  were  passed  in 
new  and  unsettled  sections  of  the  country,  where 
schools  had  not  yet  been  introduced,  it  can  be 
readily  understood  that  he  had  no  advantages  for 
obtaining  an  education.  When  he  was  fourteen 
yearsof  age  he  accompanied  numerous  Will  Coun- 
ty men  into  the  Black  Hawk  war,  spending  several 
months  on  the  field  of  warfare,  enduring  many 
hardships  and  privations.  His  brothers,  Daniel 
and  Nicholas,  were  members  of  the  militia  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  On  his  return  home  he  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm.  In  1850  he  made  a  trip 
with  four  mule  teams  to  the  gold  fields  of  Califor- 
nia, where  he  remained  for  three  years,  meeting 
with  fair  success  as  a  miner.  In  1853  he  came 
back  to  Will  County.  The  following  year  he 
purchased  a  farm  one  mile  west  of  New  Lenox 
and  there  he  resided  until  1891,  engaging  in 
stock-raising  and  general  farming.  In  1891  he 
bought  a  home  in  New  Lenox  and  retired  from 
active  labors,  having  met  with  an  accident  that 
disabled  him  for  hard  work.  Though  he  began 
with  nothing  he  now  owns  five  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  good  laud. 

No  citizen  is  more  interested  in  the  progress  of 
the  township  than  is  Mr.  Gougar.  He  remem- 
bers the  days  when  settlers  were  few,  and  even 
the  most  sanguine  never  hoped  for  a  condition  of 
prosperity  such  as  the  present  decade  has  wit- 
nessed.    When  Indians  were  numerous  and  hos- 


tile, on  one  occasion  they  drove  the  family  from 
home,  and  they  remained  in  the  Wabash  country 
until  the  fall  of  1832,  when  they  came  back  to 
Will  County.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Grange  and  aided  in  its  organization.  In  politics 
a  Democrat,  he  served  as  supervisor  for  one  term 
and  as  school  director  for  several  terms,  and  has 
aided  in  the  erection  of  schoolhouses  and  other 
public  buildings.  By  his  marriage,  in  1859,  to 
Clarissa,  daughter  of  Baldwin  Hawkins,  of  Kan- 
kakee County,  111.,  he  has  three  children:  Will- 
iam Joel,  who  has  successfully  engaged  in  farm- 
ing,  Helen  and  Frank. 


ROBERT  MILNE,  who  was  a  pioneer  of 
Lockport,  was  one  of  the  first  to  bring 
thoroughbred  Shorthorn  cattle  into  this  lo- 
cality, and  was  a  man  of  great  energy  of  charac- 
ter and  kindness  of  heart.  He  was  of  Scotch 
birth,  born  February  14,  1805,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  country,  where  he  learned  and 
followed  the  stone-mason's  trade.  When  thirty 
years  of  age  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  Canada, 
where  he  remained  for  a  few  months.  About 
1836  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  had  contracts 
for  putting  the  locks  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal.  On  completing  the  work  he  returned  to 
Canada,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  a  con- 
tractor, the  two  opening  up  work  on  the  Wellaud 
canal.  Returning  to  Lockport  he  took  the  con- 
tract for  putting  in  the  locks  near  here,  and  in 
this  way  he  was  led  to  establish  his  home  here. 
For  several  years  he  operated  and  managed  a 
planing  and  saw  mill,  and  upon  selling  out  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
a  part  of  which  now  lies  in  the  city  of  Lockport. 
Turning  his  attention  to  the  improvement  of 
the  property,  he  continued  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  his  death.  He  was  a  very  progressive 
man,  and  was  a  leader  in  introducing  Shorthorn 
cattle  into  this  county,  going  to  Scotland  for  the 
purpose  of  purchasing  a  number  of  thorough- 
breds. 


76 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


December  31,  1846,  Mr.  Milne  married  Miss 
Isabel  Maitland,  who  was  born  and  educated 
in  Aberdeen,  Scotland.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
years,  accompanied  by  her  two  sisters,  she 
landed  in  America,  proceeding  at  once  to  Chi- 
cago, where  she  made  her  home  until  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  To  their  marriage  nine 
children  were  born;  of  these  we  note  the  fol- 
lowing: William,  who  was  for  twenty  years  a 
clerk  and  collector  in  the  canal  office,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  umbrellas  and  canes 
in  New  York  City;  Jennie  is  the  widow  of  John 
M.  Frowe,  ofEvanston,  111.;  Robert  is  extensive- 
ly engaged  in  the  hay  business  at  Baxter  Springs, 
Kans. ;  Isabel  is  the  wife  of  John  I.  Rice,  of  Chi- 
cago; Agnes  M.  is  the  wife  of  Henry  D.  Baker, 
of  Evanston;  Margaret  M.  married  Charles  A. 
Ewen  and  they  reside  with  her  mother;  Georgia- 
ua  died  at  thirty  years  of  age;  James  A.  has 
charge  of  the  homestead;  and  Frank  M.  is  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Chicago. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Milne  was  a  deacon  in  the 
Congregational  Church.  His  family  also  took 
an  interest  in  the  work  of  that  church,  and  his 
wife  is  still  one  of  its  most  faithful  members. 
For  eight  years  he  served  as  a  commissioner  on 
the  canal.  While  he  never  attained  wealth,  he 
accumulated  a  competency,  in  spite  of  many  ob- 
stacles that  beset  him;  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  left  an  improved  farm  for  his  widow 
and  children.  He  passed  from  earth  November 
2,  1892,  after  a  useful  and  successful  life,  and  was 
followed  to  his  grave  by  the  respect  of  the  many 
acquaintances  he  had  made  after  coming  to  this 
county. 


C|OHN  D.  SHREFFLER.  During  the  more 
I  than  fifty  years  that  Mr.  Shreffler  has  made 
Q)  his  home  in  this  county  he  has  gained  a 
wide  acquaintance  and  a  high  standing  among 
its  citizens.  In  former  years  his  business  inter- 
ests required  his  presence  in  other  counties  and 
states  much  of  the  time,  yet  he  always  kept  in 
touch  with  affairs  in  his  home  neighborhood,  and 


gave  his  influence  in  behalf  of  measures  for  the 
benefit  of  the  people.  Though  now  in  the  twi- 
light of  his  useful  life,  he  is  still  remarkably 
active  and  retains  his  interest  in  matters  relating 
to  the  welfare  of  the  state  and  nation.  He  has 
witnessed  with  pride  the  gradual  growth  of  the 
county,  the  introduction  of  railroads,  telegraph 
and  telephone  lines,  the  founding  of  villages  and 
the  improvement  of  valuable  farms  from  the 
broad-stretching  prairie,  and  in  all  of  this  work 
of  development  he  has  borne  no  insignificant 
part.  He  has  not  sought  positions  of  an  official 
nature,  preferring  the  part  of  a  private  citizen, 
whose  duties  he  has  at  all  times  striven  to  fill; 
but,  though  not  an  office-seeker  nor  a  politician, 
he  consented,  at  the  request  of  the  voters  of  his 
section,  to  hold  the  office  of  assessor  as  well  as  a 
number  of  village  offices. 

The  Shreffler  family  has  been  identified  with 
American  history  for  at  least  four  generations, 
having  come  from  Germany  in  an  early  da}'. 
Henry  Slireffler,  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  as  a 
result  of  the  exposure  and  sufferings  of  those 
memorable  years,  lost  his  eyesight.  Among  his 
four  sons  and  one  daughter  was  a  son,  Daniel, 
who  was  educated  in  subscription  schools  and 
under  his  father,  learned  the  weaver's  trade,  be- 
sides which  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  a 
zealous  worker  in  the  Evangelical  Association 
and  often  officiated  as  a  local  preacher  in  that 
denomination.  Politically'  he  was  a  Democrat. 
By  his  marriage  to  Catherine  Daubermau  he  had 
six  children,  of  whom  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters are  deceased,  the  survivors  being  John  D. 
and  Mrs.   Rebecca  Hahn,  both  of  this  county. 

In  Center  County,  Pa.,  John  D.  Shreffler  was 
born  in  18 17.  Reared  on  a  farm,  he  early  be- 
came familiar  with  that  occupation.  In  the  spring 
of  1846  he  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Will  County,  bringing  with  him  his 
bride,  who  was  Sarah  A.  Touner,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. After  a  time  he  became  connected  with 
C.  Aultman  &  Co.,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  as  their 
representative  in  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  the 
states  west,  for  the  sale  of  the  Buckeye  reaper 
and  the  Sweepstakes  thresher.     He  was  given 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


77 


charge  of  the  appointing  and  supervision  of  local 
agents  and  also  made  all  collections  for  the  firm 
in  his  district.  Some  years  later  the  business 
was  divided,  and  he  was  given  charge  of  the 
reaper  and  mower  department.  He  continued 
with  the  company  for  ten  years,  meantime  travel- 
ing through  every  section  of  Illinois  and  also 
visiting  other  states.  Through  his  energy  and 
perseverance  a  large  business  was  built  up.  Sup- 
plies were  distributed  from  Chicago  to  the  vari- 
ous points,  as  ordered.  During  the  fall  of  each 
year  he  visited  count}'  fairs,  exhibiting  the  im- 
plements for  which  he  was  agent.  However, 
the  business  required  him  to  be  away  from  home 
so  much  of  the  time  that  he  became  dissatisfied 
and  determined  to  retire  from  it.  Settling  up  his 
accounts,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  landed  interests  in  Will  County. 
His  farm  was  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
village  of  Plainfield,  and  all  but  ninety-one  acres 
of  the  quarter  section  was  within  the  village 
limits;  a  portion  of  the  place  has  since  been  platted 
in  town  lots  and  sold.  Besides  the  buying  and 
selling  of  land,  he  erected  a  number  of  business 
buildings  and  several  residences,  which  he  rents. 
He  was  also  contractor  in  the  building  of  one  of 
the  former  Plainfield  schoolhouses.  He  has  in- 
vested largely  in  both  improved  and  unimproved 
real  estate,  and  has  held  the  most  of  what  he  has 
bought. 

Since  the  time  of  John  C.  Fremont's  presi- 
dential campaign,  Mr.  ShrefHer  has  been  a  Re- 
publican. Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Plain- 
field  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  When  a  young  man 
he  united  with  the  Methodist  Church  and  he  has 
since  been  an  active  worker  in  the  denomination, 
being  one  of  the  leading  supporters  of  the  con- 
gregation at  Plainfield.  He  has  aided  in  the 
erection  of  two  edifices  in  this  place,  the  second 
of  which  is  the  finest  ever  built  here,  being  a 
stone  structure  that  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $18,000. 
As  chairman  of  the  building  committee,  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  work  fell  largely  upon  him, 
and  he  gave  not  only  of  his  time,  but  also  very 
liberally  of  his  means.  He  has  held  the  various  of- 
fices in  the  church  and  is  now  serving  as  a 
steward  and  trustee.     In   former   years  he  also 


held  the  office  of  Sunday-school  superintendent. 
Not  only  religious,  but  all  worth}7  charitable 
movements,  have  received  his  encouragement 
and  aid.  No  worthy  object  of  charity  ever  ap- 
pealed to  him  in  vain  for  help;  yet,  while  he  has 
been  a  constant  giver,  he  has  done  it  so  quietly 
and  unostentatiously  that  it  may  be  truly  said  of 
him  the  right  hand  knew  not  what  the  left  hand 
did.  Having  no  children  of  his  own,  it  has  been 
one  of  his  pleasures  to  help  the  children  of 
others,  and  he  is  exceedingly  popular  among  the 
little  ones  of  his  neighborhood.  As  one  of  the 
early  residents  of  the  county,  and  a  man  whose 
energies  have  been  devoted  to  the  development 
of  its  agricultural  resources,  his  name  well  de- 
serves mention  in  this  work. 


EWIS  F.  GOUGAR,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
It  New  Lenox  Township,  was  born  November 
l_J  15,  1852,  upon  the  farm  where  he  still  lives. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  Gougar,  who  was  born  in 
Montour  County,  Pa.,  March  20,  1810,  a  son  of 
William  and  Catherine  (Abel)  Gougar,  reference 
to  whom  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  William 
Gougar  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  The 
family  were  pioneers  of  Ohio,  where,  in  18 18,  the 
grandfather  in  one  day,  beginning  before  sunrise 
and  finishing  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
cut  and  shocked  forty  acres  with  a  hand  sickle. 
The  great-great-grandmother  was  killed  by  In- 
dians in  Pennsylvania  and  her  two  daughters 
were  taken  prisoners.  Several  years  later  one  of 
the  daughters  returned  home,  but  the  other  was 
never  heard  of  again. 

At  the  time  the  family  moved  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Ohio  John  Gougar  was  eight  years  of 
age.  September  10,  1830,  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  what  is  now  New  Lenox  Township, 
Will  County  (then  Cook  County),  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  govern- 
ment land  at  $1.25  an  acre.  Building  a  log 
cabin,  he  began  the  task  of  clearing  and  im- 
proving the  land.      In    1831    his    parents  joined 


78 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


him  here.  Throughout  his  entire  active  life  he 
continued  to  manage  the  same  property.  During 
the  Black  Hawk  war  he  was  a  member  of  the 
home  guard,  which  was  subject  to  call  at  any 
time.  He  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead, 
but  for  years  has  been  retired  from  active  labors. 
In  spite  of  his  advanced  years  he  takes  an  intelli- 
gent interest  in  public  affairs  and  retains  his 
mental  and  physical  faculties  to  a  large  degree. 
All  of  his  active  life  was  passed  on  the  frontier. 
When  he  went  to  Ohio  in  1818  that  state  was  still 
undeveloped  and  comparatively  unsettled,  and  for 
many  years  after  he  came  to  Illinois  the  sur- 
roundings were  those  of  the  frontier.  In  an 
early  day,  when  he  was  cutting  wheat  with  an 
old-fashioned  hand  sickle,  by  some  accident  he 
cut  the  little  finger  of  his  left  hand,  and  the  scar 
may  still  be  seen.  On  the  site  of  the  farm  was 
at  one  time  an  Indian  cemetery,  on  which  was  to 
be  seen  a  pole  bearing  a  white  flag.  His  son, 
Lewis  F. ,  found  many  Indian  relics  on  the  farm, 
and  to  these  he  has  added  by  purchase  till  now 
he  has  a  fine  collection.  When  the  treaty  was 
made  by  which  the  Indians  were  removed  from 
this  locality,  before  departing  they  came  to  the 
cemetery  for  the  last  time  and  observed  in  due 
form  all  of  their  ceremonies  of  mourning.  In 
1883,  when  a  barn  was  built  on  the  farm,  several 
Indian  relics  were  found. 

John  Gougaris  a  Democrat  in  national  political 
issues,  but  in  his  township  affairs  he  votes  for  the 
best  man,  regardless  of  party.  He  is  a  pioneer 
of  the  old  type  and  will  long  be  remembeied  by 
the  descendants  of  the  pioneers  as  a  kind-hearted, 
honest  man.  To-day  he  is  one  of  the  few  sur- 
viving members  of  the  early  pioneers  who  laid 
the  foundation  for  the  great  state  of  Illinois. 

In  1849  John  Gougar  married  Mary  Ann 
Miller,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  died 
on  the  homestead  January  29,  1896,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  Her  sister,  Mrs.  Polly 
Williams,  who  resided  with  her,  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-eight.  Lewis  F.  Gougar,  who  was  the 
only  child  of  his  parents,  has  been  a  lifelong  resi- 
dent of  this  county,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  here  and  in  Englewood  high 
school.     When    his  father,  owing  to    advancing 


years,  retired  from  the  active  management  of  the 
home  place,  he  succeeded  to  it,  and  has  since 
made  a  number  of  important  improvements.  He 
is  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  forty  acres,  on 
which  he  engages  in  raising  stock  and  farm  pro- 
duce. Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  in  national 
issues  and  in  local  matters  is  independent.  For 
several  years  he  has  served  as  school  director  and 
road  master.  In  religion  he  is  an  Episcopalian. 
His  marriage,  May  14,  1891,  united  him  with  Miss 
Gertrude  Richards,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Al- 
mira  (Cooley)  Richards,  now  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, this  county.  They  have  two  children, 
Davis  R.  and  Mary  Almira,  the  latter  named 
after  her  two  grandmothers. 


@ELAH  PERKINS  NORTH  was  born  at 
?\  Monroe  Falls,  Ohio,  August  21,  1842.  He 
\~/  was  educated  at  Valparaiso  College,  at  Val- 
paraiso, Ind.,  and  in  early  life  learned  the  mill- 
er's trade  at  that  place,  following  the  occupation 
there  for  six  years.  While  working  as  a  miller 
he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  in  August,  1862, 
becoming  a  member  of  the  marine  artillery  at 
Chicago,  111.  It  was  the  original  plan  to  assign 
the  artillery  to  the  Mississippi  River  marine  gun- 
boats, but  a  change  was  made  and  they  were  sent 
to  Roanoke  Island,  thence  to  Newbern,  N.  C, 
and  mustered  out  in  1863.  After  some  months 
in  Valparaiso,  the  following  year  Mr.  North  was 
drafted  into  service  and  entered  the  Seventeenth 
Indiana  Mounted  Infantry,  a  part  of  General 
Wilson's  cavalry  corps,  and  in  this  he  served  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war.  While  he  was  serving  in 
the  quartermaster's  department  at  Macon,  Ga., 
news  of  the  close  of  the  rebellion  reached  him. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  and  honora- 
bly discharged. 

Returning  to  Valparaiso  Mr.  North  resumed 
work  as  a  miller.  In  1867  he  moved  to  Madison, 
Wis. ,  wmere  he  became  a  retail  grocer.  During 
his  residence  there  he  married,  at  Lockport,  111., 
March  31,  1S6S,  Miss  Mary  L.  Hawley,  daughter 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


79 


of  Warren  Hawley,  who  settled  in  Loekport 
Township,  this  county,  in  1835.  While  he  was 
in  the  Normal  school  at  Valparaiso  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Miss  Hawley,  who  was  a  student 
in  that  institution.  After  their  marriage  they 
settled  in  Madison.  After  the  death  of  Mrs. 
North's  mother  they  came  to  Loekport  Township 
and  settled  on  the  old  Hawley  homestead,  caring 
for  Warren  Hawley  until  his  death,  July  1,  1898, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

Since  his  removal  to  Loekport  Township  Mr. 
North  has  been  connected  with  its  farm  interests. 
Being  an  industrious  and  capable  farmer,  and 
ably  assisted  by  his  wife,  he  was  prospered.  In 
1895  he  was  enabled  to  buy  the  old  Hawley 
homestead  of  eighty-eight  acres,  which  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  township.  Mrs.  North  was  born 
on  this  place,  and  its  associations,  extending  back 
to  her  earliest  recollections,  are  dear  to  her.  She 
is  a  well-educated  lady  and  for  a  number  of  years 
before  her  marriage  taught  in  Michigan  and  Illi- 
nois, proving  an  efficient  educator.  She  is  one 
of  the  highly  esteemed  ladies  of  the  township. 

Fraternally  Mr.  North  is  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  has 
taken  a  warm  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  The  good  roads  in  his  district  and 
township  are  largely  due  to  his  energy  and  per- 
severance, during  the  nine  years  that  he  filled 
the  office  of  highway  commissioner.  In  educa- 
tional matters  he  has  been  actively  interested. 
For  twenty- one  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  school  directors,  during  which  time  he 
did  much  to  advance  the  cause  of  education.  The 
main  responsibility  of  managing  the  school  fell 
upon  him  while  he  was  a  director,  and  to  his 
credit  it  may  be  said  that  he  discharged  every 
duty  faithfully  and  well. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  North  became  the  parents  of  six 
children.  Those  living  are:  John  E.,  a  physician 
and  surgeon,  married  and  living  at  Rock  Rapids, 
Iowa;  William  W.,  attorney  at  Loekport,  111. ; 
Frank  E.  and  Selah  H.,  at  home  on  the  farm. 
Sarah  L-,  an  only  daughter,  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  January  13,  1889,  and  an  infant 
son  died  when  a  few  weeks  old. 

Tracing  the  history  of  the   North  family  from 


the  time  of  its  settlement  in  America,  the  follow- 
ing is  the  genealogical  record: 

John  North  left  England  for  America  in  1635 
at  the  age  of  twenty.  In  165311c  settled  in  Farm- 
iugton,  Conn.,  and  purchased  a  lot  near  the 
north  end  of  Farmington  street,  on  which  he 
lived.  He  was  a  member  of  the  church  in  that 
town.  He  died  in  1690,  leaving  nine  children, 
viz.:  John,  Samuel,  Mary,  James, Thomas,  Sarah, 
Nathaniel,  Lydia  and  Joseph. 

Thomas  North  was  born  in  1649.  He  settled 
in  the  town  of  Avon,  Conn.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Indian  war,  for  his  services  in  which  he 
received  a  grant  of  land.  He  had  ten  children, 
viz.:  John,  Thomas,  Hannah,  Nathaniel,  Mary, 
Joseph,  Rebeckah,  Lydia,  Sarah  and  Ebenezer. 
He  died  in  1712. 

Thomas  North,  Jr.,  lived  in  Kensington,  Conn. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  church  and  was 
a  man  of  wealth  and  influence.  His  eight  chil- 
dren were  Martha,  Isaac,  Thomas,  James,  Sarah, 
Samuel,  Joseph  and  Hannah. 

Isaac  North  was  born  in  1703.  He  was  a  dea- 
con in  the  church  at  Kensington.  He  died  in  17S8. 
His  children,  numbering  eight,  were  named  Isaac, 
Mary,  Jedediah,  Lydia,  Samuel,  Seth,  Ruth  and 
Lethe. 

Jedediah  North  was  born  in  1734,  lived  in  Ber- 
lin and  was  a  member  of  the  church  at  that  place. 
He  married  Sarah  Wilcox  and  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Asa,  Levi,  David,  Simeon,  Stephen, 
Sarah,  Olive,  Patience,  Noah,  Lydia  and  Hannah. 
He  died  in  1816. 

Simeon  North  was  born  July  13,  1765.  He 
lived  first  in  Berlin,  then  in  Middletown,  Conn. 
He  was  a  manufacturer  of  arms  for  the  United 
States  Government.  In  1786  he  married  Lucy 
Savage,  who  died  in  181 1.  He  afterward  mar- 
ried Lydia  Huntington  (a  daughter  of  Rev. 
Enoch  Huntington,  of  Middletown,  Conn.),  who 
died  in  1840.  He  had  nine  children,  viz.: 
Reuben,  James,  Alvin,  Selah,  Elizabeth,  Lucetta, 
Simeon,  Nancy  and  Lydia.  He  died  August  25, 
1852. 

Selah  North  was  born  at  Berlin,  Conn.,  in 
1 79 1.  He  was  killed  by  lightning  in  his  own 
farm  house  at   Monroe  Falls,  Ohio,  August  13, 


8o 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1850.  He  had  thirteen  children,  viz. :  Nancy, 
Julia,  Egbert,  George,  John,  Phillip,  Charles, 
Sarah,  Newell,  Charlotte,  Ellen,  Bessie  and 
Selah  P.  (the  subject  of  this  sketch),  the  four  last 
mentioned  by  his  second  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Sarah  Perkins,  and  who  died  March  2, 
1872,  aged  seventy  two  years. 


YMAN  W.  FARNAM,  who  owns  and  oc- 
I  C  cupies  a  pleasant  little  homestead  of  ten 
l  J  acres  near  the  village  of  Crete,  was  born  in 
Franklin  County,  Mass.,  January  14,  1834.  His 
father,  William,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born 
March  1,  1804,  spent  his  entire  life  on  a  farm  in 
that  state,  and  died  there  July  7,  1869.  Politi- 
cally he  voted  with  the  Democrats  until  the  anti- 
slavery  agitation  arose,  when  he  sided  with  the 
Republicans,  and  always  after  i860  voted  the 
Republican  ticket.  He  was  a  son  of  Heman  and 
Mary  (Field)  Farnam,  natives  of  Massachusetts. 
The  former,  born  on  Christmas  day  of  1761,  was 
a  fur  trader  and  dealer,  bringing  his  furs  to  Bos- 
ton for  sale.  He  died  November  8,  1847.  His 
wife  was  born  March  30,  1764,  and  died  August 
12,  1846.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Orpha 
Hartwell,  born  in  Massachusetts,  November  26, 
1805,  and  there  deceased,  April  17,  1835,  at  less 
than  thirty  years  of  age.  In  religion  she  was  a 
Baptist.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Ward  Hartwell, 
a  New  Englander. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  only  child 
of  his  parents.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  was  twenty,  when  he  left  home  and  se- 
cured work  in  a  cutlery  factory.  After  three 
years  in  the  factory  he  came  west  in  1858,  and 
secured  work  on  a  farm  in  Bureau  County,  111. 
Nine  months  later  he  went  to  Kane  County,  and 
later  worked  on  farms  in  Christian  and  Morgan 
Counties,  this  state.     In  i860  he  came  to  Crete 


and  rented  a  farm  near  the  village.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  was  an  enthusiastic  Union  supporter. 
September  26,  1S64,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F, 
Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  with  which  he  went  to 
the  front  and  in  which  he  served,  mostly  on 
guard  duty,  in  Maryland  and  Virginia.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  this  county  and 
for  two  years  rented  a  farm  in  Richland  Town- 
ship. From  there  he  came  back  to  Crete  Town- 
ship and  bought  a  part  of  his  father-in-law's 
farm,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

August  20,  1 86 1,  Mr.  Farnam  married  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Haner,  who  was  born  near  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  May  10,  1835,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  (Mogg)  Haner,  natives  of  Schoharie 
County,  N.  Y.  Her  father,  who  was  born  April 
20,  1S11,  farmed  in  the  east  until  September, 
1851,  when  he  brought  his  family  to  this  county, 
settling  on  a  farm  near  Crete.  In  1S78  he  moved 
to  Missouri  and  there  died  August  2,  1S79.  His 
wife  was  born  October  31,  1815,  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 19,1885.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mrs. 
Farnam  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  the  fam- 
ily settled  in  Crete  Township.  Prior  to  this  she 
had  received  a  fair  education  in  New  York.  She 
is  an  estimable  lady,  and  has  many  friends  among 
the  people  of  the  township  where  from  girlhood 
she  has  made  her  home.  Of  her  three  children 
one  died  in  infancy;  Lillian  and  Mary  make  their 
home  with  their  parents  and  are  popular  and  active 
in  the  work  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Crete.  For  some  years  Miss  Lillian  has  been  a 
successful  teacher  in  the  Chicago  schools,  where 
her  ability  has  won  for  her  recognition  among 
the  teachers  of  that  city. 

Mr.  Farnam  has  never  forgotten  his  days  of 
active  service  in  the  army,  and  often  calls  those 
times  to  mind  when  in  the  companionship  of  the 
members  of  Chicago  Heights  Post  No.  759, 
G.  A.  R.,  to  which  he  belongs;  or  when  he  meets 
other  veterans  of  that  long  and  fierce  struggle. 


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07-uy?r]  a- 


WW*"   «  >^°'s 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


85 


CHARLES  CLAYBORN  SMITH 


EHARLES  CLAYBORN  SMITH.  The  life 
of  Mr.  Smith  was  for  years  inseparably 
associated  with  the  history  of  this  county, 
where  he  made  his  home  from  June,  1835,  until 
his  death,  January  27,  1892.  Through  his  en- 
ergy of  disposition  and  uprightness  of  character 
he  won  a  competency  and  gained  a  high  name 
among  his  associates.  As  a  farmer,  he  was  in- 
dustrious and  intelligent;  as  a  citizen,  public- 
spirited;  as  a  business  man,  keen  and  quick,  and 
in  his  home  relations  devoted  and  affectionate. 
Coming  to  the  county  while  it  was  still  a  part  of 
Cook  County  and  contained  few  people,  he  wit- 
nessed its  remarkable  growth  and  the  develop- 
ment of  its  resources,  and,  through  his  keen  fore- 
sight, accumulated  a  valuable  property,  which 
has  increased  steadily  in  its  worth.  He  was  thus 
able  to  leave  his  family  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances, besides  giving  each  of  his  children  a 
good  start  in  the  world. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Tenn.,  May  2,  iSrS,  a  son  of  Barton  and  Faithy 
(Moore)  Smith,  who  were  the  children  of  Revolu- 
tionary soldiers  and  of  English  descent.  Barton 
Smith  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  six  sons 
and  three  daughters.  All  of  his  brothers  were 
present  with  General  Jackson  at  the  battle  of 
Horse  Shoe  Bend  and  he  had  started  to  join  the 
troops,  but  was  taken  back  home  by  friends  after 
he  had  gone  six  hundred  miles  or  more.  From 
Tennessee  he  removed  to  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
after  his  marriage,  and  in  1835  brought  his 
family  to  Illinois,  buying  a  lot  in  Joliet.  While 
he  carried  on  a  farm,  he  continued  to  make  his 
home   in    Joliet   until    his   death   in    1862.     He 


served  as  police  magistrate  and  deputy  county 
collector.  His  wife  survived  him  thirteen  years. 
They  had  four  children,  all  now  deceased. 

When  the  family  came  to  this  county  Charles 
C.  Smith  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  then 
started  out  as  a  peddler,  making  regular  trips 
through  Cook,  Iroquois,  Vermilion  and  Will 
Counties,  and  trading  his  goods  for  butter,  eggs, 
ginseng  root,  hides,  tallow,  cattle,  etc.  After 
nine  years  as  a  peddler  he  rented  a  farm,  which 
he  cultivated  in  the  ensuing  years.  In  1850  he 
bought  the  place,  which  then  consisted  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  Afterward  he  added  to 
his  property  until  he  owned  twenty-nine  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  land,  some  within  the  boundary 
of  Wilmington  Township.  For  eight  years  he 
had  a  contract  to  furnish  the  state  penitentiary 
with  beef,  and  during  one  year  of  this  time  the 
value  of  the  meat  furnished  was  $35,000. 

About  the  time  that  he  purchased  his  farm 
Mr.  Smith  established  -a  home  of  his  own.  He 
was  married  July  24,  1850,  to  Miss  Coriuza 
Burr,  daughter  of  Wareham  Bissell  and  Nancy 
(Cummings)  Burr.  Her  father,  who  was  a  direct 
descendant  of  Aaron  Burr,  was  born  October  25, 
1795,  and  died  September  6,  1861.  He  was 
reared  near  Jamestown,  N.  Y. ,  and  for  two  years 
engaged  in  teaching  school  there.  September 
12,  1822,  he  married  Miss  Cummings  and  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  remaining  near  Shelbyville 
until  1833.  His  next  removal  brought  him  to 
Will  County,  where  he  settled  eight  miles  up  the 
river  from  Wilmington.  He  came  in  the  spring 
just  after  the  Sauk  war  and  his  family  followed 
him    in   the  fall.     Buying  government  land,   he 


86 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


settled  down  to  farming  and  also  taught  for  some 
years  in  the  district  schools,  having  previously 
been  a  prominent  educator  in  Indiana.  Later  he 
sold  his  place  and  removed  to  Wilmington,  where 
he  made  his  home  for  five  years.  From  there  he 
went  to  Jackson  Grove  and  bought  land,  where 
he  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a 
man  who  stood  high  in  his  community.  His 
father,  Bissell  Burr,  born  December  14,  1771, 
was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  Burr,  whose  father,  John, 
(born  in  1670)  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Burr.  The 
latter,  a  native  of  England,  was  made  a  freeman 
in  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  May,  165S.  His  father, 
Benjamin  Burr,  was  the  founder  of  this  branch  of 
the  family  in  America.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  settlers  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1635. 
His  name,  in  the  land  division  of  Hartford  in 
1639  as  an  original  proprietor  and  settler,  is  the 
first  evidence  we  have  of  his  presence  in  America, 
but  as  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford  were  collected 
from  Watertown,  Newton  and  other  places  near 
Boston,  it  is  supposed  that  he  was  in  Massachu- 
setts some  time  before  removing  to  Hartford.  He 
may  have  been  among  the  eight  hundred  who 
came  to  America  with  the  Winthrop  fleet  in 
June,  1630.  He  died  in  Hartford  March  30, 
16S1.     He  had  been  made  a  freeman  in  1658. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Smith  was  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Hunt)  Cummings,  of  North 
Carolina  families.  Her  parents  came  from  the 
south  to  Indiana  and  afterward  settled  in  Mis- 
souri, where  they  died.  *  Ten  children  were  born 
to  the  union  of  C.  C.  Smith  and  Miss  Burr.  Of 
these  Edgar  Francis  died  in  infancy  and  Emma 
J.,  Mrs.  Herman  H.  Uuland,  is  also  deceased. 
Barton,  the  oldest  of  the  family,  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Smith  &  Baker,  corporation  attorneys, 
of  Toledo,  Ohio;  he  is  one  of  the  prominent 
Masons  of  Ohio  and  has  held  the  highest  offices 
in  his  lodge,  chapter  and  conimandery.  William 
T. ,  the  second  son,  is  a  coal  mine  operator  in 
Keumare,  N.  D.  Ella  May  is  the  wife  of  W.  B. 
Douglas,  of  St.  Paul,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
public  men  in  Minnesota,  for  two  terms  a  member 
of  the  state  legislature  and  now  attorney-general 
of  the  state.     Charles  W.,   of  Joliet,    is  engaged 


in  the  cattle  business.  Lucy  M.  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  A.  Miller,  an  expert  machinist  of  Osh- 
kosh,  Wis.  Cora  A.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Henry  F. 
Hicks,  a  prominent  dentist  of  Joliet;  Eva  S.  is 
the  wife  of  Proman  W.  Smith,  a  farmer  of  Chan- 
nahon  Township;  and  Floyd  H.  resides  with  his 
mother  on  the  old  homestead,  the  cultivation  of 
which  he  superintends.  Of  the  large  family  who 
once  were  sheltered  by  the  old  home,  he  alone  re- 
mains. He  was  born  here  June  6,  1874,  and 
acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and 
Joliet  high  school.  After  the  estate  was  settled 
he  began  the  supervision  of  six  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  that  fell  to  his  lot.  He  is  now7  one 
of  the  progressive  farmers  of  Channahon  Town- 
ship and  is  very  popular  with  the  young  people 
of  this  section.  Like  his  father  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat politically.  Like  him,  too,  he  takes  an 
interest  in  educational  work  and  is  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Channahon  Lodge  No.  162,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.: 
Kalon  Camp  No.  4282,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America;  and  Channahon  Lodge  No.  713,  Court 
of  Honor. 


ETON  E.  MATTER  is  one  of  the  prosper- 
V)  ous  and  popular  farmers  of  Wheatland 
__  Township,  and  owns  one  hundred  and  four 
acres  of  highly  cultivated  land,  bearing  excellent 
improvements.  While  he  oversees  his  farm  witli 
a  careful  eye,  his  attention  is  not  limited  to  farm- 
ing. He  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of 
the  Dupage  Valley  creamery,  in  which  he  served 
as  a  director  for  three  years.  Since  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Hoddam  Threshing  Company  he 
has  held  office  as  its  secretary  and  treasurer.  In 
connection  with  general  farming  he  carries  on 
dairying,  and,  though  as  yet  this  work  is  con- 
ducted on  a  small  scale,  he  has  found  it  a  profit- 
able adjunct  of  farming.  In  local  politics  he  is 
an  active  Republican.  In  1894  he  was  elected 
collector  of  the  township  and  in  1S99  was  chosen 
to  act  as  commissioner,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  treasurer  of  the  board. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


87 


Iu  the  township  where  he  now  lives  Mr.  Mat- 
ter was  born  January  13,  1862.  His  father, 
Jacob,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade  in  youth,  and  later,  in  connection 
with  that  occupation,  he  engaged  in  lumbering 
and  rafting  logs.  In  1844  he  came  west  to  Illi- 
nois. For  a  time  he  cultivated  a  rented  farm 
near  Naperville.  Later  he  took  up  eighty  acres 
of  government  land  on  section  4,  Wheatland 
Township,  Will  County,  which  he  improved  and 
on  which  he  made  his  home  until  1869.  He  then 
sold  the  place  to  his  oldest  son  and  went  to  Auro- 
ra, 111.,  where  he  conducted  a  grocery  business. 
Soon,  however,  he  returned  to  farming,  purchas- 
ing the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject.  In  the 
fall  of  1886  he  moved  from  this  place  to  Naper- 
ville, and  there  his  last  years  were  spent.  Dur- 
ing his  early  residence  in  this  township  he  served 
as  collector.  He  was  a  Republican,  but  not  ac- 
tive in  politics.  The  Evangelical  Church  num- 
bered him  among  its  earnest  members  and  he 
took  a  warm  interest  in  its  work.  At  one  time 
he  owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  but  dis- 
posed of  a  part  of  this,  so  that  at  his  death  his 
possessions  had  been  reduced  to  one  hundred 
acres.  His  wife,  who  was  Nancy  Milliren,  of 
Pennsylvania,  is  living  in  Naperville  and  is  now 
eighty-two  years  of  age.  Of  their  eleven  chil- 
dren one  died  in  infancy;  Abraham  is  a  farmer  in 
Dupage  County,  this  state;  Abbie  is  the  wife  of 
D.  B.  Givler,  of  Naperville;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Rev.  J.  H.  Yage,  treasurer  of  Northwestern  Col- 
lege, an  Evangelical  institution  in  Naperville; 
Isaac  lives  in  Aurora;  Ella  married  Prof.  L.  M. 
Umbach,  of  Northwestern  College;  Henry  J.  is 
engaged  in  railroading  and  makes  Aurora  his 
home;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  G.  S.  Bartholomew, 
of  Rockford,  111. ;  Emma  married  John  P.  Patter- 
son; Newton  E.  is  editor  of  the  Wheaton  Illinois- 
an,  at  Wheaton,  111. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  six  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Aurora.  His  educa- 
tion was  obtained  principally  in  the  schools  of 
that  city.  He  was  fourteen  when  the  family  re- 
turned to  this  township.  Since  then  he  has  made 
his  home  on  his  present  farm.  March  18,  1886, 
he  married  Miss  Emma  Stark,  a  native  of  Wheat- 


land Township,  and  daughter  of  Jacob  Stark, 
now  living  retired  in  Naperville.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Matter  have  one  son,  Robert  Earl,  who  was  born 
July  20,  1 89 1.  Fraternally  our  subject  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
While  he  is  not  connected  with  any  denomina- 
tion, his  sympathies  are  with  the  Evangelical 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  belongs  and  in  which 
faith  he  was  reared. 


KJjKHEMIAH  H.  CUTTER.  For  a  period  of 
Y I  sixty-three  years  the  life  of  Mr.  Cutter  was 
I  U)  associated  with  the  growth  and  progress  of 
Joliet.  Coming  to  this  city  in  1834  he  found 
little  to  encourage  a  belief  that  in  future  years  a 
large  and  thriving  town  would  accupy  the  site 
which  then  boasted  of  only  a  few  houses.  Deer 
still  roamed  through  the  forests,  unmolested  as 
yet  by  the  ambitious  sportsman,  and  wild  game 
furnished  the  few  inhabitants  with  their  supply 
of  meat.  Himself  a  young,  energetic  and  robust 
man,  he  was  well  fitted  for  the  pioneer's  arduous 
work.  Entering  with  energy  upon  the  task  of 
securing  a  homestead,  he  made  an  effort  to  take 
up  a  claim  near  Joliet,  but  the  condition  of  the 
land  grants  rendered  it  impossible  to  do  so. 
About  1835  he  built  the  house  that  is  now  occu- 
pied by  his  widow,  and  two  terms  of  schools  were 
taught  in  one  of  its  rooms,  which  he  tendered  for 
that  purpose.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Joliet 
Township,  which  he  cleared  and  improved,  and 
afterward  he  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  ad- 
vancing years  rendered  manual  labor  no  longer 
advisable.  He  also  owned  and  used  for  garden- 
ing purposes  a  block  of  ground  surrounding  his 
city  residence.  In  addition  to  his  other  work  he 
was  interested  in  contracting  and  building,  and 
through  his  varied  occupations  he  gained  a  com- 
petency that  enabled  him  to  spend  the  twilight  of 
his  useful  life  in  quiet  comfort. 

At  the  foot  of  Mount  Monadnock,  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Jaffrey,  N.  H.,  there  long  stood  a  house 
that  was  large  and  elegant  for    its  day  and   was 


88 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


known  as  The  Ark.  Opposite  that  residence 
stood  the  birthplace  of  Nehemiah  Hobart  Cutter, 
who  was  born  March  12,  1805.  The  ancestry  of 
the  family  was  traced  back  to  Richard  Cutter, 
who  came  from  Newcastle-on-the-Tyne,  England, 
and  settled  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  1640,  after- 
ward engaging  in  copper  manufacturing  and  be- 
coming a  large  land  owner.  Joseph  Cutter  was 
the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  at  Jaffrey.  Capt. 
Joseph  Cutter,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, followed  farm  pursuits  in  that  state  and 
built  the  property  to  which  he  gave  the  unique 
name  of  The  Ark.  He  married  Phcebe,  daughter 
of  Capt.  James  and  Sarah  (Lamson)  Gage;  she 
attained  an  advanced  age,  being  almost  ninety- 
two  at  the  time  of  her  death.  One  of  her  sons, 
Samuel  T.,  who  came  west  in  an  early  day  and 
settled  in  Chicago,  is  now  living  in  Joliet. 

The  eldest  of  the  children  was  our  subject.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Jaffrey  schools  and  Amherst 
Academy.  For  some  time  he  taught  school, 
during  winters,  in  New  Hampshire,  Massachu- 
setts and  New  York,  devoting  the  intervening 
summers  to  the  carpenter's  trade.  On  coming 
west  he  established  his  home  in  Joliet,  with  the 
early  growth  of  which  he  was  intimately  identi- 
fied. He  was  a  man  of  robust  constitution  and 
continued  to  work  actively  until  he  was  more 
than  eighty  years  of  age.  Besides  his  private  in- 
terests, he  took  part  in  local  affairs,  and  was 
elected  one  of  the  first  aldermen  of  Joliet,  serving 
for  several  terms.  While  serving  as  school  in- 
spector he  labored  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the 
public  schools.  He  was  very  advanced  in  his 
opinions  as  to  what  instruction  should  be  given 
in  our  free  schools,  and  favored  not  only  the  ordi- 
nary branches,  but  also  singing,  drawing,  manual 
training,  etc.  At  the  time  of  the  building  of  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad  he  served  as  a  member  of 
the  commission  of  appraisers  and  was  much  in- 
terested in  the  success  of  the  road.  With  his 
mental  and  physical  faculties  preserved  to  a  re- 
markable degree,  he  retained  his  health  and  vigor 
until  two  weeks  before  his  death.  He  passed 
away  March  17,  1S97,  at  tlle  age  of  ninety-two 
years  and  five  days. 

The    first    marriage  of  Mr.  Cutter  united  him 


with  Rebecca  Bailey,  a  daughter  of  Submit  and 
Phoebe  (Rugg)  Bailey;  she  was  born  in  East 
Hampton,  Mass.,  and  died  in  Joliet  February  15, 
1884.  Four  years  later  Mr.  Cutter  married  Miss 
Eliza  H.  Gage,  who  was  born  in  Jaffrey,  N.  H., 
a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  (Worcester) 
Gage,  also  natives  of  that  town.  Her  grand- 
father, James  Gage,  was  born  in  Amherst,  Mass., 
in  1736,  and  in  1779  settled  near  Jaffrey,  where 
he  improved  a  farm.  He  w-as  a  man  of  honor  and 
ability  and  filled  many  offices  of  trust.  For  some 
time  he  was  captain  of  the  New  Hampshire 
militia.  In  religion  he  was  a  Congregationalist. 
His  wife  was  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Abigail  (Briant)  Lamson.  He  was  a  sou  of 
Thomas  Gage,  who  was  born  in  Bradford,  Mass., 
and  married  Phoebe  Fry.  The  founder  of  the 
family  in  America  was  John  Gage,  who  settled 
near  Boston  in  1633. 

The  youngest  of  ten  children,  Jonathan  Gage 
spent  many  years  of  his  life  at  the  old  Jaffrey 
homestead,  which  being  at  the  terminus  of  along 
lane,  was  known  as  the  End  of  the  Road.  On  his 
retirement  from  business  cares  he  moved  to  Fitz- 
william,  where  he  died  March  iS,  1868.  In 
religious  faith  he  was  a  Universalist.  He  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Frost) 
Worcester,  the  former  of  whom,  a  native  of 
Tewksbury,  settled  in  Jaffrey  in  1776.  He  was 
a  sou  of  Moses  Worcester,  who  was  born  in 
Tewksbury  and  spent  his  entire  life  there.  Mrs. 
Hannah  (Worcester)  Gage  was  next  to  the  oldest 
among  seven  children;  she  was  born  in  Jaffrey 
and  died  in  Fitzwilliam,  when  seventy  years  of 
age.  The  founder  of  the  Worcester  family  in 
America,  Rev.  William  Worcester,  from  whom 
Mrs.  Cutter  is  the  tenth  generation  in  descent, 
came  from  England  and  held  the  pastorate  of  the 
Salisbury  church  between  1638  and  1640,  later 
being  similarly  engaged  in  other  Massachusetts 
towns  until  he  died.  The  family  of  which  Mrs. 
Cutter  is  a  member  consisted  originally  of  ten 
children,  namely:  James,  who  died  in  Charles- 
town,  Mass.;  Jonathan,  who  died  at  four  yearsof 
age;  William,  who  died  during  a  visit  in  New 
York  state;  Mrs.  Nancy  Worcester,  of  Pittsfield, 
Mass.;  Abner,  who  died  in  Fitzwilliam;  Joseph, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


89 


who  died  in  Hartford,  Conu.;  Mary,  who  makes 
her  home  with  Mrs.  Cutter;  J.  Alonzo,  who  died 
in  Bozeman,  Mont.,  in  1897;  Sarah,  who  resides 
with  Mrs.  Cutter;  and  Eliza  H.,  Mrs.  Cutter. 
The  last  named  received  an  excellent  education 
in  Melville  Academy,  after  which  she  followed 
educational  work  for  many  years,  principally  in 
Jaffrey,  Fitzwilliam  (N.  H.)  and  Pittsfield,  Mass. 
For  a  long  time  she  was  an  active  worker  with 
the  Good  Templars  and  she  has  also  been  deeply 
interested  in,  and  identified  with,  the  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union.  In  political  senti- 
ment she  is  a  stanch  Prohibitionist,  believing  the 
liquor  traffic  to  be  the  greatest  curse  of  our  age 
and  country.  In  religion  she  is  a  member  of 
Central  Presbyterian  Church. 


HON.  JOHN  W.  ARNOLD,  one  of  the  coun- 
ty's pioneers,  was  born  in  White  Creek, 
Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  February  14, 
1842.  His  father,  John  H.  Arnold,  was  born  in 
Bennington,  Vt.,  in  1808,  and  in  young  manhood 
went  to  New  York  state,  where  he  was  engaged 
as  farmer,  merchant  and  hotel-keeper.  Under 
President  Pierce  he  served  as  postmaster  of 
Schaghticoke,  an  office  near  Troy,  N.  Y.  In 
1855  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Lockport, 
where  he  opened  a  general  store.  He  continued 
in  business  until  1868, when  he  retired  from  active 
cares.  During  the  Civil  war  he  assisted  in  raising 
the  One  Hundredth  Illinois  Regiment.  An  influ- 
ential Democrat,  he  served  as  supervisor  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  several  years,  and  was  a 
leader  among  the  people  of  his  day.  His  life  was 
prolonged  to  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  He 
was  a  son  of  John  Arnold,  who  was  born  in  Rhode 
Island  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The 
family  history  dates  in  this  country  back  to  the 
early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  when  the 
first  of  the  name  came  from  England. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Lucretia  (Vail) 
Arnold,  a  native  of  Vermont,  of  Irish  extraction, 
her  grandfather,  Jonathan  Vail,  a  Quaker,  hav- 


ing come  from  Ireland  in  an  early  day.  She 
lived  to  be  about  seventy-five  years  of  age,  and, 
with  her  husband,  was  for  years  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Lockport. 
Of  their  seven  children,  George,  the  eldest,  came 
to  Lockport  in  1854  and  for  twenty  years  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business.  For  some  years  he 
also  served  as  sheriff  of  this  county.  At  the  time 
the  family  settled  in  Lockport  our  subject  was  a 
boy  of  thirteen  years.  In  September,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry, 
and  served  for  a  year  in  that  regiment.  Next  he 
joined  the  Chicago  Mercantile  Battery,  in  which 
he  served  for  three  years.  Among  the  battles  in 
which  he  took  part  were  those  of  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Cedar,  Oxford,  Vicksburg, 
Haines'  Bluff,  Arkansas  Post,  Port  Gibson,  Black 
River  Bridge,  Champion  Hills,  the  charge  on 
Vicksburg  and  the  siege  of  that  city.  At  the 
battle  of  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  La.,  April  8,  1864, 
he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  sent  to  Camp  Ford, 
Tex.,  where  he  remained  for  fourteen  months. 
During  that  time  he  once  escaped  from  prison, 
but  was  recaptured  after  thirty  days  and  taken 
back.  In  May,  1865,  he  was  released  from 
prison,  and  the  following  month  was  mustered 
out  at  New  Orleans  and  honorably  discharged. 
The  only  injury  that  he  received  while  in  the 
army  was  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  right  cheek, 
the  marks  of  which  he  will  carry  to  the  grave; 
this  was  at  the  charge  upon  Vicksburg. 

After  returning  home  Mr.  Arnold  carried  on  a 
mercantile  business  for  several  years.  December 
22,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Abbie  L.  Mathewson, 
who  was  born  in  Chicago,  June  14,  1845,  a 
daughter  of  Artemus  J.  and  Julia  A.  (Miner) 
Mathewson.  Her  father  was  born  in  Walworth, 
Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  July  25,  1816,  and  spent 
his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm.  After  studying 
civil  engineering  for  some  years,  in  1837  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  secured  employment  at  his  chosen 
occupation.  He  was  one  of  the  engineers  on  the 
Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  Later  he  assisted 
in  surveying  the  railroad  from  Omaha  to  Salt 
Lake.  In  1844  he  established  his  home  in  Lock- 
port.  During  later  years  he  acted  as  county  sur- 
veyor and  was  also   connected   with   the   canal 


9° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


until  its  completion,  being  auditor  of  the  board 
for  some  time.  His  marriage,  in  1844,  united 
him  with  Julia  A.  Miner,  who  was  born  in  Bris- 
tol, Ontario  Count)-,  N.  Y.,  July  6,  1823,  a 
daughter  of  Enoch  W.  and  Lorinda  (Guild) 
Miner,  whom  she  accompanied  to  Chicago  in 
1S37.  Her  father  later  was  one  of  the  contractors 
on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  and  after  the 
completion  of  his  work  on  the  canal  he  moved  to 
Burlington,  Wis.,  where  his  wife  died.  After 
her  death  he  came  toLockport  to  make  his  home 
and  here  died  at  seventy-six  years  of  age.  His 
father,  Amos  Miner,  who  was  a  member  of  a 
pioneer  New  England  family,  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  and  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder, 
which  disabled  him  for  further  service.  Mrs.  Ar- 
nold was  one  of  three  daughters,  of  whom  the 
second,  Isabella,  died  in  infancy;  and  the  third, 
Dora  A.,  is  the  wife  of  William  J.  Gooding,  of 
Chicago,  a  member  of  an  old  Lockport  family. 

Of  the  three  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold, 
the  twins,  Julius  and  Julia,  were  born  July  22, 
1874;  the  daughter  died  July  13,  18S8,  and  the 
son,  March  4,  1895.  The  only  living  child, 
John  William,  Jr.,  was  born  December  29,  1870, 
and  is  engaged  in  the  real- estate  and  insurance 
business  in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Arnold  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Congregational  Church  since 
1S68  and  has  been  warmly  interested  in  religious 
work. 

From  1S65  to  1895  Mr.  Arnold  carried  on  a 
mercantile  business.  During  that  time  he  held 
the  office  of  supervisor  for  one  term,  resigning  as 
postmaster  (a  position  that  he  held  from  1888  to 
1890)  in  order  to  accept  the  office  of  supervisor. 
Shortly  afterward  he  was  elected  to  the  state  sen- 
ate, where,  as  in  his  other  positions,  he  advocated 
measures  for  the  benefit  of  the  people.  Among 
the  measures  he  supported  were  the  truck  store 
bill  and  gross  weight  coal  bill  for  the  miners  of 
Illinois.  He  was  chairman  of  the  military, 
waterways  and  drainage  committees,  which  ma- 
terially aided  the  fruition  of  the  Drainage  canal. 
February  20,  1894,  during  the  second  administra- 
tion of  President  Cleveland,  he  was  appointed 
United  States  marshal  of  the  northern  district  of 
Illinois,  and  held  that  position  at  the  time  of  the 


Debs  strike  in  Chicago.  After  four  years  of  serv- 
ice he  retired  from  the  office.  At  this  writing 
he  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  loan  business 
at  No.  90  Washington  street,  Chicago,  but  still 
makes  his  home  in  Lockport.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  post  at  this  place, 
and  has  been  its  commander. 


(T  OHN  HIBNER.  Jackson  Township  has  won 
I  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  prosperous  farm - 
\Zs  ing  community,  and  this  reputation  has  been 
established  through  the  energy  of  such  farmers  as 
Mr.  Hibner.  For  years  he  has  been  prominently 
connected  with  the  development  of  the  township 
and  with  its  advancement  as  a  farming  region. 
Coming  here  in  August,  1848,  he  purchased  an 
eighty-acre  tract  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  During  his  first  winter  in  this  locality  he 
lived  in  a  log  shanty,  about  10x12  feet,  but  in 
the  spring  he  built  a  comfortable  house.  After 
he  had  paid  for  his  land  and  for  a  cow  he  had  but 
fifty  cents  left.  However,  deer  and  other  game 
abounded,  and  thus  the  family  were  supplied 
with  all  the  meat  necessary,  while  the  other 
necessaries  were  raised  on  the  land.  As  the 
years  passed  by  Mr.  Hibner  prospered.  He  kept 
adding  to  his  farm  until  his  place  numbered  some- 
thing more  than  one  thousand  acres,  but  he  has 
given  his  children  considerable  property  and  has 
in  that  way  reduced  his  holdings  to  over  seven 
hundred  acres.  Although  he  had  few  advantages 
other  than  those  he  made  for  himself,  he  met  with 
remarkable  success,  and  is  now  one  of  the  well- 
to-do  fanners  of  the  county,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  as 
well. 

The  sole  survivor  of  the  eight  children  of  John 
and  Jane  (Caldwell)  Hibner,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1804.  His  father,  who  was  born  in 
Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  about  1768,  grew  to  manhood 
there,  then  went  to  Ohio  aud  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  in  the  Miami  bottoms.  Next,  settling  in 
Guernsey  County,  he  took  up  a  claim  of  one  hun- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


9i 


dred  and  sixty  acres,  and  shortly  after  was  mar- 
ried. At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  18 12  he 
enlisted  in  the  service  and  took  part  in  the  famous 
thirteen-days'  siege  of  Forts  Meigs,  Defiance  and 
Wayne.  When  the  troops  marched  away  from 
the  fort  he  was  ill  with  camp  fever  and  was  left 
behind.  Later,  recovering  somewhat,  he  started 
for  home;  for  days  he  wandered  through  the  for- 
ests and  over  the  prairies  without  food;  he  asked 
for  something  to  eat  at  an  Indian  camp,  but  was 
refused.  However,  at  last  he  reached  home  in 
safety. 

In  18 14  our  subject's  father  removed  to  Rich- 
land Count}*,  where  he  remained  until  1847, 
meantime  acquiring  about  seven  hundred  acres  of 
laud.  During  the  last-named  year  he  removed 
to  St.  Francis  County,  Mo.  In  the  spring  of 
1848  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  after  spending  the 
summer  on  a  farm  ten  miles  up  the  river  from 
Wilmington,  he  bought  three  eighty-acre  tracts 
in  Jackson  Township  and  settled  on  one  of  these, 
four  miles  southwest  of  Joliet.  There  he  resided 
until  his  death,  September  23,  1865,  at  which 
time  he  owned  more  than  six  hundred  acres  of 
land.  In  some  respects  he  was  eccentric.  One 
of  his  peculiarities  was  his  distrust  of  banks.  He 
always  kept  his  money  in  a  safe  at  home.  At 
one  time  he  was  robbed  of  $50,000  and  was  so 
seriously  wounded  by  the  robbers  that  he  died 
from  the  effects  of  the  shock  and  the  wounds  one 
month  afterward.  His  father,  who  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  died  in  early  manhood,  and  his 
mother,  who  was  Sarah  Jones,  afterward  married 
Abraham  Williams,  a  brother  of  David  Williams, 
one  of  the  men  who  captured  Major  Andre.  Two 
of  her  brothers,  James  and  Ben  Jones,  enlisted  in 
the  Revolutionary  war  and  went  to  the  front. 
They  were  never  afterward  heard  of,  and  it  was 
supposed  that  they  fell  in  battle.  Her  father, 
Philip  Jones,  was  a  wealthy  man  and  owned  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  what  is  now  the  heart 
of  New  York  City,  besides  numerous  other  pieces 
of  property.  When  the  war  with  England  broke 
out  a  tory  falsely  reported  that  he  was  furnishing 
supplies  to  the  English  army;  for  this  reason  his 
farms  were  taken  from  him  and  never  afterward 
restored. 


Our  subject's  mother  was  born  in  County  Ty- 
rone, Ireland,  of  Scotch  ancestry.  She  grew  to 
womanhood  in  her  native  county  and  afterward 
accompanied  her  mother  and  three  other  children 
to  America.  Our  subject  was  wholly  without 
educational  advantages  when  he  was  young. 
His  entire  attendance  at  school  was  limited  to 
eighteen  evenings  spent  at  a  night  school.  From 
his  earliest  recollections  he  was  obliged  to  work 
hard  for  his  support,  and  his  youth  was  one  round 
of  toil,  unlivened  by  the  usual  sports  of  boyhood. 
He  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage,  which 
event  united  him,  April  6,  1837,  with  Miss  Nancy 
A.  Kurtz,  a  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Nancy 
(Lowe)  Kurtz,  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  ancestry, 
and  residents  of  York  Count}7,  Pa.,  where  she 
was  born. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hibner  bought  eighty 
acres  in  Richland  County  from  his  father.  Upon 
it  he  settled  and  there  remained  until  1847,  when 
he  moved  to  St.  Francis  County,  Mo.  In  the 
spring  of  1848  he  started  north  with  his  family 
and  brother  Francis,  going  as  far  as  Winnebago 
Lake,  where  he  bought  land.  Two  months  later 
his  brother  died.  Our  subject  entered  two  quar- 
ter-sections of  land  about  midway  between  Green 
Bay  and  Oshkosh.  Later  the  county  seat  of 
Appletou  was  located  on  his  farm  and  he  sold  his 
land,  but  was  cheated  out  of  his  money.  In 
August,  1848,  he  came  to  Will  County  and  pur- 
chased an  eighty-acre  tract,  which  forms  the 
nucleus  of  the  large  possessions  he  has  since  ac- 
quired. He  has  proved  himself  to  be  an  excellent 
manager,  and  although  his  life  has  been  spared 
far  beyond  the  usual  allotment  of  years,  he  still 
preserves  his  interest  in  affairs  and  shows  the 
keen  business  traits  that  characterized  him  years 
ago.  He  is  remarkably  well  preserved,  and  a 
stranger  to  whom  his  real  age  was  unknown 
would  easily  mistake  him  for  a  man  not  more 
than  seventy-five  or  eighty.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat. 

After  a  happy  wedded  life  of  sixty-two  years 
Mr.  Hibner  suffered  a  deep  bereavement  in  the 
death  of  his  wife,  who  passed  away  October  13, 
1899,  aged  eighty-two  years,  eleven  months  and 
thirteen  days.     She  was  a  faithful  member  of  the 


92 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


.Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  a  lady  of  sin- 
cere Christian  character.  Fourteen  children  had 
been  born  of  their  union,  and  all  but  two  are  still 
living.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  James  Ralph,  a 
farmer  of  this  county;  George  W.  and  Francis  A. 
are  farmers,  the  former  in  Grundy  County,  the 
latter  in  Will  County;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  E. 
Price,  a  machinist  of  Joliet;  James  C,  David  and 
Martin  E.  are  farmers  in  Grundy  County;  Nancy 
A.  is  the  widow  of  T.  S.  Shimmin  and  keeps 
house  for  her  father;  Sarah  A.  married  Peter 
Christensen,  a  farmer  of  Will  County;  John  W. 
and  William  A.  are  farmers  in  this  county:  and 
Lucinda  A.  is  the  wife  of  James  A.  Hemphill,  a 
farmer  of  this  countv. 


f"RANK  W.  SEARLES,  M.  D.,  a  successful 
r3  practicing  physician  and  surgeon  of  New 
|  Lenox,  was  born  in  Homer  Township,  this 
county,  March  14,  1852.  His  father,  Franklin 
Searles,  was  born  in  New  York,  of  German  de- 
scent, went  from  the  east  to  California  at  the 
time  of  the  gold  excitement  in  1S49,  and  for  one 
and  one-half  years  he  remained  on  the  Pacific 
coast  successfully  engaged  in  mining.  On  his 
return  east  in  1851  he  invested  the  money  he 
had  made  by  mining  in  the  purchase  of  a  farm  in 
New  Lenox  Township,  Will  County,  111.,  where 
he  devoted  himself  to  farm  pursuits  and  the  man- 
agement of  an  apiary.  He  was  a  practical  man 
in  the  raising  and  breeding  of  bees,  and  was  so 
successful  that  often  he  shipped  as  much  as  one 
ton  of  honey  in  a  single  shipment.  His  death 
occurred  on  his  homestead  May  12,  1S87,  when 
he  was  fifty-nine  years  of  age.  Two  children, 
our  subject  and    Agnes,  deceased,  were  born   of 


his  marriage  to  Emily  White,  of  Ohio,  who  is 
still  living  and  makes  her  home  with  her  sou. 
The  history  of  her  family  is  traced  back  to  Pere- 
grine White,  the  first  white  child  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  a  member  of  good  old  Puritan 
stock.  In  the  possession  of  the  family  is  a  hand 
loom  that  was  brought  over  in  the  "Mayflower." 
During  the  war  of  18 12,  when  Indians  were  dan- 
gerous and  imperiled  the  lives  of  the  white  set- 
tlers, her  grandmother  was  hidden  for  safety  in 
a  hollow  tree,  which  was  so  large  that  she  had 
her  spinning  wheel  put  in  it  and  spun  yarn  while 
hiding. 

The  education  of  Dr.  Searles  was  obtained  in 
the  Englewood  high  school,  Illinois  State  Uni- 
versity and  the  Chicago  Medical  College  (now 
the  Northwestern  University  Medical  School). 
In  1877  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
Returning  to  his  native  county,  he  opened  an 
office  in  New  Lenox,  where  he  has  since  engaged 
in  practice,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  in 
Wisconsin.  In  his  profession  he  has  been  quite 
successful,  and  is  recognized  as  a  skillful  physi- 
cian, who  is  accurate  in  the  diagnosis  of  disease 
and  successful  in  its  treatment.  Politically  he  is 
a  believer  in  Republican  principles.  In  1878  he 
was  elected  county  coroner,  and  he  has  also 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  several 
years.  While  he  is  interested  in  local  political  mat- 
ters, he  does  not  desire  office,  preferring  to  give 
his  attention  exclusiveh-  to  professional  duties. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Will  County  Medical  As- 
sociation. Fraternallj'  he  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  Lockport 
Lodge  No.  534,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  is 
past  master.  By  his  marriage  in  1878,  to  Etta 
Morse,  he  has  two  children  now  living,  Ella  A. 
and  Howard  W. ,  and  has  lost  two  sons,  William 
Lloyd,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and 
Frank,  who  died  at  six  months. 


Y 
OF 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


Ahfyh**^*: 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


95 


HORACE  S.  SMITH. 


HORACE  S.  SMITH.  The  name  of  Mr. 
Smith  is  indissolubly  associated  with  the 
pioneer  history  of  the  Bessemer  steel  process 
in  Joliet.  Like  many  of  our  country's  successful 
men,  he  had  no  special  advantages  in  youth,  but 
made  his  own  way  in  the  world  from  an  early  age; 
like  them,  too,  it  was  not  until  comparatively  late 
in  life  that  he  became  identified  with  the  business 
in  which  his  greatest  success  was  achieved.  The 
high  standii  g  which  he  reached  in  the  steel  in- 
dustry was  due  to  a  combination  of  business 
ability  and  mechanical  ingenuity,  together  with 
the  courage  to  mark  out  new  paths  and  introduce 
radical  changes  where  he  deemed  best.  In  fact, 
the  innovations  that  he  made  were  so  striking  as 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  entire  steel  trade, 
both  in  this  country  and  abroad,  and  men  who 
were  engaged  in  the  business  continually  sought 
Joliet  in  order  to  study  the  latest  improvements 
in  the  manipulation  of  Bessemer  steel. 

The  life  which  this  narrative  sketches  began  in 
Dunstable,  N.  H.,  December  28,  1826,  and  closed 
in  Chicago,  111.,  October  17,  1899.  After  years 
of  service  in  the  operating  and  mechanical  de- 
partments of  railroads  in  the  east  and  west, 
rising  through  various  positions,  Mr.  Smith  was 
offered  the  position  of  master  mechanic  of  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  at  Bloomington,  111., 
a  position,  however,  that  he  was  destined  not  to 
fill,  owing  to  his  success  in  the  management  of  the 
Joliet  steel  mills.  In  1876  Alexander  J.  Forbes- 
Leith,  then  receiver  of  the  Joliet  Iron  &  Steel 
Company,  offered  him  the  management  of  the 
works.  Although  he  was  without  experience  in 
either  rolling  mills  or  steel  works,  he  undertook 
the  difficult  task  of  placing  a  bankrupt  plant  upon 
a  sound  financial   basis.     The  succeeding  years 

5 


were  filled  with  responsibilities  and  crowded  with 
hard  work.  Determined  to  thoroughly  under- 
stand the  business,  he  gave  every  department  the 
closest  attention  and  as  late  as  midnight  he  was 
often  to  be  found  studying  the  art  of  making 
Bessemer  steel.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  he 
lacked  money  and  his  workmen  lacked  experience, 
he  made  a  success  of  the  business.  In  1878  a 
reorganization  was  effected  and  the  Joliet  Steel 
Company  established,  which  continued  until  the 
plant  was  merged  into  that  of  the  Illinois  Steel 
Company  in  1889. 

While  for  a  few  years  Mr.  Smith  was  a  student 
of  the  business  and  followed  in  the  steps  of  others, 
yet  after  a  time  his  originality  began  to  assert 
itself.  He  then  became  a  leader  and  others  fol- 
lowed. Under  his  management  his  plant  was  the 
first  to  roll  steel  direct  without  reheating  from  the 
ingot,  which  practice  is  to-day  common  through- 
out the  world.  His  company  was  also  the  first 
to  roll  rails  without  hook  and  tongs  men,  and 
was  among  the  first  to  introduce  the  rolling  of 
double  length  rails.  In  1887  the  plant  produced 
more  steel  rails  than  any  other  mill  in  the  world, 
over  two  hundred  thousand  tons  being  the  out- 
put; and,  in  recognition  of  this  unparalleled 
record,  Mr.  Smith  was  presented  with  a  gold 
medal  by  his  officers  and  staff".  His  greatest 
mechanical  triumph  was  the  development  of  in- 
tricate automatic  machinery  for  rolling  rails  and 
billets,  which  greatly  increased  the  capacity  of  a 
train  of  rolls  and  dispensed  with  much  high- 
priced  labor.  The  device  that  he  constructed  is, 
with  slight  modifications  in  form,  now  in  use  in 
the  majority  of  the  large  rail  mills. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Smith  the  com- 
pany became  interested  in  the  wire  rod  business. 


■fl 


. 


- 


-'- 


22' 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


97 


sisted  of  eight  children,  namely:  Joseph,  a  me- 
chanic, who  died  in  1859;  Charles,  who  served 
for  four  years  each  as  treasurer  and  judge  of  Will 
County,  and  died  in  Joliet  June  5,  1899;  Mary, 
who  died  in  Lockport;  John,  who  served  in  the 
Illinois  regimental  band  during  the  Civil  war 
and  is  now  living  in  Lockport;  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried G.  A.  Gooding,  an  attorney  of  Lockport, 
where  she  died;  George,  of  Joliet;  Horace  and 
Ann. 

In  Homer  Township,  Will  County,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  September  20,  1837.  In 
1843  his  father  removed  to  Lockport,  and  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  that  place  until  four- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  printing 
office  of  the  Lockport  Telegram.  Two  years  later 
he  began  to  learn  telegraphy  and  after  a  time  was 
put  iu  charge  of  the  Rock  Island  Telegraph 
office  at  Sheffield.  His  next  employment  was  as 
clerk  in  a  drug  store  owned  by  his  father  in 
Lockport,  and  after  two  years  he  bought  out  his 
father  and  carried  on  the  business  alone.  In  two 
years  he  entered  the  bank  at  Lockport  as  book 
keeper,  and  afterward  was  employed  in  the  La 
Salle  postoffice  for  a  year,  later  was  a  (.inn] 
officer,  with  headquarters  in  Chicago.  In 
he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  was  a  clerk  in  thi 
provost  marshal's  office  until  the  close  of  tin-  v,.,,. 
three  years  he  was  telegraph  operatoi  and 
ticket  agent  for  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road in  Joliet,  and  at  t  time  studied  law. 
In  1868  he  entered  the  office  of  the  -  lerl  ol  courl 
and  records,  where  he  remain''  puty,  and 
at  the  same  time  completed  his  law  studies  und<  1 
E.  C.  1  to  the 
bar.  Under  Pi  Grant,  in  1872,  he  received 
an  appointment  a  :  of  internal  revenue 
for  the  sixth  district  of  Illi  eluding  Will, 
Xankakee,  Grundy  an  and 
this  position  b  ••.,  with  bi 
quarters  in  Joliet.  In  1876  ■<  consolidation  of 
office  was 

ed  to  Aurora.     Rel  to  th<  courthouse 

during  that  yi  aastet  of  chancel 

the  eight  folic  ears.    Ii  1 

of  tl.'  sot  iation 

from  Dj:iI  tin 


until  1893,  he  served  as  secretary;  also  for  years 
was  a  director  in  the  concern.  He  is  now  living 
in  retirement  from  business  cares.  In  national 
politics  he  adheres  to  Republican  principles. 
Aside  from  serving  on  the  county  committee,  he 
has  not  been  active  in  politics  in  his  home  town. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Mount  Joliet 
Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Weeks,  in  Joliet,  united 
him  with  Miss  Mary  Munson,  who  was  born  in 
Tazewell  County,  111.  They  became  the  parents 
of  four  children,  their  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Fan- 
nie Morse,  being  a  resident  of  Sonoma  County, 
Cal.  The  oldest  sou,  Fred  B.,  is  manager  of  the 
Western  Stone  Company  in  Joliet.  Curtis,  who 
is  an  engineer  with  the  same  company,  served  as 
quartermaster-sergeant  of  Company  G,  First 
Florida  Infantry,  during  the  Spanish  war.  The 
youngest  son,  Horace  M.,  is  a  clerk  in  the  office 
of  the  Joliet  Stove  Works  Company. 


~~    KIRKPATRICK,   M .  D.     While  the  dat( 
t}  ol  the  immigration  ol  the  Kirkpatrick   fam- 

ily  is  unknown  and  its  nationality  un<  1  rtain, 

then  1  rea  on  to  believe  that  the  family  was 
founded  in  Warren  County,  N.  J.,  in  the  eigh 
teenth  century  l>v  a  Scotchman,  This  original 
emigrant  ion,  facob,  settled  in  Northampton 
County,  Pa.,  in  early  manhood  and  then  engaged 
in  farming  and  boating  Hit  son,  who  bore  the 
11. on'  as  himself,  was  boi  11  at  Pi  ei  mansburg, 
Northampton  I  ounty,  in  [825,  and  in  boyhood 
iva  employed  as  dri  er  on  a  •  anal ,  by  slow  di 
,701 1-  ing  his  way  up  to  b(    a  boal  ownei . 

Ijiii  in;;  a  period  oi  many  years  he  l ished  coal 

foi   1  hi    ( rlendon   fron   '  otnpany.      1  n    1 86  ;  he 
retired  from  boating  and  turned   his  attention  to 

farming  in  bi    nati  1  1 ity.     Prom  1876  to  1889 

hi  -  ultivati  d  a  farm  ■•it  I  entn   Valli  y,  but  in  the 

hiti'  1  jreai  r<  tired  from  a<  tivi  caret  1  has  sini  1 

•  d  on  his  fai  m,  in  1  hi  quiet  1  njoj  men!  "I  1  om 
forts  rendered  po  sibli  by  his  earl)  indu  1 1  •. 
WImii  :i  boy   in     Kirkpatricl    bad  no advan 


98 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tages  except  such  as  his  own  industry  secured. 
He  and  two  brothers  began  to  work  on  the  canal 
in  childhood.  They  were  fond  of  study  and 
usually  carried  their  books  with  them  on  the  boat, 
so  they  were  able  to  keep  at  the  head  of  their 
classes  during  the  three  months  annually  they 
attended  school.  When  he  was  seventeen  our 
subject  stopped  canal  work  and  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  other  occupations.  His  hope  was  to  se- 
cure sufficient  money  to  complete  his  education. 
When  he  was  nineteen  he  attended  the  Bethlehem 
boarding  school  for  five  months,  after  which  he 
was  given  a  certificate  to  teach,  and  for  ten  years 
taught  in  district  schools.  He  was  given  a  per- 
manent state  certificate  after  he  had  taught  for 
four  years.  During  his  vacations  he  took  a 
course  in  the  United  States  Institute  of  Business 
and  Finance,  where  he  completed  the  regular 
course.  About  1882  he  entered  the  Hellertou 
Collegiate  Institute,  intending  to  prepare  himself 
for  a  civil  engineer's  course  in  Lehigh  University, 
but  after  reflecting  upon  the  matter  and  consult- 
ing with  his  preceptor,  he  decided  to  devote  his 
life  to  medicine.  While  gaining  his  initial  knowl- 
edge of  the  science  he  also  taught  school.  In  the 
fall  of  1884  he  entered  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1886,  standing  third  in  a  class  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty-  four.  For  this  excellent 
record  as  a  student  he  was  awarded  compliment- 
ary mention  and  a  gold  medal.  After  graduating 
he  was  one  of  forty-four  members  of  the  class 
who  took  an  examination  before  the  faculty  of 
the  Medico-Chirurgical  Post- Graduate  College  in 
Philadelphia,  and  by  them  he  was  awarded  the 
second  place  in  the  class. 

After  having  visited  for  a  few  months  with  his 
parents,  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  went  to  the  frontier. 
The  Kaw  reserve  had  been  opened  up  a  short 
time  before  and  he  settled  at  Bushong,  Lyon 
County,  Kaus.,  where  he  remained  for  eight 
years.  However,  the  town  did  not  prosper  and 
he  therefore  moved  to  Americus,  eight  and  one- 
half  miles  distant,  where  he  practiced  for  three 
years.  In  October,  1897,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Peotone,  where  he  has  since  become 
the  leading   physician  of  the  village.     Recently 


he  completed  a  very  handsome  and  commodious 
residence,  and  here  he  and  his  family  have  a 
delightful  home.  In  1875  he  married  Emma  M. 
Bader,  who  was  born  in  Hellertown,  Pa.,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Bader,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  that 
locality.  Two  children  were  born  to  the  union 
of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick.  One  is  now  living, 
Valeria,  an  accomplished  young  lady  and  a  grad- 
uate of  Chicago  Musical  College  in  June,  1900. 


HENRY  EDWARD  BUSS.  The  reputation 
which  Mr.  Buss  has  gained  during  his  life- 
long residence  in  his  present  locality  is  that 
of  an  energetic  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  Al- 
though he  stared  out  for  himself  with  very  lim- 
ited means,  he  has  been  prospered  and  is  now  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  his  farm  being  among 
the  best  in  Florence  Township.  Five  miles 
south  of  his  present  home,  and  in  the  same  town- 
ship, he  was  bom  October  29,  1S69,  a  son  of  Ed- 
gar C.  and  Selina  (Gurney)  Buss.  His  grand- 
father, John  Buss,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
at  Jackson's  Grove,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
years  engaged  in  farming. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Ohio  and 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  boyhood. 
The  most  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Will  County, 
and  for  years  he  was  a  well-known  stock-raiser 
and  farmer  of  Florence  Township,  cultivating  two 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  laud.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican  and  during  anti-slavery  days 
was  a  stanch  Abolitionist.  At  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  One  Hun- 
dredth Illinois  Infantry,  and  went  to  the  front 
with  his  regiment,  remaining  in  active  service  for 
three  years.  In  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  he 
was  wounded  and  never  fully  recovered  from  the 
effects  of  the  wound.  He  died  August  4,  1887, 
when  forty-nine  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  a 
sister  of  George  F.  Gurney,  of  Joliet.  She  is 
still  living  on  the  old  Buss  homestead.  Of  the 
six  children  comprising  the  family,  Jessie  is  the 
wife  of  August  Carlsen;  Henry  Edward  was  sec- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


99 


ond  iii  order  of  birth ;  Frances  married  Jesse  Young ; 
Leslie  G.,  Elmer  C.  and  Florence  reside  with 
their  mother. 

The  boyhood  years  of  our  subject  were  passed 
in  the  locality  where  he  now  lives.  The  scenes 
that  now  surround  him  have  been  familiar  to  him 
from  his  earliest  recollection.  He  began  for  him- 
self at  an  early  age.  He  had  nothing  but  a  team 
and  wagon,  but  with  these,  backed  by  his  sturdy 
determination,  he  began  a  career  that  has  since 
been  prosperous.  He  superintends  the  old  home- 
stead of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  having  two 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  altogether  under  his 
control,  and  besides  farming,  is  engaged  in  buy- 
ing, feeding  and  selling  cattle.  He  owns  two 
threshing  machines  which  he  operates  during  the 
season.  He  does  not  concern  himself  about 
politics.  However,  he  believes  in  the  Republican 
platform  and  uniformly  votes  that  ticket. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Buss  to  Miss  Alice, 
daughter  of  Albert  Coop,  of  Channahon,  this 
county,  occurred  January  12,  1890.  They  have 
three  living  children:  Lulu  M.,  Edgar  C. ,  Hattie, 
and  lost  one  son,  Albert,  by  death. 


EONARD  GEORGE  WILSON,  manager  of 
It  the  business  interests  of  Selz,  Schwab  &  Co., 
U  hi  Joliet,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city 
since  1868.  He  was  born  in  London,  England, 
August  7,  1847,  son  of  Leonard  and  Ann  Ellen 
(Weed)  Wilson,  lifelong  residents  of  England. 
His  father,  who  before  retiring  from  business 
was  the  proprietor  of  a  jewelry  store  in  London, 
died  in  1899,  when  eighty-one  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Wilson  had  four  sisters,  two  of  whom  went  to 
New  Zealand.  The  older,  Ellen  Selina,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Robert  Greig,  died  in  1898.  The 
younger,  Annie  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of  William 
Handley.  The  other  sisters,  Matilda  Caroline 
and  Sophia  Louisa,  together  with  their  brother, 
William  Joseph,  continue  to  reside  at  the  old 
home  in  London.  The  paternal  grandfather  and 
one  of  his  sons,  both  bearing  the  name  of  George 


Wilson,  served  in  the  British  navy;  the  former, 
who  held  the  rank  of  captain,  fought  at  Trafalgar 
under  Admiral  Nelson;  the  latter  was  killed  in 
the  Crimean  war. 

After  completing  his  education  the  subject  of 
this  article  took  up  office  work  until  1867,  the 
year  of  his  coming  to  America.  He  spent  one 
year  in  Chicago  and  then  came  to  Joliet,  where 
he  was  employed  by  the  Michigan  Central  Rail- 
road Company  for  seven  years,  and  then  worked 
in  a  quarry  business  with  W.  A.  Steel  for  a  year. 
January  1,  1876,  he  accepted  a  position  with  the 
firm  in  whose  employ  he  has  since  continued. 
Starting  in  their  office  he  worked  his  way  up  to 
the  responsible  position  of  manager  of  their  fac- 
tory at  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary.  His  long 
service  with  the  same  firm  is  abundant  proof  of 
his  efficiency  and  faithfulness  to  their  interests. 
He  is  one  of  those  genial,  courteous  gentlemen, 
whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet  and  the  memory  of 
whom  is  not  soon  forgotten,  even  by  casual  ac- 
quaintances. Since  the  organization  of  the  Peo- 
ple's Loan  and  Homestead  Association  he  has 
been  among  its  stockholders.  While  he  keeps  in 
touch  with  the  questions  of  the  day  he  has  not 
identified  himself  with  any  political  party,  but 
has  maintained  independence  of  thought.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  Past  Regent  of  the  Royal  Arca- 
num and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Egyptians. 

October  19,  1876,  Mr.  Wilson  married  Ella  B., 
daughter  of  Edwin  B.  and  Elizabeth  Cornelia 
(Olney)  Mason.  They  became  the  parents  of 
four  children,  namely:  Ralph  Mason  (deceased); 
Edwin  Leonard;  Clara  Ella  (deceased);  and 
Percy  William.  On  her  mother's  side  Mrs.  Wil- 
son inherits  the  Puritan  blood  of  those  who  land- 
ed on  Plymouth  Rock.  Her  grandfather,  Hale 
S.  Mason,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  descended 
from  ancestors  who  settled  in  New  England  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  childhood  he  was 
taken  to  New  York.  During  the  early  '30s  he, 
with  his  family,  made  the  journey  from  the  latter 
place  to  Illinois,  and  settled  near  Lockport,  where 
he  bought  land.  Indians  were  still  to  be  seen 
roaming  over  the  prairies  and  skulking  in  the 
forests  of  the  state.    Nor  had  wild  animals  yet  re- 


IOO 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ceded  before  the  advancing  march  of  civilization. 
At  once  he  became  active  among  the  pioneers  of 
this  county.  Among  the  positions  he  held  were 
those  of  collector  for  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
Canal  and  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1S50  he  joined 
a  part}'  of  Argonauts  and  crossed  the  plains  to 
California.  For  some  years  he  engaged  in  min- 
ing and  trading  in  the  far  west,  returning  via  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama.  An  enthusiastic  Abolition- 
ist, as  a  member  of  the  Underground  Railroad  he 
aided  that  cause  materially  and  helped  many  ne- 
groes to  escape  from  bondage,  sending  his  sons  to 
take  numbers  of  them  in  wagons  to  Chicago. 
Two  of  his  sous,  George  H.  and  John  Q.,  served 
in  the  Civil  war.  The  elder  was  color  bearer  and 
was  killed  during  a  skirmish  near  Cumberland 
Gap.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Wilson  was  quite 
young  when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois.  For 
some  time  he  was  connected  with  his  father  in 
business.  Afterward  he  was  located  in  different 
parts  of  the  state;  coming  to  Joliet  he  organized 
the  People's  Loan  and  Homestead  Association,  of 
which  he  was  the  secretary  until  his  death  in 
1884.  He  and  his  parents  were  forced  out  of  the 
Congregational  Church  before  the  war,  owing  to 
their  anti-slavery  opinions. 

In  his  business  transactions  Mr.  Wilson  is 
methodical  and  exact.  He  has  ever  shown  him- 
self guardful  of  the  best  interests  of  his  company 
and  in  his  decisions  has  been  wise  and  business- 
like. He  is  a  man  of  decided  and  inflexible 
traits  of  character,  but  with  these  is  blended 
a  cordiality  and  geniality  that  render  him  de- 
servedly popular. 


0RVILL  C.  DICKINSON.  Some  men  de- 
vote their  lives  to  the  accumulation  of 
wealth,  others  to  the  mysteries  of  science; 
some  pursue  Fame's  ever-fleeting  shadow  and 
some  live  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  passing 
moment.  But  comparatively  few  give  their 
lives,  inconstant  self-sacrifice,  to  Christian  serv- 
ice, seeking  neither  earthly  fame  nor  financial 
returns,  but  content  to  labor  and  to  walk  in  the 


footsteps  of  Him  who  said  "Inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  the  least  of  these,  my  brethren, 
ye  have  done  it  unto  Me."  It  is  in  this  spirit 
and  in  this  service  that  the  busy  life  of  Mr. 
Dickinson  has  been  spent,  and  now,  in  the  after- 
noon of  life's  brief  day,  he  can  look  back  upon 
the  past  without  remorse  and  forward  to  the 
future  with  the  Christian's  hope  of  eternal  hap- 
piness. 

Elder  Dickinson  (for  by  this  title  our  subject 
is  best  known)  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  County , 
N.  Y. ,  September  10,  1836,  a  son  of  Horatio  N. 
and  Miranda  (Titus)  Dickinson.  He  was  one  of 
ten  children  and  the  second  of  six  now  living. 
Concerning  the  others  we  note  the  following: 
Charles  is  a  well-known  resident  of  Otsego 
County,  Mich.,  and  a  deacon  in  a  Baptist  Church; 
Julia  M.  is  the  widow  of  Richard  S.  Poole,  of 
Battle  Creek,  Mich.;  Adeline  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Silas  W.  Brookins,  a  Baptist  minister  in 
Dade  County,  Mo.;  Albert  P.,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war,  is  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church  in 
his  home  town  in  Dade  County,  Mo.;  and 
Sumner  H.  is  Sunday-school  superintendent 
and  a  prominent  church  worker  at  Goodland, 
Ind.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  members  of 
the  family  are  active  in  religious  work  in  their 
various  places  of  residence. 

Nathan  Dickinson,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Hartford  County,  Conn.,  the  son  of 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  He  removed  to  Potts- 
dam,  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  and  about 
twelve  years  later  settled  in  Pitcairn,  the  same 
count}-,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  re- 
mained at  Pitcairn  until  his  death.  In  religion 
he  was  a  Methodist,  while  his  wife  was  a  Presby- 
terian. Their  son,  Horatio  N.,  was  born  in  Rut- 
land County,  Vt.,  September  11,  18 10,  and  was 
a  year  old  when  his  parents  settled  in  St.  Law- 
rence County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  married.  In  1S44  he  removed  to  Ottawa 
County,  Mich.,  and,  after  six  years  there,  settled 
in  Battle  Creek,  the  same  state.  The  year  1859 
found  him  in  Kankakee  County,  111.,  where  he 
settled  one-half  mile  south  of  the  county  line  and 
near  Manteno.  Purchasing  a  farm,  he  continued 
to  make  his  home  thereuntil   his  death.     From 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


IOI 


early  life  he  officiated  as  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist 
Church.  He  was  a  man  of  strictest  integrity, 
one  whose  life  exemplified  the  truth  of  his 
religious  professions.  His  death  occurred  Jan- 
uary 20,  1 88 1.  He  had  two  brothers,  Nathan 
and  Justin,  who  served  in  the  war  of  1S12. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  is  still  living, 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island  September  27,  18 13, 
and  now  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter, 
Julia,  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich.  One  of  her  sons, 
Anson,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
Civil  war  and  was  shot  before  Atlanta  July  22, 
1864.  Our  subject  was  given  good  advantages 
when  he  was  a  boy,  it  being  the  wish  of  his 
parents  that  he  might  be  well  fitted  for  the 
responsibilities  of  life.  He  attended  the  high 
school  at  Battle  Creek  and  his  studies  there,  com- 
bined with  his  thoughtful  reading  in  later  years, 
gave  him  a  broad  education.  His  health  was  not 
strong  enough  to  permit  a  college  education, 
which  his  father  wished  to  give  him. 

November  6,  1857,  Mr.  Dickinson  married 
Susan  A.  Beedle,  a  native  of  Ashtabula  County, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Emory  Beedle.  Her 
father,  who  was  a  fanner,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1865  and  settled  at  Wilton  Center,  where  he  died 
in  July,  1871.  While  he  was  not  a  member  of 
the  conference,  he  served  as  a  local  preacher  in 
the  Methodist  Church  and  was  a  very  earnest 
Christain  worker.  After  his  marriage  our  sub- 
ject settled  in  Manteno,  Kankakee  County,  111., 
and  engaged  in  farming  on  land  owned  by  his 
father.  He  was  nineteen  years  old  when  he  united 
with  the  Baptist  Church.  On  his  arrival  in  Kan- 
kakee County  he  found  that  the  nearest  congre- 
gation was  at  Wilton  Center.  Accordingly  he 
put  his  membership  in  this  church.  As  soon  as 
his  ability  as  a  preacher  became  known  he  was 
pressed  into  service.  In  August,  i860,  he  re- 
moved to  Wilton  Center  and  gave  his  time  en- 
tirely to  ministerial  work.  However,  times  were 
so  hard  that  his  income  was  not  sufficient  to 
maintain  his  family,  so  it  became  necessary  for 
him  to  engage  in  other  occupations.  However, 
he  never  lost  his  interest  in  church  work.  Freely 
he  gave  his  time,  his  efforts,  his  influence,  that 
the  cause  might    be   strengthened    in    the  com- 


munity. With  the  exception  of  four  years  in 
other  places,  for  thirty-one  years  he  gave  his  time 
largely  to  his  labor  of  love  in  this  community. 
He  toiled  that  others  might  be  blessed;  he  sowed 
that  others  might  reap,  and  while  he  has  never 
accumulated  worldly  possessions  he  has  gained  a 
name  for  Christian  work  that  few  ever  attain. 
In  1895,  upon  the  advice  of  physicians,  he  gave 
up  mental  labor  and  retired  to  his  farm,  where  he 
and  his  wife  are  living  quietly  and  happily, 
blessed  by  the  esteem  of  hosts  of  warm  friends. 
They  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  reared 
and  carefully  educated  two  adopted  daughters, 
Ruth  Jenkins  and  Bardae  Turner.  The  former 
is  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  C.  R.  Betts,  pastor  of  the 
Englewood  Baptist  Church  in  Chicago.  The 
other  is  the  wife  of  H.  N.  Dickinson,  a  merchant, 
grain  and  coal  dealer  at  New  Lenox,  this  county. 


HON.  WILLIAM  H.  STEEN.  Scotland  has 
contributed  to  Illinois  many  of  the  state's 
best  citizens,  and  she  has  contributed  none 
more  worthy  of  respect  than  Mr.  Steen,  the  post- 
master of  Braidwood  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  town.  When  he  came  here  in  1S70  the  place 
was  much  smaller  than  at  present,  although  its 
bituminous  coal  interests  were  then,  as  now,  of 
recognized  importance.  In  1872  he  was  one  of 
the  incorporators  of  the  town,  and  he  has  since 
been  a  factor  in  its  advancement,  holding  numer- 
ous important  positions  of  a  public  nature,  be- 
sides taking  an  active  part  in  the  buying  and 
selling  of  real  estate. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  James  Steen,  was  a 
native  of  Johnstone,  Renfrewshire,  Scotland.  In 
the  spring  of  1865  he  settled  in  Schuylkill 
County,  Pa.,  and  for  a  few  years  he  engaged  in 
mining  at  Pottsville.  The  year  1868  found  him 
in  the  then  new  mining  camp  of  Braidwood,  111. 
Here,  as  a  practical  coal  miner,  he  worked  for 
some  time,  and  in  this  city  he  died  in  1889,  aged 
sixty-eight  years. 

At  the  time  he  came  to  America  our  subject 
was  fifteen  years  of  age.     He  spent  five  years  in 


102 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Pennsylvania,  engaged  in  mining.  Beginning  in 
the  humble  position  of  slate  picker,  he  gradually 
worked  his  way  Up  through  all  the  grades  until 
he  became  a  practical  miner.  For  eighteen 
months  he  worked  a  mine  in  Stark  County,  Ohio. 
In  1870  he  came  to  Braidwood,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed in  all  of  the  best  mines  at  different  times. 
Retiring  from  the  work  of  a  miner,  in  1882  he 
bought  out  the  insurance  and  real  estate  business 
of  John  James,  and  this  he  continued  until  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  in  189S.  The  Republican 
parts-  has  always  received  his  stanch  allegiance 
ever  since  he  was  of  age.  From  1873  to  1877  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  aldermen;  in 
1877-78  he  was  city  clerk,  and  from  1885  to  1889 
he  was  mayor  of  Braidwood.  After  retiring 
from  the  mayoralty  he  was  elected  city  attorney. 
A  few  years  later  a  higher  honor  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  his  election,  in  1895,  as  a  member 
of  the  state  legislature.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
term  he  was  re  elected  to  the  office.  During  his 
service  in  the  house  he  was  active  in  the  interests 
of  labor  and  served  as  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  mines  and  mining.  Having  himself  risen 
from  poverty  to  influence,  he  was  well  qualified 
to  assist  in  legislation  for  the  benefit  of  the  work- 
ingmeu,  and  they  had   in  him   a  stanch   friend. 


During  his  second  term  he  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  labor  and  industrial  affairs  and  pre- 
sented to  the  house  what  is  now  commonly 
known  as  the  child  labor  bill.  Many  other  re- 
forms were  also  championed  by  him  and  received 
the  impetus  of  his  encouragement. 

A  number  of  fraternities  have  enlisted  the 
co-operation  of  Mr.  Steen.  He  has  been  an 
executive  officer  and  royal  chief  of  the  order  of 
Scottish  Clans,  embracing  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  and  has  recently  been  elected  for  a  third 
term  of  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Banner 
Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has  been  past 
grand  and  which  he  represented  in  the  grand 
lodge  for  four  years;  he  also  served  as  district 
deputy.  In  St.  Andrew's  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  he  is 
past  chancellor,  and  its  representative  in  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state;  for  two  years  he  was 
district  deputy  grand  chancellor.  He  is  con- 
nected with  Braidwood  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
in  which  he  is  past  warden.  For  several  years 
he  served  as  district  secretary  of  the  Miners' 
Union,  in  which  he  has  been  very  active.  By  his 
marriage,  in  1869,  to  Mary  Robertson,  he  had 
four  children,  viz.:  Agnes  H.,  now  the  wife  of 
John  Kilpatrick;  Elizabeth;  Isabella;  and  Mary 
A.,  who  died,  aged  sixteen  years. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


105 


ISAAC  W.  RICHARDS. 


*VSAAC  W.  RICHARDS,  a  general  farmer  of 
Plainfield  Township,  and  a  resident  of  Illi- 
X  nois  since  1866,  was  born  in  Huron  County, 
Ohio,  October  14,  1844.  His  father,  John  M. 
Richards,  who  was  a  native  of  New  York  state, 
settled  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years 
and  bought  a  partially  improved  farm  in  Huron 
County.  Under  his  industrious  supervision  the 
land  was  converted  into  a  valuable  farm,  bearing 
improvements  that  stamped  its  owner  as  a  man 
of  thrift  and  judgment.  On  that  place  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  were  busily  passed.  The 
qualities  that  characterized  him  and  contributed 
to  his  success  were  inherited  from  a  long  line  of 
Scotch  ancestors,  his  father  having  been  the  first 
of  the  family  to  leave  Scotland  and  seek  a  home 
in  the  new  world.  In  politics  Mr.  Richards  was 
a  Republican,  but  had  no  desire  to  participate  in 
public  affairs  and  never  sought  offices  of  any 
kind.  Prior  to  removing  from  New  York  he 
married  Miss  Hannah  E.  Jones,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  eleven  children.  The  fourth  of 
the  children  was  Isaac  W.  The  latter's  educa- 
tion was  such  as  the  common  schools  afforded. 
At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  his  older  brother, 
Edgar,  and  Zetus  entered  the  Union  army  and 
our  subject  took  up  the  work  of  the  oldest  broth- 
er, Edgar,  who  was  engaged  in  the  meat  business 
at  Havana,  Ohio.  He  was  thus  only  seventeen 
when  he  started  out  for  himself,  and  since  then 
he  has  made  his  way  independently  in  the  world. 
From  the  opening  of  the  war  it  was  his  desire  to 
serve  his  country,  but  he  felt  that  he  was  too 
young  to  render  efficient  service.  However,  in 
February  of  the  closing  year  of  the  war,  1865,  a 
good  opportunity  came  to  enlist  and  he  at  once 
offered  his  services.     At  Sandusky,  Ohio,  he  was 


mustered  into  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-first  Ohio  Infantry,  with  which  he  re- 
mained until  the  close  of  the  war,  his  regiment 
being  one  of  the  last  to  leave  the  Shenandoah 
Valley.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  mustered  out  at  Camp  Chase, 
Ohio. 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 
Richards  closed  out  his  business  affairs  in  Ohio 
and  made  arrangements  to  remove  to  Illinois. 
He  settled  south  of  Joliet,  where  he  began  farm- 
ing. After  a  few  years  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  New  Lenox  Township,  where  he  very 
successfully  conducted  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1882.  He  then  sold  the  place  and  moved  to 
Lockport,  where  with  two  others  he  started  the 
first  wire  mill  in  the  town.  In  1885  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  business  and  bought  eighty  acres 
on  section  25,  Plainfield  Township,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  is  an  intelligent  man, 
with  a  broad  knowledge  of  current  events,  both 
in  our  own  country  and  foreign  lands.  This  in- 
formation he  has  gained  by  systematic  reading  of 
current  literature.  He  has  not  allowed  himself 
to  be  so  engrossed  by  his  daily  labors  as  to  ex- 
clude a  knowledge  of  what  is  going  on  in  the 
world.  He  is  a  great  reader  and  is  never  hap- 
pier than  when,  the  day's  work  done,  he  can  de- 
vote himself  to  his  papers  in  the  comfort  of  his 
home.  In  his  political  views  he  favors  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  and  contributes  to  its  mainte- 
nance. He  is  a  member  of  Plainfield  Lodge  No. 
536,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Bartleson  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
in  Joliet. 

December  22,  1869,  Mr.  Richards  married  Miss 
Venia  Burger,  of  Joliet.     They  became  the  par- 


io6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


euts  of  four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Charles, 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  are:  AllieG.,  Roy  C. 
and  Otis  W. 

Mrs.  Richards  was  born  June  5,  1849,  in  Co- 
lumbia County,  X.  V.,  and  in  order  of  birth  was 
sixth  among  the  eleven  children,  there  being  five 
sons  and  six  daughters.  She  was  ten  years  old 
when  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Joliet,  111., 
and  was  a  graduate  of  the  school  of  that  place, 
where  she  lived  until  her  marriage.  While  at 
home  she  was  always  at  her  place  and  a  worker 
in  the  First  Baptist  Church  among  the  young 
people.  After  she  married  Mr.  Richards  she  left 
her  home  church  to  go  with  her  husband  to  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Plainfield,  of  which 
she  is  still  a  member.  She  is  a  member  of  Pansy 
Chapter  No.  239,  O.  E.  S.,  of  Plainfield.  She 
has  taken  part  in  the  County  Institute,  and  gave 
an  address  before  the  State  Institute,  besides 
speaking  at  other  places. 

Mrs.  Richards  is  descended,  through  her  fath- 
er, from  a  Holland  family  that  earl}-  settled  in 
New  York  state.  Her  great-grandfather,  An- 
thony Burger,  owned  large  tracts  of  land  and 
many  slaves  (for  at  that  time  New  York  was  a 
slave  state).  He  was  very  wealthy,  but  gave  all 
of  his  fortune  to  assist  in  carrying  on  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  received  in  return  from  the  gov- 
ernment a  grant  for  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the 
Mohawk  Yalley.  Upon  the  close  of  the  war,  in 
which  he  had  fought,  he  started  on  horseback  for 
the  Valley,  carrying  the  government  papers  with 
him  and  intending  to  claim  the  land.  When  he 
was  half  way  to  his  destination  he  wrote  to  his 
family,  but  after  that  they  never  heard  from  him. 
Time  passed  and  he  did  not  return.  Men  were 
sent  in  search  of  him  and  traced  him  to  a  certain 
tavern  on  his  route,  at  which  he  remained  all 
night,  leaving  early  in  the  morning.  There  all 
trace  of  him  was  lost,  nor  could  the  papers  ever 
be  found.  The  opinion  of  some  was  that  he  had 
been  killed  by  British  spies,  as  he  was  heard  to 
remark,  when  he  gave  his  wealth  to  carry  on  the 
war:  "If  the  British  win,  I  will  lose  my  head, 
and  if  the  States  win,  I  will  lose  my  money." 

Jeremiah  Burger,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Rich- 
ards, when  a  boy  of  twelve  or  thirteen,  drove  an 


ox-cart  with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  for  the  purpose  of 
conveying  the  sick  and  wounded  to  places  where 
they  could  be  cared  for.  He  married  Maria 
Howk,  whose  maternal  ancestors,  the  Livingstons, 
owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  Livingston  County, 
N.  Y.  Their  son,  Thomas  L.  Burger,  father  of 
Mrs.  Richards,  was  born  in  Dutchess  County, 
X.  Y.  When  a  young  man  he  embarked  in  busi- 
ness with  his  cousin,  P.  S.  Burger,  in  the  manu- 
facture of  fine  carriages  in  Hudson,  N.  Y. 
After  a  time  he  married  Julia  A.  Fiukle,  whose 
father  served  in  the  war  of  18 12  and  whose  ances- 
tors settled  in  this  country  during  colonial  days. 
As  years  passed  Mr.  Burger  retired  from  manu- 
facturing and  chose  agriculture,  which  he  said 
was  the  most  independent  occupation.  He  bought 
a  large  farm  in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y. 
Some  years  later  he  sold  the  place  and  moved  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Joliet,  Will  County.  Here  he 
bought  a  large  tract  of  land  and  lived  until  his 
death. 


(JOHN  O.  PIEPENBRINK,  a  pioneer  of  1849 
I  in  Crete  Township,  was  born  in  Hesse-Cas- 
(2/  sel,  Germany,  April  24,  1S26,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 24,  1900,  at  Crete,  111.  He  was  a  son  of 
H.  H.  and  Lottie  (Meier)  Piepen brink,  who  died 
in  Germany  at  the  ages  of  fifty-five  and  forty-five 
respectively.  He  was  one  of  four  children,  all  of 
whom  but  himself  remained  in  Germany.  The 
family  being  wealthy,  he  was  given  the  best  ad- 
vantages his  country  afforded:  however,  with 
that  exception  the  family  fortune  availed  him 
naught,  as  the  estate  being  entailed,  it  fell  to  the 
eldest  son  on  the  death  of  the  father.  Believing 
he  could  do  better  in  America  than  in  his  native 
country,  he  resolved  to  come  hither,  and  with 
his  wife,  Sophia  (Wille)  Piepenbrink,  he  sailed 
from  Bremerhaven  April  3.  1S49,  arriving  in 
New  York  City  May  1.  Thence  they  came  by 
canal  and  lake  to  Chicago,  and  from  there  to 
Crete  Township.  This  section  was  then  sparsely 
settled.  The  surroundings  were  of  a  most  primi- 
tive character.     Of  improvements  there  were  al- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


107 


most  none.  He  established  his  home  in  a  small 
log  house,  which  was  illy  protected  from  the  snow 
and  the  winds  of  winter.  He  borrowed  money 
with  which  to  pay  for  his  land  and  was  obliged 
to  pay  thirty-six  per  cent  per  annum  for  the  use 
of  the  same.  However,  notwithstanding  this  and 
other  discouragements,  he  steadily  prospered, 
and  finally  acquired  the  title  to  more  than  seven 
hundred  acres,  a  part  of  which  is  now  owned  by 
his  sons.  A  large  part  of  his  success  was  due  to 
the  dairy  industry.  He  kept  more  than  one  hun- 
dred cows  on  his  place  and  made  large  shipments 
of  butter  and  cheese  to  Chicago.  For  thirty 
years  he  has  made  his  home  on  section  1 1 ,  where 
he  had  one  of  the  comfortable  homes  of  the  town- 
ship. Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  In  re- 
ligion, like  his  ancestors,  he  adheres  to  the  doc- 
trines promulgated  by  Martin  Luther. 

Mrs.  Piepenbrink  was  born  January  2,  1826,  a 
daughter  of  Conrad  and  Sophia  (Oldrag)  Wille, 
farmers  near  Hesse  Cassel,  active  workers  in  the 
Lutheran  Church  of  their  neighborhood,  and  the 
parents  of  seven  children.  In  the  family  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piepenbrink  there  are  eight 
children,  viz:  J.  Otto  and  Henry  F. ,  prominent 
farmers  of  Crete  Township;  Conrad,  William, 
John  and  Philip,  also  farmers  in  this  locality;  El- 
len, wife  of  Henry  Sporleder;  and  Sophia,  Mrs. 
John  Diersen. 


EHARLES  BLIM,  M.  D.  It  has  been  said 
by  those  who  have  consulted  Dr.  Blim,  pro- 
fessionally, that  he  has  few  equals  for  skill 
in  the  diagnosis  of  disease  and  the  application  of 
appropriate  remedial  agencies.  Since  he  came 
to  Crete  in  1888  and  established  his  office  here, 
he  has  built  up  a  practice  that  is  not  limited  to 
the  village,  but  extends  throughout  this  part  of 
the  county.  The  attaining  of  this  result  has 
meant  months  and  years  of  steady  devotion  to  the 
science  of  medicine.  It  his  been  his  aim  to  keep 
abreast  of  all  discoveries  made  in  the  profession, 
and  this  very  fact  has  greatly  promoted  his  stand- 
ing as  a  physician. 


Dr.  Blim  was  born  near  Blue  Island,  111.,  July 
7,  1859.  His  father,  Martin  Blim,  a  native  of 
Germany,  came  to  America  when  less  than 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  for  several  years  he 
worked  by  the  day  or  month  in  Syracuse  and 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Early  in  the  '40s  he  bought  a 
farm  near  Blue  Island,  111.,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  then  frontier  surroundings  he  established  his 
home.  He  lived  to  see  the  remarkable  develop- 
ment of  northeastern  Illinois.  He  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land,  which,  owing  to  its  fertility  as  well 
as  its  proximity  to  Chicago,  became  very  valu- 
able. Politically  he  was  an  active  Republican, 
and  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
In  1889  he  retired  from  farm  work  and  removed 
to  Englewood,  where  he  died  June  9,  1890,  aged 
seventy-eight  years.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Schat- 
zell)  Blim,  was  born  in  Germany  and  accompa- 
nied her  father,  Jacob,  to  America  in  childhood, 
settling  near  Evanston,  111.  She  is  still  living, 
and  is  now  seventy-one  years  of  age.  In  religion 
she  is  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  her  family  were  eight  children,  of 
whom  Charles  was  the  fourth.  He  was  given  a 
public  school  education,  but,  not  feeling  satisfied 
with  it,  determined  to  earn  the  means  for  a 
broader  education.  With  a  fixed  resolve  he 
worked  early  and  late,  and  carefully  hoarded  his 
earnings.  In  1879  he  graduated  from  the  Nor- 
mal School  at  Normal  Park,  after  which  he 
taught  for  five  years,  meantime  being  for  a  year 
principal  of  the  Lemont  school.  While  carrying 
on  his  school  work  he  devoted  every  leisure  mo- 
ment to  the  study  of  medicine.  In  the  fall  of  18S5 
he  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1S8S,  and  then  settled  in  Crete. 

July  24,  1889,  Dr.  Blim  married  Miss  Franc 
E.  Hewes,  of  Crete,  who  died  September  27,  1897, 
leaving  three  sons,  Warren  C,  Charles  H.  and 
Spencer  P.  Mrs.  Blim  was  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Hewes,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  She  was  a  lady  of  estimable 
character  and  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

For  seven  years  Dr.  Blim  has  been  a  member 
of  the  village  board,  and  as  such  rendered  valu- 
able services  to  the  village..     On  the  same  ticket 


io8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  was  chosen  to  serve  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  which  office  he  filled  for  a  number  of 
years,  until  the  demands  of  his  practice  caused 
him  to  resign,  but  after  about  three  years  he  was 
again  elected  to  that  office. 


HERMAN  SCHWEPPE  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  J.  H.  Schweer  &  Co.,  of  Crete, 
dealers  in  wagons,  buggies  and  farm  imple- 
ments, and  agents  for  the  Wood,  Minneapolis 
and  McCormick  binders  and  mowers,  the  John 
Deere  plows  and  corn  planters,  David  Bradley's 
goods  and  the  Gorham  and  Hoosier  seeders.  In 
addition  to  his  connection  with  this  thriving  en- 
terprise he  has  held  office  as  secretary  of  the 
Crete  Farmers'  Township  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  since  January,  1899,  and  is  also  one  of 
its  directors.  Since  April,  1896,  he  has  filled  the 
office  of  town  clerk  with  ability. 

Mr.  Schweppe  was  born  in  Washington  Town- 
ship, near  the  village  of  Beecher,  this  county, 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1864.  His  father,  Frederick, 
a   native    of    Prussia,    Germany,    came    to   the 


United  States  when  about  thirty  years  of  age,  in 
184S.  For  two  years  he  was  employed  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  after  which  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  at  Eagle  Lake,  this  count}-.  Purchasing 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  partly  broken 
land,  he  gave  his  attention  to  its  further  im- 
provement and  cultivation.  While  he  had  very 
limited  means  on  coming  here,  he  was  prospered 
to  such  an  extent  that  he  owned  one  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  at  the  time  of  his  death,  when 
sixty-nine  years  of  age,  in  1S90.  On  becoming 
an  American  citizen  he  identified  himself  with 
the  Republican  party.  In  religion  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  In 
his  native  land  he  married  Ann  Wilkie,  who  sur- 
vives him  and  is  how  seventy-two  years  of  age. 
Until  his  father's  death  our  subject  remained 
on  the  home  farm.  Afterward  he  came  to  Crete 
and  purchased  an  interest  in  his  present  business. 
He  is  a  representative  of  the  energetic,  capable 
young  business  men  of  the  village.  His  atten- 
tion is  very  closely  given  to  the  management  of 
the  business  and  to  his  duties  as  an  officer  in  the 
fire  insurance  company.  Therefore  he  has  not 
had  the  leisure  for  participation  in  public  affairs, 
although  it  is  his  aim  to  keep  posted  concerning 
public  matters  of  political  or  commercial  impor- 
tance. 


wWms?t\  of  iluhois 


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~) 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


DAVID  FORSYTHE. 


HON.  DAVID  FORSYTHE,  who  is  one  of 
the  largest  laud  owners  and  cattle-buyers  in 
Florence  Township,  was  born  in  Ballynure, 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  April  25,  1850,  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Jane  (Ballentyne)  Forsythe.  He 
was  one  of  eleven  children,  all  but  four  of  whom 
still  survive,  viz. :  James,  who  is  internal  revenue 
collector  at  Monroe,  La. ;  Jane,  widow  of  Samuel 
Fiuley,  of  Wilmington,  111.;  Mary,  widow  of 
Frederick  Alex,  of  Lake  Forest,  111.;  Andrew; 
Robert  H. ,  a  farmer  of  Onarga,  111.;  Samuel,  of 
Peoria;  and  David.  The  grandfather,  John  For- 
sythe, was  a  lifelong  farmer  of  Ireland.  Of  him 
it  is  said  that '  'his  religious  orthodox  was  equaled 
only  by  the  intense  devotion  he  bore  to  the  inter- 
ests and  fortunes  of  his  country."  He  had  a 
brother,  Andrew,  Sr.,  a  wheelwright  in  Count}- 
Antrim,  and  a  man  of  broad  education,  at  the 
same  time  intensely  loyal  to  his  country  and  his 
church  (the  Presbyterian).  He  believed  that  the 
people  of  a  country  have  a  natural  right  to  its 
soil,  its  air,  its  water;  to  make  its  laws;  to  till  its 
soil;  and  to  receive  such  benefit  as  accrues  there- 
from. For  his  intense  devotion  to  the  Irish 
cause,  the  animosity  of  the  government  pursued 
him  and  all  belonging  to  him.  On  every  pretext 
his  property  was  injured,  his  peace  was  disturbed 
and  his  family  harassed.  His  nephew  and  name- 
sake grew  up  with  the  same  convictions  and  was 
even  more  frank  in  their  expression.  He  was  the 
tenant  of  a  brutal  landlord,  who  first  subjected 
him  to  every  species  of  hardship  and  then  evicted 
him  by  chopping  down  the  rafters  of  the  house 
during  his  absence,  which,  falling  into  the  fire- 
place, burned  the  house  to  the  ground.  In  poverty 
and  suffering  he  was  compelled  to  seek  another 


home  for  his  family.  It  was  in  this  way  that  he 
was  led  to  come  to  America,  the  land  of  the  free. 
Hither  his  eldest  son,  John,  had  preceded  him 
some  years.  This  son  later  became  one  of  the 
most  prominent  Democrats  in  Illinois  and  was 
chairman  of  the  state  central  committee.  He  was 
a  co-laborer  with  Abraham  Lincoln  in  the  office 
of  secretary  of  state  in  Springfield,  and  after 
Lincoln's  election  as  president  he  tendered  his 
former  associate  an  appointment  as  United  States 
consul  to  Belfast,  but  the  offer  was  declined. 
Later  he  organized  a  company  to  serve  in  the 
Civil  war,  but  on  account  of  illness  at  home  he 
resigned  his  commission  and  took  his  family  to 
Florida.  In  the  early  history  of  Chicago  he  was 
one  of  the  fore'most  figures,  particularly  among 
the  Irish  residents  of  the  city.  His  death  oc- 
curred there  in  1885. 

When  fifty-one  years  of  age  Andrew  Forsythe, 
in  1849,  crossed  the  ocean,  accompanied  by  his 
family.  He  came  west  via  the  great  lakes,  but 
while  sailing  up  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  the  en- 
gine of  the  boat  exploded  and  one  of  his  daugh- 
ters was  killed.  Her  body  was  taken  to  Fond  du 
Lac,  Wis.,  and  there  buried.  The  sad  accident 
disheartened  the  others.  After  reaching  Chicago 
they  proceeded  to  Sparta,  111.,  and  at  Christmas- 
time took  a  vessel  at  New  Orleans  for  their  na- 
tive country.  In  1861  they  again  came  to  the 
United  States,  arriving  in  Will  County  in  Sep- 
tember and  settling  on  section  3,  Florence  Town- 
ship, which  land  was  owned  by  Hon.  John  For- 
sythe, of  Chicago.  A  few  months  later  the  fath- 
er went  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1863.  He  then  returned  to  Florence 
Township,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his 


I  12 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


days,  dying  June  20,  1880.  It  has  been  said  of 
him  that  he  preserved  to  his  death  the  scrupulous 
integrity  which  he  had  inherited  with  his  Pres- 
byterian creed,  and  that  practical  Irish  patriotism 
which  was  its  twin  legacy.  When  the  last  trib- 
ute of  respect  was  paid  to  his  memory,  people  of 
all  denominations  gathered  to  attend  his  funeral, 
and  the  capacity  of  the  largest  church  in  the 
place  was  taxed  to  its  utmost  to  accommodate  his 
friends.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  John  Ballen- 
tyue,  a  farmer  and  tanner;  her  grandfather  was 
one  of  the  conspicuous  figures  in  the  revolution- 
ary periods  of  his  country,  and  at  onetime,  when 
his  life  was  in  the  greatest  danger,  he  was  con- 
veyed out  of  the  country  in  a  barrel. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  completed  in 
an  academy  in  Chicago.  In  1866  he  returned  to 
the  Will  County  farm,  of  which  he  took  com- 
plete charge  two  years  later.  In  1S76  he  mar- 
ried Bessie,  daughter  of  James  and  Rebecca 
(Freeburn)  Hamilton,  natives  of  Londonderry, 
Ireland.  The  family  crossed  the  ocean  aud  set- 
tled in  Nithburg,  Upper  Canada,  where  she  was 
born.  In  1857  they  located  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, this  county.  Some  three  years  afterward 
they  removed  to  Florence  Township,  where  Mr. 
Hamilton  died  in  1886.  His  widow  now  makes 
her  home  with  a  daughter  in  Chicago. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Forsythe  purchased 
the  live  stock  and  appurtenances  of  the  home- 
stead, which  he  farmed  as  a  renter.  In  1877  he 
bought  one-half  of  section  4,  a  part  of  which 
property  his  father  had  added  to  the  homestead. 
On  this  place  he  has  since  resided.  During  the 
intervening  years  he  has  added  to  his  original 
purchase  until  he  now  has  nine  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  one  body,  some  of  this  be- 
ing as  good  land  as  can  be  found  in  the  county. 
Since  1867  he  has  been  a  large  cattle  buyer  and 
feeder,  and  has  shipped  to  the  Chicago  mar- 
kets. It  is  almost  exclusively  through  his  live- 
stock interests  that  he  has  gained  his  success  in 
life. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Forsythe  was  elected  highway 
commissioner  and  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the 
board.  The  year  following  the  bank  in  Wil- 
mington failed  and  he  was  a  loser  to  the  extent 


of  $1,100.  After  filling  various  minor  offices,  in 
1880  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Florence.  His  service  was  so  acceptable  to  the 
people  that  he  was  twice  re-elected  to  the  office, 
the  last  time  having  no  opposition.  He  refused 
to  serve  a  fourth  term.  In  1872  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  the  legislature,  but  refused  to  accept  the 
nomination,  withdrawing  in  favor  of  William 
Mooney,  who  was  elected.  In  1890  he  was 
again  nominated  for  the  legislature  and  was 
elected  bj'  a  handsome  majority.  During  his 
term  as  a  member  of  the  thirty-seventh  and 
thirty-eighth  general  assemblies  he  worked  on  the 
following  committees:  live-stock  and  dairying,  of 
which  he  was  chairman;  corporations,  canal-river 
improvements  and  commerce,  mines  and  mining, 
agriculture,  sanitary  affairs,  retrenchment  aud 
miscellaneous  subjects.  He  was  oue  of  the  fam- 
ous one  hundred  and  one  who  elected  Senator 
John  M.  Palmer  to  the  United  States  senate.  He 
was  the  champion  of  the  anti-truck  bill  and  was 
largely  instrumental  in  securing  its  passage.  He 
also  championed  a  bill  to  lower  the  rate  of  inter- 
est from  eight  to  six  percent,  but  accepted  a  com- 
promise at  seven  per  cent. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Forsythe  is  a  member  of  Wil- 
mington Lodge  No.  208,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
is  a  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  He  and  his  wife  are 
identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  They 
have  an  only  son,  John,  who  is  now  attending 
the  high  school  at  Wilmington. 


I  RED  J.  SCHOTT,  who  has  spent  his  entire 
fy  life  in  Joliet  and  is  engaged  in  business  in 
I  this  city,  is  the  son  of  a  pioneer,  Jacob 
Schott.  The  latter,  who  was  a  native  of  Ham- 
burg, Germany,  learned  the  trade  of  a  painter 
and  decorator  in  his  native  country  and  from 
there,  a  young  man,  came  to  America,  securing 
employment  with  a  firm  in  New  York  City.  The 
firm,  Jevne  &  Almini,  secured  the  contract  for 
decorating  the  penitentiary  at  Joliet  and  sent  Mr. 
Schott  to  take  charge  of  this  work  in  1854.     The 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


"3 


contract  for  the  decorating  of  the  state  peniten- 
tiary secured  the  firm  other  large  contracts  that 
were  important  and  profitable.  In  1855  Mr.  Schott 
started  a  paint  shop  at  No.  415  Jefferson  street, 
where,  in  1872,  he  erected  a  substantial  business 
building,  and  in  this  he  continued  in  business 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  September  27,  1SS4, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-nine.  He  was  made  a  Master 
Mason  in  Mount  Joliet  Lodge.  Before  leaving 
Germany  he  took  part  in  the  revolution  of  1848 
and  it  was  largely  on  account  of  his  connection 
with  it  that  he  decided  to  leave  his  native  land. 
He  married  Rosa  Helm,  who  was  born  near 
Munich,  Bavaria,  Germany,  a  daughter  of  Anton 
and  Hannah  Helm,  by  whom  she  was  brought  to 
America  in  infancy.  Her  father  settled  on  the 
present  site  of  Watertown,  Wis.,  about  1835, 
where  he  improved  a  farm  from  the  wilderness. 
Later  he  sold  the  place  and  removed  to  Baraboo, 
the  same  state,  where  he  engaged  in  farm  pur- 
suits. He  died  in  1883  and  his  wife  in  1896. 
Mrs.  Schott  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  in 
Joliet.  Of  her  children,  Fred  is  the  oldest;  the 
daughters  are  Mamie,  Mrs.  August  Schoenshadt, 
who  died  in  Joliet;  and  Susie,  who  married  John 
Raible  and  now  resides  in  Birmingham,  Ala. 

In  Joliet,  where  he  was  born  June  6,  1865,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education  in 
the  city  schools.  Leaving  the  high  school  at  the 
end  of  the  third  year,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
business  and  learned  painting  and  decorating 
under  his  father.  On  the  death  of  the  latter  he 
took  charge  of  the  business,  of  which  he  has 
been  sole  proprietor  since  1896,  continuing  the 
business  in  the  building  so  long  occupied  by  his 
father.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  Masons  of 
Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  also 
belongs  to  Joliet  Chapter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M., 
Joliet  Council,  and  Commandery  No.  4,  K.T.,of 
this  city,  also  Medinah  Temple,  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Chicago.  The  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  is 
another  fraternal  organization  that  receives  his 
support.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Union 
Club.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any  denomina- 
tion, but  contributes  to  the  Central  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  which  his  wife  is  identified. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Schott  took  place  in   his 


home  town,  November  24,  1896,  and  united  him 
with  Miss  May  Louise  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
New  York  state  and  educated  in  Evanston,  111., 
and  by  whom  he  has  a  son,  Fred  J.,  Jr.  The  fa- 
ther of  Mrs.  Schott,  James  Monroe  Smith,  re- 
moved from  New  York  to  Evanston  and  after- 
ward engaged  in  business  in  Chicago. 


"DWARD  FUCHS  is  one  of  the  well-to-do 
*t)  retired  farmers  now  living  in  Joliet.  He 
__  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  August  31, 
1845,  a  son  of  Christian  and  Christiana  (Engle- 
hart)  Fuchs,  also  natives  of  Prussia.  His  father, 
who  was  born  in  1809,  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  land  and  there  engaged  in  farming.  In 
the  spring  of  1852  he  came  to  America,  landing 
in  New  York  after  a  stormy  voyage  of  nine 
weeks.  From  New  York  he  came  directly  west 
to  Chicago,  and  a  day  later  proceeded  to  what  is 
now  Tinley  Park,  Cook  County,  where  he 
bought  eighty  acres  in  Orland  Township  for  $5 
an  acre,  paying  half  in  cash  and  giving  a  mort- 
gage for  the  remainder.  Three  years  later  he 
sold  the  place  for  $10  an  acre  and  bought  another 
farm  of  forty  acres  in  the  same  township,  where 
he  remained  for  nine  years.  His  next  removal 
brought  him  to  Frankfort  Township,  this  county, 
where  he  purchased  an  eighty-acre  tract,  and  to 
this  he  added  another  eighty  adjoining,  across 
the  line  in  Cook  County.  Here  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life  were  spent.  After  coming  to 
this  country  he  identified  himself  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  was  reared  in  the  Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran  faith  and  always  affiliated  with  that 
church.  Personally  he  was  an  upright,  capable 
and  sagacious  man,  and  was  highly  esteemed. 
He  died  on  his  homestead  September  16,  1874. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1817,  is  still  living. 
Of  their  children,  Julius  occupies  the  home  farm; 
and  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Fernon  Smith,  a  farmer 
of  Orland  Township,  Cook  County. 

At  the  time  the  family  immigrated  to  this  coun- 
try our  subject  was  a  child  of  six  years.     He 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


grew  to  manhood  in  Cook  and  Will  Counties  and 
early  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  agricul- 
ture. May  27,  1872,  he  married  Miss  Bertha 
Dall,  a  native  of  Zinn  Kotten,  Sohlingen,  Prus- 
sia, born  May  12,  1842,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Amelia  (Hartkopt)  Dall.  Her  father  was 
born  November25,  1S12,  and  her  mother  May  23, 
181 8,  both  in  the  same  place  as  herself.  After 
having  followed  the  cutler's  trade  in  German}1 
for  some  years,  her  father,  in  1848,  brought  the 
family  to  America,  landing  in  New  Orleans  after 
a  voyage  of  seven  weeks.  He  came  direct  to  Ill- 
inois and  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  Kendall  County  for  $Soo,  which  he  sold  three 
years  later  for  $1,000.  He  then  worked  at  black- 
smithing  in  Ottawa  for  a  year,  after  which  he 
went  back  to  Kendall  County  and  bought  an  im- 
proved farm  of  forty  acres.  Four  years  later  he 
came  to  Frankfort  Township,  this  county,  and 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
where  he  remained  for  eight  years.  His  next 
purchase  was  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  acres 
in  New  Lenox  Township,  and  on  that  place  he 
died  June  30,  1885.  For  some  years  he  served 
as  path  master  and  road  commissioner  in  Frank- 
fort Township.  In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran. 
His  wife  died  December  30,  1SS9.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Bertha,  Mrs.  Fuchs;  Ida,  wife 
of  Wilhelm  Stoll,  of  Joliet;  and  Emma,  who  mar- 
ried George  Busche  and  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  New  Lenox  Township. 

After  his  marriage   Mr.    Fuchs  settled  on  the 
eighty  acres  of  the  homestead  that   was  situated 


across  the  line  in  Cook  County.  This  he  had 
purchased  prior  to  his  marriage.  After  less  than 
a  year  he  sold  the  farm  and  bought  eighty  seven 
acres  in  Homer  Township,  where  he  remained 
for  three  years.  His  next  purchase  was  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  acres  near  the  village  of 
Spencer,  in  New  Lenox  Township.  A  short 
time  afterward  he  added  forty  acres  to  the  farm. 
He  remained  there  for  five  years  and  then  bought 
a  residence,  with  ten  acres,  in  the  outskirts  of  the 
village  of  Frankfort,  and  retired  from  farm  life. 
From  that  time  he  engaged  in  buying,  selling  and 
trading  real  estate,  and  his  success  in  this  was 
even  more  marked  than  it  had  been  in  farming. 
In  all  of  his  transactions  he  showed  shrewd,  keen 
judgment.  He  owns  the  old  homestead  compris- 
ing one  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  of  well-im- 
proved land.  In  1891  he  moved  to  Joliet,  where 
he  owns  and  occupies  a  fine  residence  on  Ex- 
change street.  He  also  has  two  other  residence 
properties  in  this  city,  the  Union  block  on  Cass 
street,  a  business  block  of  five  stores,  and  various 
lots  in  Joliet  and  Chicago.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran.  He  has 
always  favored  public  improvements.  As  a  citi- 
zen he  is  esteemed  and  respected.  He  and  his 
wife  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  viz.: 
Julia,  at  home;  George  E.,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Beach  dry-goods  house;  Mathilda,  who  was 
born  March  20,  1877,  and  died  September  16  of 
the  same  year;  Annie  K.,  who  was  born  May  25, 
1879,  and  died  on  the  same  day;  Amelia  E.,  who 
was  born  November  25,  1884,  and  died  May  22, 
1888;  and  Clara  E.,  born  April  19,  18S7. 


LIBF     IV 
OF    1    E 
UNIVERSITY   OF    ILLINOIS 


t/9^^2  o^V-c^e^Ky 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


117 


THOMAS   HERSCHBACH. 


HO  MAS  HERSCHBACH,  who  is  a  dealer 
in  hardware,  tinware,  pumps,  windmills, 
etc.,  at  Frankfort  Station,  was  born  in  Joliet 
in  1844.  His  father,  Henry  Hersehbach,  a  na- 
tive of  Prussia,  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1841,  and  after  a  short  sojourn  in  Chicago  settled 
in  Joliet.  During  the  construction  of  the  canal 
he  was  employed  on  it.  In  1868  he  removed  to 
Minnesota  and  settled  at  St.  Cloud,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter's  trade  and  the  furniture 
business.  For  some  years  he  was  connected  with 
his  son,  Henry,  in  business  in  that  town.  He 
died  there  when  eighty-two  years  of  age.  Per- 
sonally he  was  a  man  of  quiet  disposition,  re- 
served and  retiring,  yet  at  the  same  time  he 
possessed  energy,  good  judgment  and  determina- 
tion of  character.  During  the  early  days  of  Joliet 
he  was  a  resident  of  the  famous  "bloody"  second 
ward  and  he  also  did  considerable  building  in  this 
city,  being  a  contractor  and  builder.  He  mar- 
ried Susan  Assenmacher,  of  Prussia,  who  died  in 
St.  Cloud  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Henry,  of  St.  Cloud;  Mary, 
widow  of  Mathias  Dresding;  Elizabeth,  Mrs. 
Limprich;  Thomas;  and  Barbara,  wife  of  John 
Schirer. 

When  twelve  years  of  age  our  subject  left 
school.  The  education  he  subsequently  received 
was  the  result  of  his  exercise  of  the  powers  of 
observation  and  experience.  From  contact  with 
the  world  he  acquired  a  broad  knowledge  of  men 
and  things.  For  five  and  one-half  years  he 
worked  in  the  New  York  dry-goods  store,  mean- 
time working  his  way  up  from  a  humble  position 
to  a  remunerative  one.  Afterward  he  learned 
6 


the  tinner's  trade  with  W.  F.  Barrett,  father  of 
J.  O.  Barrett,  and  served  his  full  time,  three 
years.  In  1868  he  came  to  Frankfort  Station, 
which  was  then  a  small  hamlet,  whose  streets 
during  the  spring  months  were  almost  impassa- 
ble on  account  of  mud.  Here  he  opened  a  tin- 
shop.  At  first  he  had  but  a  small  stock.  In 
time  he  added  to  it  and  now  carries  a  full  line  of 
hardware,  tinware,  stoves,  etc.  A  few  years  ago 
he  bought  a  building  which  he  remodeled  and 
enlarged,  and  which  gives  him  a  floor  space  of 
100x26  feet,  besides  his  large  storerooms.  He 
also  owns  a  farm  in  Hamilton  County,  Iowa, 
which  he  rents.  His  success  is  worthy  of  com- 
mendation, for  he  started  out  with  only  $100 
and  has  attained,  through  his  unaided  efforts, 
his  present  high  position  in  business  circles. 

By  his  marriage,  in  1870,  to  Alvina  Mane,  Mr. 
Hersehbach  has  four  children,  viz.:  Charles,  now 
in  Chicago;  Otto,  at  home;  Emma  and  Mabel.  In 
politics  our  subject  has  always  been  a  Republican, 
believing  firmly  in  the  principles  of  his  part)'.  He 
is  interested  in  a  number  of  fraternal  organiza- 
tions, his  preference  being  for  Masonry.  He  is 
past  master  of  Mount  Joliet  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Joliet  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  Joliet  Com- 
mandery  No.  4,  K.  T. ;  and  Oriental  Consis- 
tory of  Chicago,  taking  his  thirty-second  degree 
in  1877. 


(lAMES  RUMSEY  BOWEN   was   born  near 

Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  June   2,  1842,  the    youngest 

Q)   of  a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 

all  deceased  except  himself.     His  father,  George, 


u8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  a  native  of  Enfield,  Tompkins  County, 
N.V.,  and  by  trade  a  carpenter  and  builder;  and 
his  mother,  Pernulla,  was  born  in  Enfield,  Tomp- 
kins County,  where  her  father,  James  Rumsey, 
engaged  in  farm  pursuits.  Mr.  Bow-en  died 
when  a  young  man,  but  his  wife  lived  to  be  sev- 
enty-two years  of  age.  Their  son,  our  subject, 
was  employed  on  farms  from  an  early  age,  and 
saved  his  earnings  until  he  was  able  to  buy  ninety 
acres  of  land. 

August  ii,  1862,  Mr.  Bowen  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany G,  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  New  York 
Infantry,  and  from  Binghamton,  the  point  of 
muster  in,  was  sent  south  to  Bladensburg,  Md. , 
six  miles  from  Washington,  on  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  Railroad,  where  his  company  engaged  in 
guard  duty  and  captured  more  than  three  thou- 
sand deserters.  He  won  distinction  by  person- 
ally capturing  McCarthy,  clerk  to  the  paymas- 
ter, who  had  stolen  $40,000  from  the  paymaster 
and  absconded  with  the  money.  Later  he  was 
detailed  with  six  men  to  guard  Beltsville,  on  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  where  he  remained 
during  the  winter.  During  his  last  day  at  that 
point,  he  and  his  comrades  captured  three 
bounty  jumpers,  who  tried  to  bribe  them  in  order 
to  secure  freedom,  but  all  offers  were  refused  by 
their  captors.  When  Burnside  reorganized  the 
army  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  to  make  the  last  cam- 
paign against  Petersburg,  Mr.  Bowen  joined  him 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna, Cold  Harbor,  Gaines' 
Farm,  and  the  battles  before  Petersburg.  En- 
listing as  a  private,  he  was  commissioned  cor- 
poral and  sergeant,  and  in  1S64  was  made  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  G.  After  the  battle  of 
Mine  Explosion,  in  front  of  Petersburg,  he  com- 
manded the  company.  In  the  engagement  that 
followed,  so  many  of  his  men  were  killed  or  cap- 
tured that  only  eight  of  the  company  responded 
to  roll  call  the  next  morning.  After  the  grand 
review  in  Washington  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  Binghamton,  X.  V. 

Returning  to  Ithaca,  Mr.  Bowen  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business.  Two  years  later  he  went 
to  Enfield,  where  he  was  proprietor  of  the 
Falls  hotel,   a   summer  resort,    for    four  years, 


Two  years  were  then  spent  in  Ithaca,  after  which, 
in  1879,  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  carried  on  a 
hotel  business  for  three  years.  In  18S2  he  be- 
came superintendent  for  Jefferson  Hodgkius,  of 
Chicago,  but  the  following  year  started  in  the 
gravel  business  for  himself.  After  a  short  time 
at  Rowell's  pit,  he  had  charge  of  the  Woodruff 
pit  for  ten  years,  but  in  1S97  removed  to  the 
Mound,  where  the  best  gravel  in  the  country  is 
secured.  He  owns  one  No.  3  crusher,  of  one 
hundred  yards  per  day  capacity,  and  one  No.  6 
crusher,  with  a  capacity  of  four  hundred  yards 
per  day.  Since  1897  he  has  had  contracts  to 
furnish  gravel  to  the  Rock  Is'and  Railroad,  be- 
sides which  he  makes  shipments  to  Chicago  and 
neighboring  towns.  He  has  had  the  contract  to 
furnish  macadam  for  many  streets,  both  in  Joliet 
and  elsewhere,  and  his  work  of  this  kind  is  as 
fine  as  any  in  Joliet.  To  facilitate  shipments,  a 
double  switch  is  connected  with  the  Chicago  & 
Rock  Island  Railroad,  and  power  is  furnished  by 
an  engine  of  one  hundred  and  ten  horse-power. 
During  his  residence  in  his  native  town,  Mr. 
Bowen  married  Miss  Augusta  Kellogg,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Kellogg,  a  tobacco  manufacturer  of 
Ithaca,  N.  Y. 


EAPT.  ELLSWORTH  G.  BOWEN,  the  only 
son  of  James  R.  and  Augusta  (Kellogg) 
Bowen,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  James 
R.  Bowen  &  Son,  well  known  contractors  of 
Joliet.  He  was  born  in  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  October 
12,  1S68,  and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  city  and  Chicago.  When  four- 
teen years  of  age  he  secured  employment  with  a 
wholesale  paper  house  in  Chicago,  beginning  in 
the  lowest  position  and  working  his  way  up- 
ward gradually,  until  he  was  made  cashier  and 
bookkeeper.  Afterward,  for  five  years,  he  held 
a  responsible  position  with  the  wholesale  millin- 
ery firm  of  D.  B.  Fisk  &  Co.  He  resigned  to  ac- 
cept a  more  profitable  position  as  clerk  with  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company.  Two  years 
after   coming    with  the  company   he  was  made 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


119 


chief  clerk  of  the  bridge  and  building  depart- 
ment, and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  1895, 
when  he  resigned.  After  a  trip  through  the  south 
he  returned  and  embarked  in  business  with  his 
father,  furnishing  material  for  street  building. 
They  handle  the  Mound  gravel,  which  is  pro- 
nounced by  experts  to  be  the  finest  gravel  in  the 
United  States.  While  his  father  has  charge  of  the 
work  at  the  Mound,  he  superintends  all  of  the 
street  work,  managing  it  in  an  able  manner  and 
proving  that  he  is  a  man  of  fine  business  judg- 
ment. 

Fraternally  Captain  Bowen  is  connected  with 
Matteson  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Joliet  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M.;  Joliet  Council;  and  Joliet  Commaud- 
ery  No.  4,  K.  T.,  in  all  (except  the  Council)  of 
which  he  has  been  an  officer;  also  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe  and  the  Eastern  Star. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  active  in  the  party 
and  uncompromising  in  his  adherence  to  its 
principles. 

The  military  history  of  Captain  Bowen  dates 
from  May  6,  1885,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  Battery  C,  Illinois  National  Guard,  which 
served  actively  during  the  stone  quarry  strike 
and  riots  between  Joliet  and  Chicago.  The  bat- 
tery was  mustered  out  by  special  order  July  13, 
18S5.  In  the  following  year,  on  the  14th  of 
April,  he  enlisted  in  Chicago  as  a  private  in 
Troop  D,  First  Illinois  Cavalry.  March  14, 
1887,  he  was  transferred  to  Company  L,  Sec- 
ond Infantry,  I.  N.  G.  He  was  made  a  corporal 
June  10,  1888,  and  a  sergeant  August  6  of  the 
same  year.  May  15,  1889,  he  was  appointed 
first  sergeant;  September  15,  1S90,  he  was 
elected  second  lieutenant;  April  13,  1891,  first 
lieutenant;  and  July  6,  1891,  captain.  He  was 
re-elected  captain  July  6,  1894.  On  his  re- 
moval to  Joliet  he  received  from  Col.  Fred  Ben- 
nett an  appointment  as  captain  and  adjutant  of 
the  Third  Infantry,  I.  N.  G.,  and  was  commis- 
sioned as  such  by  the  governor.  At  the  opening 
of  the  war  with  Spain  he  was  commissioned  ad- 
jutant (with  the  rank  of  captain)  of  the  Third 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  mustered  in 
at  Springfield,  111.,  May8,  1898.  He  accompanied 
his    regiment    to  Chickamauga  Park   and    from 


there  to  Newport  News,  thence  on  the  cruiser 
"St.  Louis"  to  Porto  Rico.  He  was  the  first  mem- 
ber of  the  Third  to  land  in  Porto  Rico.  While  on 
board  the  transport  "St.  Louis"  he  was  ordered  by 
the  colonel  to  go  ashore  with  several  convalescent 
soldiers  and  report  with  them  to  General  Miles, 
who  directed  him  to  conduct  them  to  their  re- 
spective regiments.  This  accomplished,  he  re- 
turned to  his  own  regiment,  which  landed  thirty 
miles  from  Ponce  under  cover-  of  the  fire  of  the 
opposing  ships. 

During  the  campaign  that  followed  he  was  an 
active  participant,  serving  honorably  and  effi- 
ciently until  the  regiment  was  summoned  home 
by  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  first  regiments  for  service  in  the  Phil- 
ippines he  received  from  President  McKinley, 
without  solicitation  on  his  part,  an  appointment 
as  first  lieutenant,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Thir- 
tieth Infantry,  U.  S.  V.;  but  having  joined  his 
father  in  a  business  that  demanded  his  entire 
personal  attention,  he  was  obliged,  reluctantly, 
to  decline  the  commission.  By  natural  gifts  and 
practical  experience  he  is  fitted  for  military 
duties,  and  his  service  at  the  front  was  such  as 
to  reflect  credit  upon  his  patriotic  spirit  and  zeal, 
giving  him  a  high  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers,  to  whose  energy  the  speedy  ter- 
mination of  the  war  was  due. 


3ACOB  ADLER.  After  having  for  years  con- 
ducted a  large  and  successful  meat  business 
in  Joliet,  Mr.  Adler  in  1897  turned  the  busi- 
ness over  to  his  sous,  Jacob  C,  Jr.,  and  Law- 
rence, and  his  son-in  law,  Daniel  Lenuon,  who 
continue  it  under  the  title  of  J.  C.  Adler  & 
Co.  Since  that  time  he  has,  with  his  youngest 
son,  Michael,  been  extensively  engaged  in  rais- 
ing and  selling  cattle,  having  a  valuable  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Troy  Township, 
three  miles  from  Joliet,  and  a  forty-acre  tract  at 
Enterprise,  where  he  has  his  slaughter  house. 
In  addition  to  the  management  of  these  interests 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  has  been  interested  in  the  packing  business 
at  intervals  since  1861,  and  he  has  also  dealt  ex- 
tensively in  real-estate  in  Joliet  and  farm  prop- 
erty, including  a  farm  in  Missouri  which  he  now 
owns.  Among  the  prominent  business  men  of 
the  city  he  was  one  of  the  few  who  safely 
weathered  the  financial  storm  of  1S73.  He  has 
been  helpful  in  promoting  local  enterprises  by 
assisting  in  making  up  the  required  bonus,  and 
was  particularly  interested  in  the  starting  of  the 
tinplate  and  rolling  mills.  While  he  is  a  Roman 
Catholic  he  has  contributed  to  every  church,  no 
matter  what  its  creed,  that  has  been  erected  in 
Joliet.  He  assisted  in  organizing  both  St. 
Patrick's  and  St.  John's  churches,  and  is  actively 
connected  with  the  latter.  In  the  building  up  of 
St.  Francis  Academy  he  took  a  prominent  part, 
and  has  since  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors.  During  war  times  he  supported  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  and  the  policy  of  the  administration, 
after  which  he  joined  the  Democratic  party  and  is 
now  a  believer  in  the  issuing  of  greenback  cur- 
rency and  in  the  free  coinage  of  silver.  For  four 
years  he  served  as  alderman  from  the  sixth  ward, 
during  which  time  he  was  a  participant  in  many 
measures  for  the  benefit  of  the  city  and  the  en- 
largement of  its  business  interests. 

Mr.  Adler  was  born  at  Bachen,  Canton  Trier, 
kreis  Mertzig,  Prussia,  March  17,  1S37,  a  son  of 
Michael  and  Margaret  (Sebastian)  Adler.  In  the 
fall  of  1837  the  family  left  Havre  on  a  sailing 
vessel  and  after  a  voyage  of  almost  four  months 
landed  in  New  York,  thence  went  via  Albany 
and  the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  up  the  lakes 
and  to  Chicago,  where  they  secured  an  ox-team, 
driving  on  to  Indiana  and  buying  a  farm  there. 
However,  in  July,  1838,  they  came  tothiscounty 
and  settled  at  Sagg's  bridge.  In  the  spring  of 
1S39  the  father  bought  a  farm  on  what  is  now  the 
site  of  New  Lenox.  Four  years  later  he  settled 
two  miles  south  of  Joliet,  where  he  improved  a 
valuable  farm.  After  a  bus>-  and  active  life  as  a 
farmer,  in  1868  he  retired  to  Joliet  and  made  his 
home  on  South  Chicago  street  until  he  died,  aged 
eighty-six  years  and  six  months.  His  wife  died 
at  the  same  place  December  15,  1888,  aged 
eighty-three   years.     Of  their    eleven    children 


seven  attained  mature  years,  namely:  Jacob; 
Mrs.  Margaret  Rappal,  of  Chicago;  Angeline, 
now  Sister  Liguori  of  the  Order  of  St.  Francis; 
Peter  Paul,  who  died  in  1S96;  Veronica  and 
Mary,  of  Joliet;  and  Jasper,  who  died  at  twenty- 
nine  years  of  age. 

Among  the  pupils  in  the  first  log  school  house 
built  in  New  Lenox  Township  was  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Afterward  he  attended  school  in 
Joliet  Township.  In  1858  he  began  to  cultivate 
some  of  his  father's  property.  He  had  already 
acquired  considerable  experience  in  agriculture. 
In  fact,  when  he  was  only  seven  he  had  driven 
the  oxen  that  were  attached  to  a  breaking  plow 
and  seven  years  later  he  began  to  push  the 
plow — no  easy  task,  as  all  know  who  have  en- 
gaged in  breaking  prairie  soil.  When  the  Pike's 
Peak  gold  excitement  started  in  1S59  he  started 
west  with  a  part}-  of  five.  Arriving  at  Leaven- 
worth, Kans.,  they  outfitted  with  three  yoke  of 
oxen  and  three  wagons.  He  and  his  partner, 
Clemence  Erhard,  went  in  a  wagon  via  the 
Smoky  Hill  route  direct  to  Denver.  At  one  time, 
while  crossing  the  plains,  they  counted  five  hun- 
dred buffaloes  in  one  herd,  and  they  saw  as  many 
as  fifty  autelopes  in  a  drove,  while  at  night  the 
wolves  howled  on  every  side.  The  trip  from 
Leavenworth  to  Denver  took  from  April  15  to 
June  3. 

Proceeding  to  Gregory's  Diggings,  in  the  Clear 
Creek  district,  Mr.  Adler  en  route  had  many 
hazardous  experiences,  and  afterward  engaged  in 
mining  there  and  at  Russell's  Gulch.  In  the 
fall  he  returned  to  Denver,  thence  by  mule  team 
to  St.  Joe,  Mo.,  where  he  traded  his  team  and 
wagon  for  a  farm  in  Missouri;  the  latter,  how- 
ever, he  soon  sold,  never  occupying  it.  Return- 
ing to  Joliet  he  started  soon  for  the  Michigan 
pineries,  but  at  Centreville,  Ind.,  he  bought 
horses  and  cattle  and  came  back  home.  In  the 
spring  of  1S61  heopeneda  meat  market  in  Joliet, 
having  Joseph  Richmond  as  a  partner  for  three 
years.  He  then  bought  Mr.  Richmond's  interest 
and  his  brother-in-law,  Frederick  Rappal,  be- 
came his  partner;  the  latter  in  turn  was  bought  out 
by  Jasper  Adler.  They  bought  cattle  in  Iowa. 
Kansas  and   Missouri,    and    shipped  to  the  east. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


121 


Two  years  later  he  opened  a  meat  market  on 
Chicago  street  and  his  brother,  Peter,  became  his 
partner,  to  whom  he  later  sold  the  shop.  In  1877 
he  bought  the  National  Hotel  block  and  started 
a  market  at  that  location,  also  fitted  up  the 
National  hotel  and  four  store  buildings  in  the 
block.  He  continued  in  the  meat  business  until 
1S97,  when  he  transferred  the  business  to  mem- 
bers of  his  family.  His  residence  is  at  No.  113 
South  Eastern  avenue. 

January  11,  1866,  in  Joliet,  Mr.  Adler  married 
Miss  Emily  T.  Erhard,  who  was  born  at  the 
family  home  on  Bluff  street  November  n,  1842. 
She  was  one  of  seven  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  George  Clemence,  now  of  Joliet,  was  the 
first  male  child  born  of  German  parents  in  Will 
County.  Joseph  is  a  farmer  in  Manhattan  Town- 
ship. Lawrence  is  a  Roman  Catholic  priest,  and 
Louisa  makes  her  home  with  him.  The  father, 
George  Erhard,  was  born  in  Wertsburg,  Bavaria, 
May  7,  1807,  ason  of  John  Erhard.  He  came  to 
America  in  1833  and  worked  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
but  soon  walked  from  there  to  Chicago,  and  in 
April,  1836,  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  built  and 
for  manj-  years  operated  a  brewery  on  North 
Bluff  street,  the  stone  work  of  which  is  still 
standing.  Afterward  he  settled  on  a  farm  that 
was  then  one  mile  from  Joliet,  but  now  adjoins 
the  constantly-growing  city.  The  last  two  years 
of  his  life  were  spent  in  Somonauk,  111.,  where  he 
died  June  2S,  1890,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years,  two  months  and  eleven  days.  His  wife, 
Louisa  (Periolat)  Erhard,  was  born  in  Alsace  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1834;  she  died  on 
the  home  farm  July  27,  1887,  aged  seventy-three 
years.  The  seven  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Adler  who  reached  maturity  are  named  as  fol- 
lows: Margaret  Louise,  wife  of  Daniel  P.  Lennon 
and  mother  of  two  children,  Jacob  J.  and  Daniel; 
Jacob  C,  Jr.,  who  was  educated  in  Niagara 
University  and  Bryant  &Stratton's  Business  Col- 
lege, and  is  now  connected  with  the  firm  of  J.  C. 
Adler  &  Co. ;  Lawrence,  who  attended  Niagara 
University,  and  is  also  a  successor  to  his  father  in 
the  meat  business;  Emily  V.,  who  was  educated 
in  Niagara  Convent;  Michael,  who  was  a  student 
in   Notre  Dame  University  and  is  now  engaged  in 


the  cattle  business;  Patricia  and  Catherine,  who 
have  been  given  good  educational  advantages  in 
St.  Francis'  Academy. 

Of  the  above,  Jacob  C.  married  Elizabeth 
Young,  daughter  of  Henry  Young,  proprietor  of 
the  Young  building.  They  have  one  son,  George 
Henry.  Michael  married  Angelia  Murphy,  a 
native  of  Joliet  and  a  daughter  of  David  Murphy, 
whose  father,  David  Murphy,  was  a  pioneer  of 
Will  County.  Daniel  P.  Lennon  is  a  son  of  John 
Lennon,  a  well-known  early  settler  of  Will  Coun- 
ty and  a  pioneer  in  the  marble  business  in  Joliet. 


HOHN  F.  WALL,  a  successful  business  man 
I  of  Joliet,  is  the  proprietor  of  a  large  agri- 
Q)  cultural  implement  store  on  Joliet  and  Van 
Buren  streets.  He  occupies  all  of  a  three-story 
building,  44x80  feet  in  dimensions,  where  he 
keeps  in  stock  a  full  line  of  steam  threshing  ma- 
chines, Deere  and  Janesville  plows,  Bain  wagons, 
Columbia,  Wisconsin  and  Henney  and  other 
carriages,  seeds  of  all  kinds,  and,  in  fact,  every- 
thing to  be  found  in  a  model  store  of  this  kind. 
He  lives  at  No.  505  Wilcox  street,  in  a  residence 
built  by  himself  several  years  ago.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  is  an  active  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Church 
of  this  city. 

A  resident  of  Joliet  since  the  spring  of  1881, 
Mr.  Wall  was  born  at  New  Diggings,  Wis.,  in 
1852,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Katherine  (Crowley) 
Wall,  natives  of  Canada.  His  father,  who  was 
reared  in  New  York,  came  to  Joliet  at  an  early 
age  and  followed  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  this 
city  during  the  building  of  the  canal.  Next  he 
engaged  in  lead  mining  in  Wisconsin,  where  he 
died  in  1855.  His  wife  survived  him  for  many 
years,  dying  at  Highland,  Wis.,  September  22, 
1896.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  sons  and 
four  daughters,  of  whom  three  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  living.  One  son,  James,  who  was 
a  sergeant  in  the  Tenth  Wisconsin  Infantry  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  later  became  a  member  of  the 


122 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Forty-fourth  Wisconsin,  and  for  a  time  was  held 
a  prisoner  in  Libby.  He  died  in  Wisconsin  ten 
years  after  his  return  from  the  war.  Another 
son,  Richard,  now  living  in  Kansas  City,  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Forty-fourth  Wisconsin 
Infantry.  Two  sons,  Peter  and  John  F.,  make 
their  home  in  Joliet. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  in 
public  and  select  schools  and  in  Avoca  Academy, 
where  he  was  a  student  for  two  years.  After- 
ward he  taught  school  in  Highland,  Wis.,  and 
later  six  months  in  South  Dakota.  In  1S81, 
coming  to  Joliet,  he  became  an  employe  of 
G.  C.  Erhard.  in  the  implement  business,  re- 
maining with  his  successors,  Watkins  &  Son.  in 
the  same  business  until  18S7,  when  he  bought  out 
his  employers  and  continued  the  business  on 
Desplaines  street.  In  1892  he  removed  to  his 
present  location,  corner  of  Van  Buren  and  Joliet 
streets.  After  coming  to  Joliet  he  married  Miss 
Bessie  O'Connor,  daughter  of  James  O'Connor, 
an  early  settler  of  this  count}-.  They  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,  William,  Jessie,  Gene- 
vieve, John,  Raymond  and  Helen. 


(ILLIAM  DAVIDSON,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Joliet  Pioneer  Stone  Company, 
is  identified  with  one  of  the  leading  enter- 
prises of  its  kind  in  the  county.  In  1867  he  and 
W.  A.  Strong  bought  the  Swalm  quarry,  which 
was  the  first  opened  in  this  section  for  commercial 
use  and  was  also  the  first  to  make  shipments  by 
canal.  Later  they  bought  the  Wilson  quarry,  in 
which  Mr.  Davidson  afterward  bought  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  to  which  he  has  since  added 
until  it  includes  nearly  one  hundred  acres.  At 
the  time  of  purchase  it  had  only  one  derrick  and 
that  a  crude  one;  now  its  machinery  is  valued  at 
$60,000  and  includes  man}'  derricks  and  a  fine 
crane  with  a  capacity  of  twelve  tons.  A  yard 
was  also  established  at  Twenty-seventh  street  in 
Chicago,  where  he  had  a  twenty-ton  crane,  but 
the  elevation  of  the  railroad  tracks  rendered  the 


continuance  of  the  yard  impracticable.  In  1885 
planers  were  put  in  and  saws  ten  years  later,  and 
there  are  four  steam  derricks  with  a  capacity  of 
fifteen  tons  each.  In  1872  he  furnished  $99,000 
worth  of  stone  flagging  for  Chicago  streets,  mean- 
time furnishing  employment  to  three  hundred 
and  twenty-five  men.  He  also  furnished  all  of 
the  stone  used  in  the  plant  of  the  steel  company 
at  South  Chicago,  where  he  placed  an  average  of 
twelve  to  fourteen  thousand  per  month.  In 
1S69  he  sold  a  fourth  interest  in  the  quarry  to  his 
brother.  In  1SS2  he  incorporated  the  Joliet 
Pioneer  Stone  Company,  of  which  he  has  been 
manager  from  the  first  and  in  which  he  owns  the 
controlling  interest.  The  capacity  of  the  plant 
is  very  large  and  by  means  of  switches,  giving 
easy  connection  with  railroads,  shipments  are 
made  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  from  New 
Vork  to  the  mountains.  The  remarkable  suc- 
cess of  the  business  is  almost  wholly  due  to  the 
ability  of  the  owner,  although  he  has  been  fortu- 
nate in  having  associated  with  him  men  of  quick 
insight  and  great  energy.  Nature  endowed  him 
with  superior  talents.  He  was  only  eleven  years 
of  age  when  he  completed  the  higher  arithmetic 
and  his  knowledge  of  mathematics  has  always 
proved  of  assistance  to  him,  while  his  logical  rea- 
soning, clear  discernment  and  indomitable  pluck 
have  aided  in  securing  his  success. 

The  Davidsons  are  a  very  old  English  family 
that  originated  in  Denmark.  Robert  Davidson, 
a  farmer  of  Cumberlandshire,  England,  married 
Esther  Howe,  member  of  a  wealthy  and  ancient 
family  of  Threcot.  When  advanced  in  years  he 
died  in  Liverpool;  she  was  accidentally  killed  by 
the  running  away  of  a  horse  in  1835.  Of  their 
seven  children  who  attained  mature  years  four 
came  to  America,  three  being  brought  to  this 
country  by  the  fourth,  William.  The  eldest, 
John,  who  was  with  William  in  business,  died  in 
Joliet  in  July,  1S95,  a*  seventy-two  years  of  age; 
Joseph,  a  partner  in  the  business,  died  in  this  city 
in  March,  1S95;  and  a  sister  died  in  April  of  the 
same  year,  aged  eighty.  The  fourth  in  the 
family,  William,  was  born  in  Tallantire,  Cumber- 
land, England,  October  2S,  1827.  When  seven 
years  of  age  he  secured  work  herding  cattle  for 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


123 


three  pence  a  day.  His  school  advantages  were 
very  limited,  his  education  being  acquired  by 
self-culture.  After  working  on  farms  for  some 
years  he  began  railroading  at  Newcastle-on-the- 
Tyne,  and  for  four  years  was  employed  in  track- 
laying.  Next  he  went  to  Liverpool,  where  he 
worked  on  the  police  force  for  three  months. 
From  the  time  he  was  eight  years  old  it  had  been 
his  ambition  to  come  to  America  and  at  last  the 
opportunity  was  offered.  A  Connecticut  firm 
sent  a  man  to  England  to  secure  one  hundred  and 
fifty  quarry  men,  and  under  an  engagement  with 
him  William  and  Joseph  Davidson  crossed  the 
Atlantic  ocean  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which  landed 
in  New  York  April  24,  1S50,  after  a  voyage  of 
twenty-four  days.  Three  days  later  he  was  at 
work  in  the  Middlesex  (Conn.)  quarry,  where  he 
remained  for  ninety-nine  days,  paying  for  his 
passage,  but  receiving  no  money  from  the  firm. 
Finding  himself  unable  to  secure  his  wages,  he 
went  to  Philadelphia,  thence  to  Baltimore,  and 
from  there  to  Little  York,  Pa.,  where  he  worked 
in  a  quarry  for  six  weeks.  When  the  quarry 
was  closed  he  walked  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
and  back  again  to  within  one  mile  of  his  first  loca- 
tion in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  he  secured  work 
on  the  Erie  canal.  Six  weeks  later  he  walked  to 
Dalton,  Ohio.  During  those  long  walks  he 
endured  every  privation  and  hardship.  More 
than  once  he  lacked  needed  food  and  comforts. 
The  last  day  he  walked  thirty-two  miles  without 
breakfast  or  dinner,  then  worked  for  a  few  hours, 
earning  seventy-five  cents,  after  which  he  walked 
three  miles  to  a  boarding  house.  For  nine  months 
he  was  employed  in  track-laying  on  the  Pitts- 
burg &  Fort  Wayne  Railroad.  After  he  worked 
six  weeks  it  was  found  that  he  alone,  of  all  the 
men,  could  put  in  the  switches  and  side  tracks 
satisfactorily,  and  he  was  therefore  placed  in 
charge  of  this  work,  receiving  $3  per  day,  after 
which  he  was  never  without  money. 

Leaving  the  road  at  Massillon,  he  went  to 
Michigan  City,  Ind.,  and  contracted  to  take  tile 
from  there  to  Lafayette.  In  1852  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago and  from  there,  after  an  illness  of  ten  days, 
proceeded  to  Kankakee,  where  he  began  to  work 
setting;  out  stone  for  the  railroad.      He  remained 


there  for  three  years  and  from  the  first  acted  as 
foreman  and  opened  the  quarries.  For  two 
months  he  quarried  in  the  bottom  of  the  Kanka- 
kee River,  but,  the  weather  being  cold,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  opening  of  a  quarry  in  the 
bank.  Through  a  flattering  inducement  held  out 
by  Robert  Cunningham,  of  Joliet,  in  1S55,  he 
came  to  Joliet  to  work  in  his  quarry.  In  July, 
1856,  he  first  became  connected  with  the  Wilson 
quarry,  of  which  he  was  superintendent  for 
eleven  years,  his  work  proving  very  profitable  for 
the  owners,  as  he  brought  the  quarry  from  a  run- 
down and  unprofitable  condition  to  a  substantial 
financial  basis.  He  continued  to  work  for  his 
original  employers  until  he  purchased  thequar^- 
in  1867. 

From  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party 
Mr.  Davidson  has  voted  that  ticket.  He  has 
allowed  himself  little  recreation  or  relaxation 
from  business  duties,  but  in  the  fall  of  1872,  with 
his  family,  returned  to  England,  where  he  re- 
newed the  associations  of  youth  and  enjoyed  a 
pleasant  vacation.  His  first  wife,  Jane  Sterling, 
was  born  in  Canada,  of  Scotch  descent,  and  died 
in  Joliet;  afterward  he  married  Mrs.  Ann 
(Hudson)  Finney,  a  widow  with  six  children. 
Two  children  were  born  of  their  union,  one  of 
whom  is  living,  Mrs.  Esther  J.  Pierce,  of  Engle- 
wood.  After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Ann  Davidson 
our  subject  married  Mrs.  Melissa  (Van  Anchan) 
Dewey,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  died 
in  Joliet.  The  present  wife  of  Mr.  Davidson, 
whom  he  married  in  Englewood,  was  Mrs. 
Amelia  Higbom,  of  Chicago,  an  estimable  lady, 
who  shares  with  him  the  respect  of  acquaintances 
and  the  regard  of  friends. 


(lOHN  CHARLES  DOESCHER,  who  for 
I  years  was  one  of  Endor's  most  prominent 
Q)  men,  is  now  making  his  home  in  Crete.  He 
was  born  in  Brunswick,  Lake  County,  Ind.,  April 
5,  1848.  His  father,  Herman  Doescher,  a  native 
of  the  kingdom  of  Hanover,  there  grew  to  man- 
hood   and  married  Johanna    Margreta    Steffens. 


- 


L  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


manufac- 
turer 

successfu".  dness  of  that  kind  at 

America  in 
ind  became  one  of 
It  had  been  his  ex- 
pects' to  this  country,  to  es- 

B 3  and  he   bought 
real  estate  there,  but  fa  change " 

:ed   in   Indiana,  where  he  became  the 

owner  of  about  three  hundred  acres.     When  ad- 

v  red  from  farm  pursuits  and 

came  to  Will  County,  where  he  made  his  home 

J.   C.   Doescher,  at  Endor,    dying 

chty-three  years  of  age.     When  a 

young  man  he  had  served  in  the  Hanover  army, 

in    accordance    with   the   laws   of  his   country. 

:  was  a  Republican  and  in  early  days 

held  a  number  of  public  offices.     His  wife  died 

in  Indiana,  leaving  six  children,  namely:  Gesine, 

the  widow  of  Henry  Anderman:  Herman  X.,   a 

farmer  in  Crete  Township:  Johanna,  the  widow  of 

-t  Batterman;  Frederica.  widow  of  Charles 

.'.so  residents  of  Crete j:  Christine,  wife 

of  Henry  Meyer,  of  Brunswick,  Ind.,  and  John 

Charles,  of  this  sketch. 

til  fourteen  years  of  age  our  subject  remain- 
ed on  the  Indiana  homestead.  His  first  work  was 
in  a  harness  shop.  Later  he  was  employed  in  a 
grocery  store  in  Chicago.  In  October,  1864,  when 
only  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  Company 


G.  Twelfth  Indiana  Cavalry.  With  his  regiment 
he  went  to  Alabama  and  other  southern  states. 
He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Murfreesboro, 
Nashville  and  Mobile,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
iburg  in  November,  1S65. 

Returning  to  Indiana,  Mr.  Doescher  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm,  which  he  conducted  for 
eight  years.  In  1S74  he  came  to  Endor,  Will 
County,  and  bought  a  store  that  his  brother-in 
law,  Charles  Horn,  had  established  there.  Later 
he  added  windmills,  pumps  and  steamfitting  to 
his  business  and  in  1SS2  he  started  a  sawmill, 
which  he  still  owns  and  operates.  In  October, 
1S99,  he  sold  his  grocery  and  dry  goods  store  and 
came  to  Crete,  where  he  expects  to  make  his 
home  in  the  future.  He  has  built  a  neat  resi- 
dence in  the  village  and  expects  to  continue  his 
windmill  and  pump  business. 

In  the  local  affairs  of  the  Republican  party 
Mr.  Doescher  has  been  active.  For  a  long  time 
he  held  office  as  township  treasurer.  For  almost 
a  quarter  of  a  century  he  served  as  postmaster  of 
Endor.  While  living  in  Indiana  he  married 
Miss  Henrietta  Weber,  who  was  born  in  Sheboy- 
gan, Wis.  To  their  marriage  four  children  were 
born,  namely:  Otto  H.  H.,  February  7.  1S71: 
Matilda  L.,  June  11,  1S72;  Ida  A.,  who  was  born 
September  12,  1S73,  and  who  died  April  17,  189S, 
and  Henry  H..  April  6,  1876.  The  three  first 
named  were  born  at  Brunswick,  Ind.,  and  the 
voungest  at  Endor,  111. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


127 


CHARLES  CLAYES. 


EHARLES  CLAYES,  deceased,  still  lives  in 
the  hearts  and  memories  of  his  friends  and 
neighbors  in  Frankfort  Township.  As  one 
of  the  men  who  by  personal  sacrifice  and  perse- 
vering industry  reclaimed  a  farm  from  the  raw 
prairie  land,  and  who,  at  the  same  time,  assisted 
in  the  development  of  local  industries,  he  will  be 
long  remembered  by  those  among  whom  he  made 
his  home.  He  was  a  representative  of  the  best 
class  of  pioneers.  Coming  here  in  his  youth, 
when  the  county  was  unsettled,  he  bore  his  part 
in  the  development  of  the  laud  and  assisted  in 
all  worthy  enterprises.  For  many  years  he  was 
active  in  agricultural  circles,  but  ill  health  forced 
him  to  relinquish  all  active  pursuits,  and  for  fif- 
teen years  before  his  death  he  was  an  invalid, 
suffering  constantly  and  greatly  from  rheuma- 
tism; in  the  midst  of  his  sufferings,  however,  he 
was  always  very  patient,  and  no  one  ever  heard 
a  complaint  from  his  lips.  When  death  finally 
brought  him  release  from  pain,  he  entered  the 
great  unknown  eternity  "  as  one  who  wraps  the 
drapery  of  his  couch  about  him  and  lies  down 
to  pleasant  slumber." 

The  Clayes  family  originated  in  Wales,  but  was 
represented  in  New  Hampshire  in  a  very  early 
day.  Our  subject's  father,  Peter,  was  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire,  but  about  18 15  removed  to 
Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  and  twenty  years  later 
came  to  Illinois,  taking  up  a  claim  near  Lockport. 
After  spending  four  years  on  that  place,  in  1839 
he  came  to  Frankfort  Township,  which  had  not 
yet  been  surveyed.  Here  he  bought  school  and 
government  land  and  settled  down  to  farm  life. 
In  earlier  years  he  had  followed  the  cabinet- 
maker's trade,  but  after  coming  west  devoted  his 
attention  to  farming.     His  last  days  were  spent 


with  his  son  Charles.  He  died  in  May,  1S49, 
when  seventy- five  years  of  age.  He  married 
Louise  Metcalf,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  She 
died  in  December,  1849.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom,  Caroline,  was  born  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1799,  and  the  youngest,  Charles, 
was  born  on  the  4th  of  July,  1819. 

When  almost  fifteen  years  of  age  our  subject 
came  with  the  family  to  this  county,  and  he  was 
about  twenty  when  they  settled  in  Frankfort 
Township.  Afterward  he  took  charge  of  the 
homestead  and  cared  for  his  parents  as  long 
as  the)r  lived.  As  the  years  passed  by  he 
met  with  increasing  success  and  often  added  to 
his  possessions  by  the  purchase  of  additional 
farm  land,  becoming  in  time  the  owner  of  more 
than  three  hundred  acres,  on  which  he  engaged 
in  stock-raising  and  general  farming.  His  spec- 
ialty was  the  raising  of  cattle  and  sheep.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  owned  two  hundred  and 
seventy-two  acres.  In  1890  he  rented  his  farm 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  Frankfort  Station, 
where  he  died  June  16,  1894,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-five years.  He  was  always  deeply  inter- 
ested in  local  affairs  and  voted  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  was  the  first  town  clerk  of  Frank- 
fort, and  for  some  years  served  on  the  school 
board.  Fraternal  organizations  did  not  appeal 
to  him,  as  he  was  a  man  of  domestic  tastes  and 
preferred  to  spend  his  leisure  hours  with  his 
family  rather  than  in  a  lodge.  While  he  did  not 
belong  to  any  church,  he  attended  and  supported 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

March  26,  1846,  Mr.  Clayes  married  Eliza  A., 
daughter  of  Luther  Williams,  who  had  settled  in 
Yankee  Settlement  in  Homer  Township  in  1835. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayes  became  the  parents  of  six 


128 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children,  namely:  Amelia  L.,  who  married  W. 
H.  Mettler,  and  lives  in  Bureau  Count}-,  111.; 
Emma  S.,  wife  of  J.  S.  Claus,  of  Englewood; 
Mary  J.,  who  married  L.  M.  Mettler,  also  of 
Englewood;  Charles  W.,  a  hardware  merchant 
in  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Mattie  H.,  who  died 
July  5,  1894;  and  Adeline  E.,  wife  of  Dr.  R.  H. 
Henry,  of  Peotone,  111. 


(ILLIAM  H.  WHITE,  proprietor  of  the 
Columbia  laundry  at  No.  106  Jefferson 
street,  Joliet,  was  born  at  Braidwood,  this 
county,  January  22,  1874,  a  son  of  George  VV. 
and  Rebecca  (Harris)  White.  Of  ten  children 
comprising  the  family  he  and  a  brother  are  the 
only  ones  in  Joliet.  His  father,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, followed  farming  in  his  native  land,  but 
while  still  a  young  man  he  came  to  America, 
more  than  forty  years  ago.  Settling  in  this 
county  he  embarked  in  agricultural  pursuits  here. 
For  a  short  time  he  also  experimented  with  farm 
work  in  Kansas,  but,  not  meeting  with  success, 
returned  to  Illinois,  purchasing  land  in  Iroquois 
County,  near  Kankakee,  that  was  owned  by  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company.  He  now 
makes  his  home  in  Braidwood  and  is  living  re- 
tired from  business  cares.  He  is  connected  with 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  in  politics  votes  with  the 
Republicans. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  begun  in 
public  schools  and  completed  in  Putnam's  Busi- 
ness College  in  Joliet.  His  first  experience  in 
merchandising  was  with  J.  R.  Hobbs,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  one  and  one-half  years.  Later 
he  spent  fourteen  months  with  Royston  &  Clark, 
a  grocery  firm  in  Joliet,  and  afterward  engaged 
in  business  with  Charles  Pinneo.  About  one 
year  afterward  he  began  to  work  for  the  Columbia 
laundry,  which  was  at  that  time  operated  as  a 
hand  laundry.  Since  he  purchased  the  business 
he  has  made  it  the  leading  laundry  in  the  city. 
During  the  six  years  that  he  has  had  charge  of 
the  business  his  success  has  been  marked;  this, 


too,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that,  when  he  be- 
gan, he  was  the  youngest  business  man  in  Joliet, 
being  less  than  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He 
displays  push,  energy  aud  sagacity  in  his  work, 
and  is  making  of  it  a  notable  success.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  State  and  the  National 
Lauudrymen's  Association. 

In  politics  Mr.  White  is  independent.  His 
fraternal  relations  are  varied  and  important.  He 
is  connected  with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Paul  Revere  Lodge  No.  371, 
K.  of  P.;  Sons  of  America;  Knights  of  the  Globe 
( in  which  he  is  a  charter  member)  ; Knights  of  Kor- 
rahasseu,  a  social  order  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
in  Chicago;  and  Knights  of  the  White  Cross,  of 
which  he  is  a  charter  member.  On  Christmas 
day  of  1S95  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Amy, 
daughter  of  Charles  Pinneo,  of  Joliet.  They 
have  had  two  children,  one  now  living,  Ardis 
Marian. 


0ELIVAN  D.  ODELL,  Ph.  D.,  S.  T.  B., 
pastor  of  the  Eastern  Avenue  Baptist 
Church  of  Joliet,  and  chaplain  of  the  Third 
Regiment  of  Infantry,  I.  N.  G.,  with  the  rank  of 
captain,  is  a  descendant  of  a  colonial  family  of 
New  York,  whose  first  representatives  in  that 
state  settled  in  the  Hudson  River  valley,  on  the 
present  site  of  Peekskill.  In  all  the  great  wars 
of  our  country  members  of  the  family  have  partici- 
pated, proving  themselves  loyal  to  our  govern- 
ment and  also  exhibiting  great  personal  bravery 
in  the  midst  of  hard-fought  battles.  Dr.  Odell's 
father,  William,  who  was  born  in  Peekskill,  en- 
listed in  the  war  of  1812  when  a  mere  boy,  and 
the  grandfather,  who  was  a  Revolutionary  war 
veteran,  also  marched  to  the  front  in  the  second 
war  with  England.  By  the  marriage  of  William 
Odell  to  Lucinda  Brown,  of  Peekskill,  fifteen 
children  were  born  (thirteen  still  living),  and 
during  the  Civil  war  four  of  the  sons  and  four 
sons-in-laws  served  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourteenth  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
seventh  New  York  Regiments. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


129 


Born  in  Erieville,  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  May 
10,  1853,  Dr.  Odell  was  a  boy  of  eight  years  when 
the  Civil  war  began.  Too  young  to  enlist  in  the 
service,  he  was,  however,  old  enough  to  take  a 
most  enthusiastic  interest  in  the  struggle,  and, 
being  the  best  shot  of  any  member  of  the  family, 
it  was  a  source  of  great  disappointment  to  him 
that  he  could  not  show  his  skill  on  the  battle- 
field. He  was  given  good  educational  advan- 
tages, and  of  these  he  availed  himself  to  the  ut- 
most, pursuing  the  classical  course  of  study  with 
the  diligence  and  ardor  of  one  who  loves  his 
work.  In  1879  he  received  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
upon  graduating  from  Colgate  University  at 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  and  four  years  later  the  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  his 
alma  mater.  Entering  the  ministry  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  he  was  ordained  at  Springfield  Cen- 
ter, N.  Y.,  in  1879,  and  immediately  began  to 
preach  to  the  congregation  at  that  place,  where 
he  continued  for  some  years.  In  the  midst  of  the 
varied  duties  of  a  pastor  he  continued  to  be  a 
student.  In  1882,  with  a  desire  to  gain  a 
broader  knowledge  of  theology,  he  matriculated 
in  the  Chicago  Theological  Seminary,  where  he 
took  the  regular  course  of  study,  graduating  May 
5,  1886,  with  the  degree  of  B.  D.  Since  then  he 
has  been  the  recipient  of  two  of  the  higher  de- 
grees; the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  Syracuse  University  June  8,  1890,  and 
that  of  Bachelor  of  Sacred  Theology  by  Chicago 
University  in  June,  1899. 

On  the  completion  of  his  theological  studies  in 
Chicago,  Dr.  Odell  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the 
Aurora  (111.)  Baptist  Church,  where  he  remained 
for  four  years,  meantime  having  charge  of  the 
erection  of  a  house  of  worship  for  that  congrega- 
tion. In  1890  he  became  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Peoria,  where  he  superintended 
the  erection  of  an  edifice  costing  $70,000.  His 
next  pastorate,  commenced  in  1894,  was  that  of 
the  Betheden  Baptist  Church  of  Omaha.  His 
pastorates  in  these  various  places  were  so  re- 
markably successful  that  he  gained  a  widespread 
reputation  in  his  denomination,  and  was  espe- 
cially noted  for  his  success  in  raising  the  neces- 
sary money  for  removing  mortgages  from  church 


properties  that  were  heavily  incumbered.  While 
he  was  in  Omaha,  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Lansing,  Mich.,  was  about  to  be  sold  for  a  mort- 
gage of  $40,000.  The  members  sent  an  urgent 
appeal  to  him,  entreating  him  to  come  to  their 
rescue  and  save  the  building  from  foreclosure. 
He  did  so,  and  within  two  years  paid  off  $20,000 
of  the  debt,  thus  saving  the  edifice  to  the  congre- 
gation. In  1897  he  came  to  Joliet,  accepting  a 
call  as  pastor  of  the  Eastern  Avenue  Baptist 
Church,  which  at  that  time  had  a  membership 
of  two  hundred  and  forty-two,  but  which,  under 
his  earnest  and  able  leadership,  has  increased  to 
more  than  five  hundred  members.  He  has  been 
honored  by  election  as  moderator  of  the  Aurora 
Baptist  Association,  in  which  responsible  office 
he  has  displayed  signal  ability,  wisdom  and  tact. 

Since  coming  to  Joliet  Dr.  Odell  has  been  a 
conspicuous  figure  in  matters  affecting  the  hap- 
piness and  welfare  of  the  people.  Aggressive  in 
his  opposition  to  evil,  he  has  not  weakly  repined 
when  the  religious  or  moral  growth  of  the  com- 
munity has  been  threatened,  but  has  been  firm 
and  steadfast  in  his  stand  against  wickedness  and 
corruption.  It  was  a  matter  of  open  comment 
that  the  law  concerning  the  night  and  Sunday 
closing  of  saloons  was  wilfully  violated.  With  a 
determination  to  secure  an  enforcement  of  the 
law,  he  set  himself  to  work,  and  the  agitation  re- 
sulting from  his  efforts  caused  widespread  inter- 
est. The  press  throughout  the  country,  in  com- 
menting concerning  his  efforts,  espoused  his 
cause  and  applauded  his  zeal.  In  the  end  he 
was  rewarded  with  success  and  the  enforcement 
of  the  law  was  secured. 

During  the  Spanish-American  war  Dr.  Odell 
served  at  the  front  as  chaplain,  with  the  rank  of 
captain,  having  received  the  appointment  through 
Col.  John  Lambert,  through  whose  generosity  he 
was  enabled  to  relieve  much  suffering  among  the 
sick  soldiers  in  Porto  Rico.  August  1,  1898,  he 
received  from  Governor  Tanner  a  commission  as 
chaplain  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  Infantry  Illi- 
nois Volunteers,  and  accompanied  the  army  to 
the  south  and  from  there  to  Porto  Rico.  By  his 
devotion  to  the  men  he  won  their  regard  and  re- 
spect.    Going  from  bed  to  bed   in   the   hospital, 


130 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lie  cheered,  advised  and  comforted,  while  among 
the  soldiers  on  active  duty  he  was  constantly 
present  to  encourage  and  inspire  with  new  en- 
thusiasm. He  was  mustered  out  with  his  regi- 
ment in  January,  1899.  On  the  24th  of  July  of 
the  same  year  he  was  commissioned  by  Governor 
Tanner  as  chaplain  of  the  Third  Infantry, 
I.  N.  G.,  in  which  capacity  he  continues  at  this 
writing.  He  maintains  a  deep  interest  in  militia 
matters,  and  holds  a  high  place  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  guard. 

Politically  Dr.  Odell  has  always  been  a  stanch 
Republican,  yet  he  has  never  shown  a  partisan 
spirit,  but  has  conceded  to  others  the  same 
liberty  of  thought  and  opinion  in  political  mat- 
ters that  he  desires  for  himself.  In  Masonry  he 
has  attained  the  thirty-second  degree;  his  blue 
lodge  membership  is  in  Matteson  Lodge  in  Joliet. 
Shortly  after  the  completion  of  his  course  in  Col- 
gate University  he  was  married,  in  Springfield 
Center,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Matie  Ely,  who  was  born 
at  Richfield  Springs,  that  state,  and  is  a  member 
of  a  colonial  New  York  family.  The  only  child 
of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Odell  is  Lester  E.,  who  is  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1903,  Dennison  University 
at  Granville,  Ohio. 


lILLIAM  DOUGLAS,  who  has  been  suc- 
cessfully identified  with  the  stone  quarry 
interests  of  Joliet,  came  to  this  city  in 
1 88 1  as  agent  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad. 
He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  August  19, 
1849.  His  railroad  experience  began  in  Detroit, 
where  he  made  his  headquarters  for  a  few  years. 
In  1873  he  became  an  agent  with  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad,  and  two  years  later  was  assigned 
to  Dwight,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  six  years. 
The  1st  of  January,  1881,  found  Mr.  Douglas 
in  Joliet,  as  agent  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road in  this  city,  a  position  that  he  filled  until 
1885.  He  was  then  promoted  to  be  trainmaster. 
In  1886  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  rail- 
road and  became  secretary  and  manager  of  the 
Joliet  &  Chicago  Stone  Company,  with  which 
he  continued  until  1895,  when  the  business  was 
sold  out  to  the  Joliet  Limestone  Company.  With 
the  latter  concern  he  continued  as  secretary  and 
manager  for  a  short  time,  and  he  is  still  one  of 
the  stockholders.  In  1897  he  became  manager 
of  the  Globe  Stone  Company,  which  employed 
two  hundred  men  at  times.  He  is  also  interested 
in  farming.  In  politics  he  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 


[V 


(7%t/t*Ay 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


133 


PATRICK  C.  HALEY. 


QATRICK  C.  HALEY,  attorney-at-law,  of 
L/'  Joliet,  was  born  atSaranac,  Clinton  County, 
[3  N.  Y.,  March  17,  1849.  When  he  was  two 
years  of  age  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Hannah 
Haley,  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Joliet, 
where  his  education  was  primarily  conducted. 
After  graduating  from  the  high  school  of  this 
city  he  took  a  course  of  study  in  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Michigan  State  University,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  187 1.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Joliet.  In  April  of  1S71  he  formed  a  law  part- 
nership with  J.  R.  Flanders,  but  this  connection 
continued  only  until  December  of  that  year. 
While  he  had  no  means  at  the  time  of  starting  in 
practice,  his  ability  and  intelligence  made  him  a 
conspicuous  figure  at  the  bar  from  the  first.  In 
July,  1874,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  J. 
L.  O'Dounell,  and  the  firm  of  Haley  &  O'Dou- 
nell  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful in  northern  Illinois. 

In  corporation  law,  of  which  he  has  made  a 
specialty,  Mr.  Haley  is  considered  an  authority, 
his  long  study  and  thorough  knowledge  of  every 
phase  and  technicality  of  that  department  of 
the  law  giving  him  a  reputation  as  a  practitioner 
second  to  none.  For  years  he  has  been  retained 
as  attorney  for  a  number  of  corporations,  includ- 
ing the  Michigan  Central,  Wabash,  Santa  Fe 
and  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad  companies. 
He  has  filled  the  position  of  corporation  attorney 
for  the  sanitary  district  of  Chicago  for  Will 
County  in  matters  which  involved  millions  of 
dollars.     That  his  services  have  been  appreciated 


by  the  trustees  of  the  board  is  evidenced  by  the 
fact  that,  in  addition  to  his  salary,  he  was  voted 
$6,000  as  a  Christmas  gift  in  1898. 

In  Mr.  Haley  the  Democratic  party  has  found 
a  steadfast  supporter.  His  advice  has  been  freely 
sought  by  party  leaders.  Having  the  welfare  of 
the  party  at  heart,  he  has  given  to  it  much  of 
his  time  and  contributed  to  the  promotion  of  its 
interests.  For  a  number  of  years,  as  a  member 
of  the  Democratic  state  central  committee,  he 
was  active  in  the  politics  of  the  state.  In  1S74 
his  party  elected  him  city  attorney,  an  office  that 
he  held  for  one  year,  filling  it  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  win  the  commendation,  not  only  of  Demo- 
crats, but  also  the  warmest  praise  of  Republicans 
as  well.  For  fourteen  years  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Joliet  city  council.  In  April,  1891,  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  and  this  position 
he  filled  for  two  years,  giving  the  city  an  ener- 
getic and  progressive  administration.  Ten  days 
before  the  congressional  election  of  1882  he  was 
nominated  by  his  party  for  congress.  Others 
had  declined  to  make  the  race  against  the  Re- 
publican candidate,  Hon.  William  Cullen,  of 
Ottawa,  for  all  believed  that  there  was  not  the 
smallest  chance  of  victory.  However,  for  the 
sake  of  the  party,  he  consented  to  enter  the  race. 
During  the  few  days  before  election  he  made  ten 
speeches.  His  reputation  as  a  man  was  such 
that,  although  the  Republicans  usually  had  a 
majority  of  about  seven  thousand  votes,  he  not 
only  received  the  Democratic  votes,  but  many  of 
the  Republican  also.  At  the  close  of  the  elec- 
tion he  was  declared  the  successful  candidate,  but 
afterward  the  decision  was  reversed  and  it  was 


134 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


decided  that  he  lost  by  seventy-seven  votes. 
This  was  such  a  remarkable  showing  that  Re- 
publicans, both  of  the  district  and  state,  were 
alarmed  concerning  the  tenure  of  their  party  in 
this  district. 

To  many  Mr.  Haley  is  known  only  through 
his  connection  with  law  and  public  affairs.  How- 
ever, those  who  know  him  best  find  him  to  be  a 
man  of  genial  social  qualities,  companionable, 
affable  and  large-hearted.  He  is  domestic  in  his 
tastes  and  spends  his  leisure  hours  in  the  com- 
panionship of  his  wife  and  children.  He  was 
singularly  fortunate  in  his  marriage,  as  his  wife 
has  been  a  true  helpmate  and  devoted  compan- 
ion. Prior  to  their  marriage  December  i,  1875, 
she  was  Miss  Mary  A.  D'Arcy.  Her  father, 
John  D'Arcy,  settled  in  Joliet  in  1851,  and  be- 
came a  successful  cattle-buyer  and  real-estate 
owner  here. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haley  have  nine  children,  viz.: 
Margaret  Caton,  a  graduate  of  St.  Mary's  con- 
vent; Robert  Emmet,  who  is  a  law  student  in 
Michigan  State  University;  Raymond  Aubrey, 
a  student  in  St.  Bede's  College,  at  Peru,  111.; 
Marion  Columbia,  Edna  Madeline,  Genevieve, 
Paul  Columbus,  Mary  Angela  and  John  Patrick. 
The  family  occupy  a  residence  on  South  Center 
street  that  was  erected  by  Mr.  Haley,  and  is  the 
most  costly  residence  in  the  city.  It  is  a  fine 
three-story  and  basement  building,  with  six 
rooms  on  each  floor,  and  furnished  in  a  manner 
reflecting  the  refined  tastes  and  high  culture  of  the 
inmates.  In  addition  to  this  property,  Mr.  Haley 
is  the  owner  of  several  houses  and  a  business 
block  in  the  city. 


|£)  ATHANIEL  J.  BROWN.  A  record  of  the 
I  /  life  of  Nathaniel  J.  Brown  is,  to  a  large  de- 
\lD  gree,  a  record  of  the  development  of  the 
middle  western  states.  Few  of  his  colaborers  of 
pioneer  days  are  now  living.  He  stands,  a  link 
between  the  living,  prosperous  present  and  the 
distant,  frontier  past,  and  in  his  declining  years 
may  view,  with  just  pride,  the  civilization  and 
advancement  of  Illinois,  toward  which  he  was  so 
important  a  contributor.     Like  the  majority  of 


pioneers,  he  started  out  a  poor  boy,  without 
special  advantages.  Possessing  a  rugged  frame 
and  extraordinary  business  ability,  his  early 
youth  foreshadowed  his  successful  career.  The 
high  position  he  attained  and  the  influence  he 
wielded  were  the  result  of  his  sagacity,  foresight 
and  his  talent  for  marking  out  a  new  course  in 
the  business  world.  His  ability  to  grasp  alike 
great  enterprises  and  minute  details  aided  him 
from  -the  first,  while  his  perseverance  and  force 
of  character  also  proved  potent  factors  in  his 
progress.  While  circumstances  have  entirely 
changed  from  the  conditions  of  seventy  and 
eighty  years  ago,  and  a  young  man  could  not 
now  make  the  start  that  he  made  in  his  youth, 
yet  there  is  much  in  his  career  to  be  emulated; 
and  the  sequel  of  his  success  shows  how,  with  in- 
dustry, determination  and  an  active  mind,  a  man 
may  attain  wealth  and  prominence  in  any  com- 
munity. 

The  life  which  this  narrative  sketches  began 
in  Windsor,  Vt.,  January  27,  1812.  The  family 
was  a  large  one,  comprising  twelve  children,  but 
Governor  Brown  (for  by  his  honorary  title  our 
subject  is  best  known)  alone  survives.  His  fa- 
ther, Daniel  B.  Brown,  a  Vermonter  by  birth 
and  ancestry,  removed  to  Oswego,  N.  Y. ,  thence 
to  Niagara  County,  the  same  state,  and  finally 
settled  in  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  a  very  early 
day.  At  the  time  of  his  last  removal  Nathaniel 
J.  was  a  boy  of  fourteen  years.  He  had  received 
a  common-school  education  and  after  settling  on 
the  frontier  turned  his  attention  to  business  pur- 
suits, for  which  he  showed  decided  talent.  As 
an  agent  he  became  connected  with  a  stage  line 
projected  by  his  older  brother,  Anson,  from  De- 
troit to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  River.  This 
position  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to  gain  in- 
formation regarding  the  possible  location  of  new 
towns.  One  less  quick-witted  might  not  have 
perceived  this  opportunity,  but  Mr.  Brown  was 
far  too  keen  and  sagacious  to  permit  an  advan- 
tage to  pass  by  unheeded.  It  was  in  this  way 
that  he  was  led  to  make  investments  in  Kent, 
Ionia  and  Clinton  Counties,  all  of  which  invest- 
ments brought  him  large  returns.  In  Kent  Coun- 
ty he  bought  a  large  tract  of  timber  land,  and, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i35 


although  the  lumber  business  had  not  yet  been 
developed,  he  saw  in  this  land  a  chance  to  make 
gratifying  profits,  so  he  built  a  mill  on  the  prop- 
erty and  engaged  in  sawing  lumber.  In  the 
spring  of  1835,  as  soon  as  the  Grand  River  was 
clear  of  ice,  he  and  an  assistant  took  six  schooner 
loads  of  lumber  from  Grandville  to  Grand  Haven 
— a  perilous  undertaking,  and  one  that  was  never 
made  before  or  afterward.  Arriving  at  Grand 
Haven,  he  loaded  the  lumber  on  the  "White 
Pigeon,"  which  he  had  chartered.  With  the 
cargo  he  proceeded  to  Chicago,  where  he  arrived 
April  4.  He  sold  the  lumber  there  for  $28  per 
thousand  feet.  In  one  year  he  sold  enough  lum- 
ber to  pay  for  all  of  his  land,  together  with  the 
mill  and  the  expenses  connected  with  its  opera- 
tion. 

It  was  during  this  first  visit  to  Chicago  that 
Governor  Brown  made  the  acquaintance  of  Au- 
gustus Garrett,  now  best  known  as  the  founder 
of  Garrett  Biblical  Institute  of  Evanston,  111. 
Mr.  Garrett,  who  was  engaged  in  selling  dry- 
goods  and  town  lots,  proposed  to  Mr.  Brown 
that  they  form  a  partnership,  and  an  arrange- 
ment was  made  that  did  not  interfere  with  Mr. 
Brown's  speculations  in  Michigan.  The  firm 
platted  a  town  site  at  the  geographical  center  of 
Ionia  County,  Mich.,  and  Mr.  Brown  went  to  the 
new  town  of  Ionia,  where  he  remained  for  a  time, 
and,  when  he  sold  all  of  his  holdings  in  the  place, 
he  realized  a  small  fortune  therefrom.  The  money 
was  invested  in  Chicago  property.  He  and  his 
partner  purchased  from  John  Bates,  the  first  post- 
master of  Chicago,  a  lot  on  Dearborn  street  op- 
posite the  present  site  of  the  Trernout  House. 
On  this  lot  was  a  large  building,  and  in  it  they 
started  what  soon  became  the  most  famous  auc- 
tion house  in  the  west.  Their  store  was  filled 
with  goods  of  all  kinds,  sent  from  the  east  to  be 
sold  at  auction  or  traded  for  town  lots.  In  time 
the  firm  owned  three  large  establishments,  and 
consignments  of  merchandise  were  received  by 
them  every  day.  Their  sales  of  real-estate, 
however,  were  more  important  than  those  of  dry 
goods.  Not  only  did  they  sell  Chicago  property, 
but  also  land  in  other  parts  of  Illinois  and  in 
Wisconsin   and    Michigan.     At  one    time    they 


owned  nine  thousand  acres  in  and  around  Chi- 
cago, and  their  holdings  would  now  represent  an 
almost  fabulous  sum.  After  the  decay  of  the 
real-estate  boom  in  1837  their  partnership  dis- 
solved. 

When  the  first  territorial  legislature  of  Wiscon- 
sin met  at  Belmont  in  1836,  they  decided  upon 
the  site  of  the  capitol.  No  one  knew  what  town 
would  be  selected  as  the  capital,  but  speculators 
were  alive  to  the  importance  of  the  occasion  and 
all  wished  to  invest  in  property  in  the  town  se- 
lected. In  order  that  he  might  have  first  choice 
in  selecting  land,  Mr.  Brown  sent  Jerry  Ford  to 
Belmont  to  watch  legislative  proceedings,  while 
he  himself  remained  in  Milwaukee.  Mr.  Ford 
took  with  him  three  of  the  fastest  horses  he  could 
find,  stationing  them  on  the  road  between  Mil- 
waukee and  Belmont.  When  the  act  locating 
the  capital  was  passed,  Ford  conveyed  the  news 
to  him  on  horseback,  reaching  Milwaukee  eight- 
een hours  in  advance  of  any  other  official  or  mes- 
senger. This  gave  Mr.  Brown  abundant  oppor- 
tunity to  make  a  selection  of  such  lands  as  he 
desired  in  the  neighborhood  of  Madison,  and  he 
located  for  himself  and  friends  fifty-six  tracts  of 
eighty  acres  each,  for  which  he  paid  $1.25  an 
acre.  In  addition  he  sent  a  special  messenger  to 
Buffalo  and  purchased  from  a  man  there  more 
than  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  a  part  of 
which  the  State  University  of  Wisconsin  is  now 
located.  Another  profitable  investment  was  the 
purchase  of  a  quarter  section  of  land  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Milwaukee  River,  which  he  bought  for 
$4,000  and  sold  for  $27,000. 

When  work  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal 
commenced,  Mr.  Brown,  at  the  solicitation  of 
the  president  of  the  board  of  canal  commis- 
sioners, accepted  a  contract  to  complete  two  sec- 
tions of  the  canal,  running  through  what  is  now 
the  village  of  Lemont.  The  sections  embraced 
one  mile  of  a  deep  cut  through  solid  rock,  where 
the  famous  limestone  quarries  have  since  been 
developed.  The  work  was  rapidly  and  success- 
fully carried  forward  by  Mr.  Brown.  However, 
through  the  removal  of  the  government  deposits 
from  the  United  States  Bank,  that  institution  and 
allied  interests  were  brought  into  serious  finan- 


136 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cial  difficulty.  A  panic  was  precipitated.  The 
state  of  Illinois  was  one  of  the  greatest  sufferers 
and  was  unable  to  meet  its  obligations.  Conse- 
quently Mr.  Brown  suffered  an  enormous  loss. 
In  compliance  with  an  act  of  legislature,  passed 
some  years  later,  his  claim  against  the  state  was 
placed  on  file  with  others  at  Springfield,  for  the 
purpose  of  adjustment,  but  that  adjustment  has 
never  been  effected.  However,  what  seemed  to 
be  a  total  loss  for  Mr.  Brown  was  by  his  shrewd- 
ness made  the  basis  of  a  future  profit;  for  during 
his  work  as  a  contractor  he  had  noticed  the 
splendid  quality  of  the  deposits  of  limestone  and 
recognized  that  it  would  become  very  valuable  in 
future  days.  He  therefore  acquired  a  large  body 
of  stone  land,  erected  a  residence  atLemont,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  the  development  of  the 
stone  quarries  that  are  now  among  the  most 
famous  in  the  country.  Some  very  substantial 
and  prominent  buildings  of  the  west  were  built  of 
stone  from  his  quarries,  among  them  the  old  court 
house  in  Chicago,  the  Illinois  state  capitol  at 
Springfield  and  the  Iowa  state  house  at  Des 
Moines.  For  some  years  the  quarries  have  been 
leased,  the  owner  being  paid  a  liberal  royalty  on 
all  stone  taken  out. 

During  early  life  Mr.  Brown  was  a  Democrat, 
but  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  became  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Union  and  President  Lincoln's  ad- 
ministration, since  which  time  he  has  affiliated 
with  the  Republicans.  When  he  had  in  his  em- 
ploy hundreds  of  men  he  often  found  it  difficult 
to  secure  those  who  were  sober  and  reliable. 
Those  employed  on  the  canal  in  early  days  were, 
as  a  class,  turbulent  and  riotous.  Drinking  and 
carousals  frequently  led  to  serious  altercations 
between  the  men.  Believing  that  the  men  should 
be  taught  the  wisdom  of  temperance,  Mr.  Brown 
called  to  his  assistance  a  number  of  Roman 
Catholic  priests  and  had  them  organize  a  Father 
Mathew  Temperance  Society,  the  first  of  the  kind 
in  northern  Illinois.     About  three  hundred  Irish- 


men took  the  pledge  and  put  on  the  badge  of  the 
order,  in  consideration  of  which  Mr.  Brown  paid 
them  $1  a  month  in  addition  to  their  regular 
wages.  For  more  than  two  years  either  Father 
DuPoutavos,  a  French  priest,  or  Father  Plunkett, 
an  Irish  priest,  made  his  home  with  Mr.  Brown, 
and  worked  with  him  for  the  bettering  of  the 
workmen's  condition.  The  result  was  that,  dur- 
ing the  five  years  of  his  canal  work,  not  a  saloon 
was  to  be  found  on  the  section  of  which  he  had 
control,  nor  could  any  intoxicating  liquors  be 
obtained  there.  Drunken  orgies  were  no  longer 
known.  The  men  were  said  to  be  the  most 
orderly  of  any  on  the  line  of  the  canal.  Nor 
was  a  man  injured  at  his  work  during  all  of  this 
time. 

In  looking  back  over  the  past,  Mr.  Brown  can 
justly  reflect  with  pleasure  upon  his  connection 
with  the  growth  of  northeastern  Illinois.  From 
the  frontier  days  to  the  present  time  he  has  been 
interested  in  every  worthy  movement  in  his  lo- 
cality. His  life  stretches  almost  through  the  en- 
tire century  at  whose  close  we  now  stand.  He 
has  seen  railroads  introduced,  and  now  long 
trains  of  cars  sweep  through  lands  over  which  the 
lonely  frontiersmen  once  roamed;  the  clanking  of 
machinery,  the  curling  wreaths  of  smoke  from 
innumerable  factories,  the  busy  streets,  magnif- 
icent stores  and  offices,  form  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  Chicago  of  his  youth.  He  remembers  the 
beginning  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  and 
the  throwing  of  the  first  shovelful  of  earth  in  in- 
augurating that  enterprise;  and  he  has  lived  to 
see  the  opening  of  the  new  canal,  with  its  re- 
markable reversal  of  the  laws  of  gravity  and  of 
nature — an  enterprise  justly  deserving  of  being 
classed  among  the  wonders  of  the  world.  For 
sixt}'-five  years  intimately  associated  with  the 
history  of  Illinois,  he  has  made  an  enviable 
record  as  a  business  man  and  a  citizen,  and  may 
well  be  congratulated  on  the  fruition  of  his  early 
hopes  and  efforts. 


UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


139 


EDGAR  E.   HOWARD. 


"  DGAR  E.  HOWARD,  who  has  resided  in 
'p  Joliet  since  1876,  has  been  engaged  in  the 
__  insurance  business  in  this  city  since  1883. 
The  agency  of  which  he  is  the  head  was  estab- 
lished in  1856  by  W.  C.  Wood  and  is  the  oldest 
and  largest  in  Will  County.  After  Mr.  Howard  be- 
came connected  with  Mr.  Wood  the  title  became 
Wood  &  Howard  and  continued  as  such  until  the 
death  of  the  senior  member  in  1S90,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Howard  has  been  alone.  He  repre- 
sents the  following  large  American  and  foreign 
companies:  -Etna,  Philadelphia  Underwriters, 
Svea,  Franklin,  Hamburg-Bremen,  Home, 
North  British  &  Mercantile,  Manchester,  Hart- 
ford, Imperial,  Lancashire,  Liverpool  &  London 
&  Globe,  North  America,  Niagara,  National, 
Pennsylvania,  New  York  Underwriters,  Palatine, 
Queen,  Royal,  Springfield,  Western  Assurance, 
Connecticut  and  Union  Assurance  Society.  The 
headquarters  of  the  agency  are  in  the  Barber 
building,  Joliet.  In  April,  1899,  Mr.  Howard 
and  E.  O.  Wood,  of  Dekalb,  were  selected  by  the 
American  Steel  &  Wire  Company  to  control  all 
of  their  insurance,  amounting  to  $15,000,000, 
extending  from  New  York  to  San  Francisco,  and 
at  that  time  they  opened  an  office  in  the  Home 
building,  Chicago. 

The  original  name  of  the  Howard  family  was 
Hayward,  but  by  act  of  legislature  the  spelling 
was  changed  to  the  present  form.  During  the 
war  of  1812  Zuriel  Howard,  a  farmer  in  Massa- 
chusetts, served  as  a  major  of  artillery.  His  son, 
Samuel  J.,  was  born  in  Milford,  Mass.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  and,  later, 
in  the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  continuing 
there  until  he  died,  in   1863.     He  was  a  strong 

7 


Abolitionist  and  a  faithful  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church.  He  married  Sarah  Ward, 
who  died  at  Milford  in  1884.  Of  their  two  sons 
and  three  daughters  all  are  dead  but  Edgar  E. , 
who  was  born  in  Milford  September  15,  1S45. 
When  thirteen  years  of  age  his  father's  health 
failed  and  he  was  obliged  to  begin  work,  aiding 
in  the  factory  until  his  father  died,  when  the  busi- 
ness was  closed  out. 

In  August,  1864,  Mr.  Howard  volunteered  in 
the  Boston  Fusileers  that  were  later  consolidated 
with  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery 
and  assisted  in  the  defence  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  At  the  time  of  the 
assassination  of  Lincoln  the  company  was  put 
on  duty  to  guard,  day  and  night,  and  continued 
at  their  post  until  Booth  was  shot.  In  July, 
1865,  they  were  discharged  in  Massachusetts. 
On  his  return  home  Mr.  Howard  secured 
work  in  a  straw  hat  factory.  In  1867  he  went  to 
Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.,  as  an  instructor  in  the  shoe 
department  of  the  state  penitentiary,  and  con- 
tinued there  until  1875.  Afterward  he  was  in 
charge  of  the  blocking  department  of  a  straw  hat 
factory  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  In  July,  1876,  he 
came  to  Joliet,  as  an  instructor  for  Selz,  Schwab 
&  Co.,  shoe  manufacturers  in  the  state  peniten- 
tiary, and  continued  in  that  position  until  he  re- 
signed to  engage  in  the  insurance  business. 
While  in  New  York  he  married  Sarah  J.  BowTen, 
who  was  born  in  Leicester,  Mass.,  and  accom- 
panied her  father,  H.  F.  Bowen,  to  Sing  Sing, 
N.  Y.,  where  she  married. 

During  his  residence  in  Sing  Sing  Mr.  How- 
ard was  made  a  Mason.  For  many  years  he  was 
secretary  of  Mattesou  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in 


140 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Joliet;  also  of  the  Joliet  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
recorder  of  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  Oriental  Consistory  and  Me- 
dinah  Temple,  N.  M.  S.,  of  Chicago.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  interested  in  the  work 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  a  worker 
in  the  local  post.  At  the  time  of  the  building  of 
the  Eastern  Avenue  Baptist  Church  he  was 
treasurer  of  the  building  committee.  He  also 
served  as  chairman  of  the  finance  committee, 
church  treasurer  and  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees. 


r~REDERICK  WILLIAM  WERNER,  M.  D. 
M  The  twenty  years  of  Dr.  Werner's  life  that 
I  have  been  devoted  to  professional  work  in 
Joliet  have  been  sufficient  to  place  him  among  the 
most  reliable  and  skillful  physicians  of  his  home 
city.  It  was  his  intention  in  youth  to  study 
architecture,  but  Dr.  Heise,  of  Joliet,  persuaded 
him  to  change  his  plans  and  become  a  medical 
student.  So  radical  a  change  as  this  might  in 
many  instances  prove  unfortunate,  but  the  after- 
years  have  shown  that  the  old  doctor  was  correct 
in  his  judgment.  He  gave  the  young  man  the 
benefit  of  his  advice  and  experience,  assisting 
him  in  his  studies  for  eighteen  months,  until  he 
was  ready  to  enter  the  University  of  Michigan  in 
1878.  After  taking  a  course  of  lectures  there,  in 
1879  he  entered  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  New  York,  from  which  he  graduated  the 
following  year  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  Mean- 
time he  took  the  special  courses  in  the  University 
of  Michigan  and  held  a  position  as  assistant 
demonstrator  of  anatomy.  After  graduating  he 
engaged  in  practice  with  his  former  preceptor, 
Dr.  Heise,  with  whom  he  continued  much  of  the 
time  until  the  latter's  death,  since  which  he  has 
been  alone.  While  his  medical  education  was 
thorough,  it  is  not  his  method  to  remain  stagnant 
in  his  profession ;  he  is  ambitious  to  keep  in  touch 
with  every  advancement  made  in  the  medical 
science  and  so  has  remained  a  constant  student, 
striving  by    observation,    experience,    the    read- 


ing of  medical  journals  and  courses  in  the 
Chicago  Post-Graduate  College  under  Dr.  Byron 
Robinson,  also  special  stud}-  in  bacteriology  un- 
der Professor  Klebs,  of  Chicago,  to  keep  in  touch 
with  every  phase  of  professional  work.  He  has 
made  a  specialty  of  gynecology  and  abdominal 
surgery,  in  which  lines  he  has  gained  an  enviable 
reputation  for  skill.  He  has  his  office  at  the  old 
homestead  where  he  was  born,  its  central  location 
rendering  it  well  suited  for  a  physician's  office. 

William  Werner,  the  doctor's  father,  was  a  son 
of  Charles  Frederick  Werner,  and  was  born  at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main  in  1S31,  a  member  of  a 
very  old  family  of  that  city.  After  learning  the 
trade  of  a  stone  mason  and  cutter  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Joliet  about  1850. 
At  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  Rock  Island 
Railroad  between  Joliet  and  Chicago  he  was  em- 
ployed at  bridge  building,  and  later  he  engaged 
in  contracting  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad. 
With  his  brothers,  Charles  and  Adam,  he  opened 
stone  quarries  on  the  west  side,  within  the  city 
limits,  and  these  he  assisted  in  carrying  on,  at  the 
same  time  taking  contracts  for  the  building  of 
stone  structures.  For  years  before  his  death  he 
made  his  home  at  No.  603  Jefferson  street.  A 
Democrat  in  politics,  he  was  several  times  elected 
an  alderman  ou  this  ticket  and  also  served  as 
supervisor  for  six  years.  For  many  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  fire  department,  of  which  he 
was  chief  for  several  terms.  During  the  early 
days  of  his  residence  in  Joliet  he  was  an  officer  in 
the  state  militia,  known  at  the  Matteson  Guards. 
He  was  one  of  the  mainstays  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  always  remained  connected  with  its 
membership  and  assisted  in  its  support.  He  was 
connected  with  the  Joliet  Sharpshooters'  Society. 
His  death  occurred  at  his  home  in  May,  1SS7. 

The  wife  of  William  Werner  was  Barbara 
Goebel,  who  was  born  near  Coblentz,  Germany, 
in  1833,  and  has  made  her  home  in  Joliet  since 
1S46.  Her  father,  John  Goebel,  who  was  a  mer- 
chant in  Germany,  came  to  America  and  in  1S46 
settled  in  what  is  now  Joliet.  He  continued  to 
reside  here,  following  farm  pursuits  until  he 
died.  Of  the  children  of  William  and  Barbara 
Goebel  four  sons  are  living,  viz. :  Dr.  Frederick 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


141 


William;  Frederick  Charles,  who  is  fire  marshal 
for  the  American  Steel  and  Wire  Company  in 
Joliet;  George  W.,  a  graduate  of  the  New  York 
College  of  Veterinary  Surgeons,  and  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  and  Edward  H.,  who 
is  a  graduate  of  the  New  York  Dental  College, 
and  practices  dental  surgery  in  Joliet. 

In  the  family  home  at  Joliet  Dr.  Werner  was 
born  February  8,  1858.  He  was  educated  in 
public  and  high  schools.  At  fourteen  years  of 
age  he  began  to  work  at  the  trade  of  a  stone 
mason  and  cutter,  and  remained  with  his  father 
for  four  years,  being  for  a  time  his  foreman  on 
jobs.  He  left  the  trade  in  order  to  study  medi- 
cine, and  has  since  engaged  in  practice  in  Joliet. 
Besides  his  practice  he  is  interested  in  other  en- 
terprises, and  for  some  time  has  been  secretary-  of 
the  Joliet  Sheet  Rolling  Mill  Company.  In  this 
city  he  married  Miss  Louise  F.  Staehle,  daughter 
of  Charles  W.  and  Marie  Agnes  (Bertch)  Staehle, 
old  settlers  here. 

For  two  years  Dr.  Werner  was  city  and  town 
physician  and  for  ten  years  county  physician. 
He  was  appointed  county  coroner  to  fill  a  vacancy- 
in  the  office,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  he 
was  elected  to  the  office,  his  name  appearing  on 
both  the  Republican  and  Democratic  tickets  in  the 
election  of  1880.  He  was  a  Republican  and  his 
first  nomination  had  been  by  the  members  of  that 
party,  but  he  was  renominated  by  the  Democrats 
and  again  elected  to  the  office.  During  the  Gar- 
field-Arthur administration  he  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  first  board  of  United  States  ex- 
aminers for  pensions  chosen  by  President  Garfield, 
and  held  the  office  until  the  first  term  of  President 
Cleveland,  when  political  reasons  caused  his 
resignation.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Society  of  Microscopists,  the  Chicago  Medical 
Society,  Will  County  Medical  Society  (of  which 
he  has  been  president) ,  Mississippi  Valley,  Illi- 
nois State  and  American  Medical  Associations. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Germania  Club. 
For  some  time  he  was  a  private  in  a  company 
known  as  the  Joliet  Citizens'  Corps,  which,  at 
the  beginning  of  the  great  railroad  strikes,  was 
organized  into  Company  B,  Fourth  Regiment, 
I.  N.  G.;  he  was  commissioned  second  sergeant 


and  was  called  with  his  company  to  assist  in 
quelling  the  Braidwood  strike.  He  is  engaged 
as  examining  physician  for  the  principal  old  line 
insurance  companies  of  Joliet,  and  is  examining 
physician  for  Mound  City  Lodge  No.  112, 
M.  W.  A.,  in  which  he  was  the  first  charter 
member.  He  is  connected  with  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Honor  and  Paul  Revere  Lodge,  K.  of  P. 
In  Masonry  he  has  risen  to  a  high  rank.  Three 
times  he  has  been  chosen  master  of  Matteson 
Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  member 
of  Joliet  Chapter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.;  Joliet 
Council  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters  No  82; 
Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  in  which  he  is  senior 
warden;  Medinah  Temple,  N.  M.  S.,  with  which 
he  has  affiliated  since  1892;  and  a  member  of  the 
Oriental  Consistory  of  Chicago. 


5JEORGE  EIB,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
_  Jackson  Township,  represents  the  fourth 
^Ji  generation  of  the  Eib  family  in  America. 
The  first  of  the  name  in  this  country  came  from 
Germany  and  settled  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa., 
from  which  he  went  to  the  front  as  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  His  son,  Jacob,  was 
reared  in  his  native  county  of  Lancaster,  but  in 
middle  life  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  the 
western  part  of  Virginia,  where  his  remaining 
years  were  spent.  Peter,  son  of  Jacob,  and 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Little  York, 
Pa.,  March  12,  1779,  and  accompanied  his  father 
to  Harrison  County,  W.  Va.,  afterward  carrying 
on  a  butcher  business  in  Clarksburg.  Later  he 
migrated  to  Ohio,  where  he  spent  one  year  in 
Columbus  and  another  year  on  a  farm  near  the 
city.  Going  from  there  to  Fountain  County, 
Ind.,  for  six  years  he  carried  on  a  meat  business 
and  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  spring  of  1832 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  a  claim,  selecting 
a  tract  of  land  that  forms  a  part  of  our  subject's 
farm.  After  making  his  selection  of  land  he 
went  to  his  former  home  for  his  family  and  was 
detained  there  for  some  time,  but  finally  returned 


142 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  Will  County.  May  10,  1833,  was  the  date  of 
his  second  arrival  on  his  claim.  At  once  he  be- 
gan to  clear  the  land  and  place  it  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  his  remaining  years  were  busily  devoted 
to  agricultural  pursuits  on  the  same  homestead. 
For  years  he  was  foremost  in  the  development  and 
upbuilding  of  his  township.  He  was  a  loyal 
patriot  and  served  with  courage  and  fidelity  in 
the  war  of  18 12.  His  death  occurred  August  4, 
1858,  when  he  was  in  his  eightieth  year.  By  his 
marriage  to  Madeline  Gilbert  nine  children  were 
born,  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  George, 
who  was  born  in  Harrison  County,  W.  Va., 
March  17,  1816;  Mathias,  of  Oakland,  Cal.; 
Augustus  and  Amos,  both  living  in  this  county; 
and  Lemuel,  of  St.  Joe,  Mo. 

At  the  time  the  family  settled  in  Illinois  our 
subject  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  aided 
his  father  in  the  clearing  of  the  land  and  prepar- 
ing it  for  the  raising  of  crops.  When  he  was 
twenty-one  he  began  to  work  as  a  farm  hand,  but 
after  a  year  engaged  in  farming  independently. 
The  land  on  which  his  father  had  settled  was 
canal  land,  and,  it  failing  to  come  into  the  market 
for  sale  as  he  expected,  he  purchased  another 
place  known  as  the  Jenkins  farm,  and  George  and 
Levi  (the  latter  now  deceased)  took  the  farm  on 
which  the  father  had  first  settled.  Two  years 
later,  the  land  coming  into  market,  they  pur- 
chased it,  and  some  time  afterward  divided  the 
property,  and  our  subject  acquired  another 
eighty  acres.  In  later  years,  as  he  prospered,  he 
added  to  his  land  until  he  now  owns  two  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  and  one-half  acres,  forming  his 
homestead  farm.  He  is  a  progressive  man,  ener- 
getic, industrious,  and  deserves  his  present  pros- 
perity. The  laud  which  he  owns  has  increased 
in  value  almost  an  hundred- fold  since  he  pur- 
chased it,  and  is  now  one  of  the  valuable  estates 
in  the  county.  He  has  devoted  himself  to  its 
cultivation  and  has  never  been  active  in  local 
affairs  or  politics. 

May  2,  1844,  Mr.  Eib  married  Miss  Mary  A. 
Zumwalt,  who  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Ogle)  Zumwalt. 
Her  father,  who  was  born  in  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  in  1800,  engaged  in  farming  for  some  years 


in  his  native  county,  but  in  1830  removed  to 
Hancock  County,  Iud.,  and  four  years  later 
settled  in  Illinois,  taking  up  a  claim  in  the 
vicinity  of  Mr.  Eib's  home.  In  1849  he  went 
overland  to  California  and  began  mining  near 
Sacramento.  After  the  mining  excitement  had 
subsided  he  went  to  Colusa  County,  Cal.,  settling 
at  the  Willows,  where  he  lived  for  ten  years. 
Next  he  moved  to  Anderson,  Shasta  Count}',  and 
there  made  his  home  until  he  died,  in  1893.  His 
wife,  who  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  in 
1804,  died  in  18S2.  Her  father,  Enoch  Ogle, 
came  to  America  from  Wales  and  settled  in 
Maryland,  where  he  married  Anna  Cressop; 
from  there  he  removed  to  Adams  Count}-,  Ohio, 
which  continued  to  be  his  home  until  his  death. 
Jacob  Zumwalt,  the  father  of  Joseph,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Little  York,  Pa.,  his  parents  having 
settled  there  from  Germany.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eib.  Of  these 
seven  are  living,  namely:  Peter  B.,  of  Colusa 
County,  Cal.;  Louisa,  wife  of  William  Ash,  of 
Colusa  County;  Alameda,  Mrs.  George  Hibner, 
of  Grundy  County,  111.;  Catherine  A,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Julius  Johnston,  of  Joliet;  Mary 
O.,  wife  of  Samuel  Owens,  of  Cambridge,  Neb.; 
George  J.  W.,  who  manages  the  home  farm;  and 
Jacob  L-,  who  resides  at  Waukegan,  111.,  and 
is  an  engineer  on  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern 
Railroad. 


(3  FINLEY  DUNCAN,  D.  D.  S.  In  his  cho- 
?\  sen  profession  Dr.  Duncan  has  a  high  stand- 
C*y  ing  in  Joliet.  His  constant  study  of  the 
science  of  dentistry  (for  he  has  ever  been  a  stu- 
dent), his  extensive  practice  giving  him  a  thor- 
ough practical  information,  and  his  acknowl- 
edged skill  in  the  treatment  of  cases  of  an  unusu- 
ally intricate  nature  have  given  him  a  just  prom- 
inence among  the  people  of  his  home  city.  Since 
he  opened  his  office  in  Joliet  in  1888  he  has  es- 
tablished an  important  and  constantly  increasing 
practice,  having  retained  his  former  patrons  at 
Wilmington  as  well  as  gained  many  new  ones. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


143 


Every  improvement  in  the  science  of  dental  sur- 
gery (and  there  have  been  many  of  recent  years) 
receives  his  thoughtful  consideration,  and,  if  ap- 
proved upon  study,  is  adopted  in  his  practice. 
He  is  therefore  thoroughly  up-to-date  in  his 
work.  He  has  been  a  contributor  to  the  litera- 
ture of  his  profession,  although  the  demands  of 
his  practice  are  such  that  he  has  little  time  to 
devote  to  the  preparation  of  articles.  Since  1881 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Den- 
tal Society,  before  which  he  has  been  a  clinician 
and  has  also  read  papers  that  attracted  consider- 
able attention.  At  one  time  he  held  office  as 
vice-president  of  the  association. 

The  first  member  of  this  branch  of  the  Duncan 
family  in  America  was  James  Duncan,  who  came 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  Perry  County,  Pa. 
His  son,  Samuel,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  followed  the  miller's  trade  in  early  life. 
In  1854  he  moved  to  Indiana,  settling  first  in  a 
county  adjoining  Henry  Count}-,  to  which  he 
subsequently  removed.  He  rented  a  grist  and 
saw-mill  which  was  operated  by  water  power, 
and  after  some  years  bought  the  property.  In 
politics  he  was  a  stanch  Republican.  A  promi- 
nent Methodist,  he  was  an  officer  in  both  church 
and  Sunday-school.  In  the  Odd  Fellows'  order 
he  took  the  highest  degrees.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1895,  he  was  eighty-five  years  of  age. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  had 
four  daughters,  one  of  whom,  Hannah  J.  Dun- 
can, survives;  while  by  his  second  wife,  Mar- 
garet Duffy,  of  Ohio,  he  had  five  children,  four 
of  whom  attained  mature  years,  viz.:  Davidson 
D.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  milling  business  at  the 
old  homestead;  John  Wesley,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Beverly  W.,  a  business  man  of  Markle,  Ind.; 
Joseph  Trimble,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of 
Henry  County,  Ind.;  and  S.  Finley,  of  this 
sketch. 

In  Knightstown,  Ind.,  near  where  Dr.  Dun- 
can was  born  December  2,  1856,  he  received  his 
education  and  passed  the  years  of  youth.  He 
was  eighteen  when  he  took  up  the  study  of  den- 
tistry. After  spending  two  years  in  practical 
work  in  an  office  he  entered  the  dental  depart- 
ment of    the   University    of  Michigan,    class  of 


1877.  He  began  practice  at  Lew^isville,  Ind.,  but 
in  February,  1879,  came  to  Will  County  and  set- 
tled in  Wilmington,  building  up  a  good  practice 
in  the  ensuing  years.  For  the  purpose  of  taking 
a  special  course  of  study,  in  1887  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  studied  in  the  Chicago  College  of 
Dental  Surgery,  from  which  he  took  the  degree 
of  D.  D.  S.  In  September,  1888;  he  came  to 
Joliet,  where  he  erected  a  residence  in  1898,  and 
owns  other  real  estate.  From  boyhood  he  has 
been  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  was  an  elder  of  the  congregation  at  Wilming- 
ton, and  for  several  years  served  as  Sunday- 
school  superintendent.  October  18,  188 1,  he 
married  Louise,  daughter  of  Bryan  Fisher,  of 
Wilmington.  They  have  two  children,  Mar- 
garet Louise  and  Hubert  Fisher. 


^  EORGE  J.  ARBEITER.     As  a  rising  attor- 

aney  Mr.  Arbeiter  is  well  known  to  the 
people  of  Joliet,  where  he  has  engaged  in 
practice  since  August,  1895.  On  the  1st  of  Janu- 
ary, 1900,  he  associated  himself  with  C.  E. 
Antram  and  G.  Donald  McKenzie,  two  promi- 
nent lawyers,  and  the  firm  has  established  com- 
modious and  well-equipped  offices  at  Nos.  203, 
205  and  207  Barber  building.  To  the  success  of 
the  newly-established  firm  he  will  undoubtedly  be 
a  large  contributor .  He  is  an  attorney  cf  more 
than  ordinary  ability.  It  is  not  only  that  he  is  a 
logical  and  eloquent  speaker,  whose  ready  com- 
mand of  language  and  keen  reasoning  faculties 
give  him, a  power  over  a  jury,  but  he  is  also  a 
man  of  strong  convictions,  earnest  and  tireless  in 
his  advocacy  of  what  he  deems  right  and  just. 
The  success  that  has  hitherto  rewarded  his  efforts 
is  without  doubt  but  an  index  of  what  the  future 
years  may  hold  for  him. 

The  Arbeiters  are  a  very  ancient  German 
family.  Heiurich  Arbeiter,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, served  in  the  Napoleonic  wars  of  1812-15. 
He  was  a  son  of  Heinrich,  who  owned  a  farm  that 
was  the  birthplace  of  his  father  and  grandfather, 


144 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  family  having  lived  on  the  same  spot  for 
many  generations.  Carl,  son  of  Heinrich,  Jr., 
\v;is  born  on  the  old  homestead  at  Kappitski,  near 
Grottkau,  in  Upper  Silesia,  July  25,  1827.  He 
was  one  of  five  brothers,  two  of  whom  served  in 
the  German  army  during  the  greater  part  of  their 
lives,  both  attaining  the  rank  of  captain.  An- 
other brother' for  many  years  has  been  at  the  head 
of  the  postal  department  in  Grottkau.  The 
fourth  brother,  William,  is  proprietor  of  a  tannery 
in  Santa  Clara,  Cal. 

Carl  Arbeiter  married  Katherina  Sillar,  who 
was  born  at  Beyreuth,  Oberfranken,  Bavaria,  in 
1828.  In  Bavaria  the  family  name  was  spelled 
Siillar.  When  she  was  a  child  she  was  orphaned 
by  the  death  of  her  father,  John,  who  in  early  life 
had  been  proprietor  of  a  government  hostelry,  on 
a  government  highway,  designed  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  government  officials.  Later, 
when  this  was  abandoned,  he  settled  on  his  farm 
and  there  remained  until  his  death.  He  had  four 
sons,  the  youngest  of  whom,  Heinrich,  still  lives 
on  the  old  home  place,  but  one  of  his  sons,  John, 
came  to  the  United  States  and  now  makes  his 
home  at  Oswego,  111.  Another  of  the  four  sons  is 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  at  Medicine 
Lodge,  Kans.  The  two  others,  George  and  John, 
served  in  the  army,  in  which  George  attained  the 
rank  of  captain  and  the  other,  John,  was  killed  in 
the  service  during  the  Franco-Prussian  war.  In 
1856  Miss  Sillar  accompanied  friends  to  the 
United  States,  settling  in  Joliet,  where,  in  1S60, 
she  became  the  wife  of  Carl  Arbeiter.  She  died 
in  April,  1896.  Of  her  eight  children  four  are 
living,  namely:  Joseph,  a  farmer  at  Corwith, 
Iowa;  Charles  W.,  who  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead at  Plainfield;  George  J.;  and  Mary,  wife  of 
K.  C.  Larsen,  a  liveryman  at  Crown  Point,  Ind. 

When  he  was  a  boy  Carl  Arbeiter  served  for 
four  years  as  a  brick  and  stone  apprentice,  after 
which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman.  In  1854  he 
crossed  the  ocean  to  Quebec,  Canada.  After 
spending  some  months  in  or  near  that  city,  em- 
ployed at  various  occupations,  he  secured  work  at 
shipping  on  Lake  Michigan,  during  which  time 
he  was  shipwrecked  and  lost  all  of  his  personal 
belongings  except  the  clothes  he  wore.      In   1855 


he  came  to  Joliet  and  for  five  years  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  in  this  county.  After  his  marriage  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Plainfield 
Township  and  settled  down  to  agricultural  work. 
By  subsequent  purchase  he  became  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  In  1895  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Plainfield,  and  there  he 
died  January  24,  1898.  He  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  but  never  an  office 
seeker,  and  refused  all  offices.  In  religion  he 
was  a  Roman  Catholic  and  his  wife  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Personally  he  was  a  man 
of  sterling  character,  honest  and  upright,  and 
universally  respected  for  his  many  worthy  traits. 

After  completing  the  studies  of  the  common 
schools  George  J.  Arbeiter,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  entered  the  Plainfield  high  school,  where 
he  took  the  regular  course.  For  two  years  he 
taught  in  Plainfield  Township,  being  in  the  vil- 
lage one  year  aud  in  the  country  for  a  similar 
period.  Following  this  he  entered  the  Northern 
Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  where 
he  completed  the  course  in  bookkeeping  and 
fitted  himself  for  college.  In  1888  he  went  to 
Chicago,  where  for  a  year  he  was  employed  in 
the  wholesale  hardware  establishment  of  Gilbert 
&  Bennett,  his  intention  being  to  go  on  the  road 
later;  but  his  desire  for  a  collegiate  course  caused 
a  change  in  his  plans.  He  resigned  his  position 
and  entered  the  University  of  Illinois  at  Cham- 
paign. In  1893  he  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion, taking  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Letters. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  June,  1895,  with  a  high 
standing.  During  the  same  month  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  Michigan  and  that  of  Illi- 
nois. Returning  home,  he  soon  afterward 
opened  an  office  in  the  Barber  building,  Joliet, 
and  has  since  built  up  a  remunerative  clientage. 

February  1,  1898,  Mr.  Arbeiter  married  Miss 
E.  Kittie  McBride,  daughter  of  Henry  McBride, 
a  prominent  coal  operator  of  Elgin,  111.  Frater- 
nally Mr.  Arbeiter  is  identified  with  Plainfield 
Lodge  No.  536,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he 
served  as  senior  deacon.  While  living  in  Plain- 
field  he  was  keeper  of  records  and  seals  in  Du- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i45 


page  Lodge  No.  473,  K.  of  P.  He  is  connected 
with  Stevenson  Camp  No.  2892,  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  in  Joliet  He  is  secretary  of 
the  Joliet  Council  No.  59,  N.  A.  U.  He  aided  in 
starting  a  fraternal  insurance  society,  Order  of 
the  White  Cross,  which  was  organized  in  Joliet 
December  18,  1899,  and  in  which  he  is  su- 
preme vice-commander.  The  Central  Presby- 
terian Church,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  receives 
his  generous  aid  in  its  various  enterprises. 

The  Democratic  party  has  a  firm  friend  in  Mr. 
Arbeiter.  However,  like  his  father,  he  has  never 
cared  for  office,  though  qualified  to  fill  public 
positions  ably.  In  1894  ne  was  tendered  nomi- 
nation for  county  superintendent  of  schools,  but 
refused  to  accept,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire 
attention  to  the  study  of  his  profession.  In  1898 
he  was  urged  to  become  a  candidate  for  town 
clerk,  but  refused.  Notwithstanding  his  refusal 
of  office,  he  is  an  active  worker  for  his  party, 
and  as  a  campaign  orator  has  few  superiors  in  the 
county,  his  broad  knowledge  of  public  affairs 
and  his  ability  as  a  speaker  combining  to  qualify 
him  admirably  for  work  of  this  nature. 


EONRAD  C.  BETTENHAUSEN,  a  retired 
farmer  residing  in  Frankfort  Station,  was 
born  in  Koenigswald,  Kurhessen,  Germany, 
June  14,  1834,  a  son  of  George  and  Martha 
(Sangmeister)  Bettenhausen.  He  was  one  of 
five  children,  all  of  whom  came  to  the  United 
States,  but  only  two  are  living,  his  sister  being 
Martha,  Mrs.  Martin  Stipple,  of  Charles  City, 
Iowa.  His  mother  died  in  Germany  when  he  was 
an  infant,  and  he  was  reared  under  the  care  of 
others.  When  he  was  nineteen  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  at  once  proceeded  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Will  County.  For  the  next  three 
years  (1853-56)  he  worked  one  year  on  Horace 
Messinger's  farm  and  two  years  on  George  Til- 
fer's  farm.  Next  he  went  into  Cook  County  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Orland,  where 
he  remained  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.     Mean- 


time, by  the  exercise  of  energy  and  good  judg- 
ment, he  acquired  a  competence,  which  repre- 
sented his  persevering  efforts  through  all  these 
years  of  labor.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  left  a  sou 
in  charge  of  the  Cook  County  farm  and  returned 
to  Will  County,  settling  in  Greengarden  Town- 
ship, where  he  owns  two  farms.  Nine  years 
were  spent  in  that  township.  In  1S92  he  retired 
from  the  active  duties  of  farm  work  and  pur- 
chased a  home  in  Frankfort  Station,  where  it  is 
his  intention  to  spend  his  remaining  years.  His 
life  has  been  so  successful  that  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Will  and 
Cook  Counties,  and,  besides  this,  he  has  assisted 
his  children  to  get  started  in  life  and  has  also 
contributed  to  the  promotion  of  enterprises  calcu- 
lated to  benefit  the  people. 

The  Republican  party  represents  the  political 
views  of  Mr.  Bettenhausen,  and  he  has  always 
been  stanch  in  his  adherence  to  its  principles. 
While  he  has  never  sought  political  leadership, 
yet  he  has  to  some  extent  been  one  of  the  party 
leaders  in  his  township,  and  has  wielded  a  large 
influence  both  here  and  in  his  former  home  in 
Cook  County.  Among  the  offices  he  held  in  the 
latter  county  were  those  of  township  assessor, 
collector  and  supervisor.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  was  a  member  of  the  home  guard.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  which  for  some  years  he  was  a  trustee,  and 
also  served  as  Sunday-school  superintendent. 

September  9,  1857,  Mr.  Bettenhausen  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Horn,  a  native  of  the  town  in  Ger- 
many in  which  he  was  born.  She,  also,  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In 
ever}'  way  she  has  been  a  worth}'  helpmate  to  her 
enterprising  husband,  and  deserves  credit  for  her 
good  influence  in  the  home  and  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. They  became  the  parents  often  children, 
of  whom  the  following  are  living:  John  M.,  who 
resides  on  a  farm  in  Greengarden  Township; 
Christ  C,  who  cultivates  the  old  homestead  in 
Cook  County;  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Deist;  Mar- 
tha E.,  who  married  Frank  Folkers,  and  Emma, 
who  married  Frank  Kohlhagen,  both  of  Frank- 
fort Station.  Mr.  Bettenhausen  and  his  wife 
sustained  a   heavy  loss  in  the  death  of  their  sou 


146 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


William,  a  bright  and  promising  youth  of  nine- 
teen years.  Had  he  lived  he  would  have  inher- 
ited the  homestead  in  Greengarden  Township, 
and  would  have  been  the  staff  of  his  parents  in 
their  declining  years;  but  his  early  death  put  an 
end  to  all  of  their  fond  hopes  for  his  future. 


(I  AMES  W.  PATTERSON  is  engaged  in  the 
I  furniture,  undertaking  and  livery  business 
(*/  at  Braidwood.  Since  he  came  to  this  town 
in  1869  he  has  been  identified  with  its  mining 
and  business  interests.  Until  his  father's  death 
he  was  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  A.  &  J. 
W.  Patterson,  since  which  time  he  has  been  the 
senior  member,  having  his  youngest  brother  as  a 
partner,  under  the  same  firm  name  as  before.  As 
a  business  man  he  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being 
clear-headed.  He  is  deliberate  in  his  judgment 
as  Scotchmen  usually  are,  and  is  universally  es- 
teemed for  his  integrity.  One  of  his  marked 
characteristics  is  the  faculty  of  making  the  best 
of  everything.  Being  a  man  of  even  tempera- 
ment, the  annoyances  of  business  do  not  depress 
him,  nor  do  its  successes  too  greatly  elate  him. 
In  a  business  capacity  he  has  showed  a  manli- 
ness of  character  that  has  won  him  the  confidence 
of  the  people  of  his  home  town. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  born  at  Fifeshire,  Scotland, 
December  15,  1850.  His  father,  Alexander, 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  and  settled  at 
Pottsville,  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.,  but  soon 
afterward,  leaving  the  family  there,  he  went  to 
California  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  He  spent 
two  years  in  the  gold  fields  and  met  with  gratify- 


ing success.  Returning  to  Pennsylvania,  he 
brought  his  family  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in 
farming  near  Hinckley.  In  1859  he  moved  to 
Morris,  Grundy  County,  where  for  seven  years 
he  was  interested  in  manufacturing  brick.  The 
fall  of  1869  found  him  in  Braidwood,  then  a  new 
mining  camp.  Here  he  became  interested  in  the 
flour  and  feed  business.  He  was  the  first  to  es- 
tablish a  furniture  and  undertaking  establishment 
in  the  town,  and  continued  afterward  as  the  head 
of  the  firm  of  A.  &  J.  W.  Patterson,  until  he 
died,  in  1S91,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six.  He  mar- 
ried Jane  McKiuley,  who  died  in  1889,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-six  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  viz.:  James  W.;  Margaret,  wife  of 
Robert  Mickeljohn,  of  Colorado;  Christine,  de- 
ceased; Jane  and  Alexander. 

When  only  twelve  years  of  age  our  subject 
began  to  work  in  mines.  At  first  his  wages  were 
exceedingly  small,  but  as  he  became  more  famil- 
iar with  the  work  he  was  paid  a  larger  sum.  For 
seven  years  he  was  employed  in  eastern  mines. 
At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Braidwood, 
where  he  has  since  risen  to  a  prominent  position 
among  the  business  men  of  the  town.  For  two 
years  he  held  the  office  of  city  treasurer,  for  one 
year  served  as  town  clerk,  and  for  three  years 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors.  He 
is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica; Talmud  Lodge  No.  24,  K.of  P.,  in  which  he 
is  past  chancellor;  Braidwood  Lodge  No.  704, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  is  past  master  and 
representative  to  the  grand  lodge;  Wilmington 
Chapter  No.  142,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Blaney  Com- 
mandery  No.  5,  K.  T.  In  1879  he  married 
Mary  Stewart,  by  whom  he  has  six  children, 
namely:  Janet,  deceased;  Alexander  J.,  Chris- 
tina,  John  S. ,  Mary  and  Mildred  M. 


UNIVeRSlfY   Of   i>-"*OIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


149 


john  Mcdonald. 


30HN  McDONALD.  There  are  probably 
few  in  the  county  (and  certainly  none  within 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Frankfort  Station) 
who  are  more  familiar  with  the  grain  busi- 
ness than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  came  to 
Frankfort  Station  when  the  place  was  just  started 
and  has  since  been  intimately  associated  with  its 
business  interests,  contributing  to  its  growth  and 
aiding  in  its  development.  He  owns  an  elevator  on 
the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad  at  this  point 
and  makes  shipments  that  aggregate  thousands  of 
bushels.  Besides  his  grain  interests  he  owns  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Greengar- 
den  Township  and  has  real  estate  in  Frankfort 
Station. 

In  the  incorporation  of  the  village  Mr.  McDon- 
ald took  an  active  part.  He  was  elected  its  first 
president  and  filled  the  office  for  two  years,  aid- 
ing in  placing  the  municipality  upon  a  sound  fi- 
nancial basis.  During  his  term  of  several  years 
as  supervisor  of  the  township  he  assisted  in 
work  connected  with  the  building  of  the  court 
house,  and  as  chairman  of  the  finance  committee, 
successfully  engineered  a  loan  of  $22,000  to  be 
used  in  the  building  of  the  house.  He  has  at- 
tended many  of  the  state,  congressional  and 
county  conventions  of  the  Republican  party,  for 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  an  active  worker 
for  his  party.  In  educational  affairs,  as  in  public 
matters,  his  interest  has  continued  over  the  long 
period  of  his  residence  here,  and  for  more  than 
twenty  years  he  has  efficiently  filled  the  office  of 
school  director. 

As  the  name  indicates,  the  McDonald  family  is 
of  Scotch  origin.  During  the  days  of  the  Scotch 
rebellion  John  McDonald,  who  was  actively  con- 
nected therewith,  was  forced  to  flee  from  his  na- 


tive land.  In  common  with  many  other  Scotch- 
men, he  sought  refuge  in  Ireland.  His  son,  John, 
was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  and  engaged  in 
farming  there  until  his  death.  By  his  marriage 
to  Ellen  Gleason  he  had  five  children:  James, 
Patrick,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and  John,  of  whom  our 
subject  alone  survives.  He  was  born  in  County 
Tipperary  December  1 1,  1823.  His  educational 
advantages  were  of  a  superior  character.  He  not 
only  became  familiar  with  common-school  studies, 
but  also  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  Latin  and 
Greek.  Mathematics  was  his  hobby,  and  he  was 
without  a  rival  in  this  study  in  the  entire  school. 
When  eighteen  years  of  age  our  subject  came 
to  America.  In  the  summer  of  1841  he  sailed 
from  Liverpool  and  after  five  weeks  landed  in 
New  York.  During  the  next  few  years  he  trav- 
eled through  various  parts  of  the  country.  In 
1850  he  began  to  work  for  the  Michigan  Central 
Railroad  Company  at  New  Buffalo,  Mich.,  which 
was  then  the  terminus  of  the  road.  In  1852  he 
removed  to  Chicago,  the  road  having  been  ex- 
tended to  that  point.  He  remained  there  for  two 
years,  being  employed  in  checking  freight.  In 
1854  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  was  employed 
as  checkman  until  the  starting  of  Frankfort  Sta- 
tion. He  came  to  this  place  in  1857  and  held 
the  position  of  agent  until  1875,  when  he  re- 
signed. For  eighteen  years  he  was  also  agent 
for  the  American  Express  Company.  Meantime 
he  became  interested  in  the  grain  business.  In 
1859  he  began  to  buy  grain  for  J.  L.  Heard  & 
Co.,  of  Michigan,  and  from  that  time  until  1876 
he  was  engaged  in  the  commission  business.  For 
a  number  of  years  afterward  he  carried  on  the 
grain  business,  using  the  railroad  company's  ele- 
vators.    Later   he  built  the   second  elevator  in 


GKXEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Frankfort,  which  was  35x50  on  the  ground,  and 
had  a  capacity  of  twenty-five  thousand  bushels. 
In  1SS5  he  bought  out  the  other  elevator  in 
Frankfort,  and  from  that  time  operated  both. 
May  24,  1SS9,  the  first  was  burned  to  the  ground, 
but  immediately  afterward  he  built  another  ele- 
vator on  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  road.  This 
has  a  capacity  of  forty  thousand  bushels,  is  run 
by  steam  power  and  supplied  with  the  clipper 
and  cyclone  dust  consumers.  In  1S90  he  bought 
an  elevator  on  the  Michigan  Central  road,  but  it 
burned  down  three  years  later.  Besides  his 
grain  interests,  at  one  time  he  carried  on  the 
largest  lumber  business  in  Frankfort,  also  dealt 
in  coal  and  built  up  a  large  business  in  selling 
tile.  His  interests  are  varied  audimportant,  and 
although  widely  divergent  in  character,  he  never- 
theless manages  all  with  gratifying  success.  His 
thorough  understanding  of  the  grain  business, 
coming  from  long  experience  backed  by  sound 
judgment,  makes  him  a  leader  in  his  line  of 
work  and  insures  for  him  a  continuance  of  his 
past  success. 

In  1S62  Mr.  McDonald  was  made  a  Mason. 
The  following  year  he  became  identified  with  the 
Knights  Templar  and  in  1870  he  took  the  thirty- 
second  degree.  His  interest  in  Masonry  con- 
tinues undiminished  to  the  present.  Two  years 
after  he  came  to  Frankfort  Station  he  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Doty,  a  native  of  this  county.  Of 
their  four  children,  the  youngest  died  when  eight 
months  old.  The  others  are:  Herbert  John,  Ed- 
ward Everett  and  Charles  Howard,  the  last  two 
deceased.  Herbert  J.  is  connected  with  S.  E. 
Gross,  the  large  real-estate  dealer  of  Chicago. 
Edward  E.  was  educated  in  the  Northwestern 
University  at  Evanston,  111.,  as  was  also  his 
brother,  Charles  H.,  who  was  educated  for  the 
ministry,  and  was  an  evangelist  well  known 
throughout  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomina- 
tion. 


(TjAMUEL  ROSE,  a  leading  citizen  of  Crete, 
7\  was  born  in  Ireland,  October  1,  1S45,  a  sou 
\~J  of  John  and  Mary  (Ormsby)  Rose,  natives 
of  tht_-  same  county  as  himself.     His  father  came 


to  America  in  1850  and  settled  in  Washington 
Township,  this  county,  where  he  bought  a  sol- 
dier's warrant  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
paying  $130  for  the  same.  The  country  was  new 
and  sparsely  settled.  Few  roads  had  been  opened 
or  improvements  made.  The  following  years  he 
gave  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  but  ere  he  had 
brought  it  to  the  fine  condition  he  hoped  for, 
death  ended  his  labors,  June  7,  1858,  when  he 
was  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  Had  his  life  been 
spared  he  would  undoubtedly  have  attained  suc- 
cess. After  coming  to  this  country  he  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party.  For  two  terms  he 
served  as  highway  commissioner.  In  religion  he 
was  an  Episcopalian.  His  wife,  who  accom- 
panied him  to  the  United  States,  died  in  Septem- 
ter,  1877,  when  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  are:  Samuel,  our 
subject;  Lottie  M.,  who  married  E.  P.  Lyon  and 
at  her  death  left  three  children;  and  John  A.,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  who  graduated  from  the 
Chicago  law  school  in  1S82  and  is  now  attorney 
for  the  Union  Traction  Company  of  Chicago. 

When  the  family  came  to  America  our  subject 
was  only  five  years  of  age.  Hence  he  has  prac- 
tically known  no  other  home  than  Will  County. 
He  grew  up  amid  pioneer  surroundings.  The 
place  was  wholly  unimproved  when  the  family 
settled  on  it.  The  lumber  for  a  house  his  father 
was  obliged  to  haul,  with  ox-teams,  from  Chi- 
cago, and  the  shingles  he  split  by  hand.  When 
the  father  died  Samuel  was  thirteen.  He  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  mother  and  was  of  the 
greatest  assistance  in  the  conduct  of  the  farm.  In 
March,  1874,  he  left  home  and  went  to  Beecher, 
where  he  carried  on  a  general  store.  In  August, 
1880,  he  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  having 
bought  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs.  In  No- 
vember, 1893,  he  sold  the  farm  and  came  to  Crete, 
where  he  established  a  loan  and  collection  busi- 
ness. Having  read  law  at  home  he  has  also  had 
considerable  practice  and  has  proved  an  excellent 
counselor.     He  also  buys  and  sells  real  estate. 

January  11,  1877,  Mr.  Rose  married  Abbie, 
daughter  of  Joseph  White,  of  Crisman,  Ind.  She 
died  July  14,  1896,  leaving  a  daughter,  Blanche. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


151 


The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place 
September  8,  1897,  and  united  him  with  Mrs. 
Annette  J.  (Dewey)  Hewes,  the  widow  of  Ben- 
jamin Hewes  and  a  second  cousin  of  Admiral 
Dewey.  In  religion  she  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  By  her  first  hus- 
band she  had  three  children. 

As  a  Republican,  Mr.  Rose  has  been  active  in 
local  affairs.  For  eight  years  he  was  justice  of 
the  peace  in  Washington  Township  and  for  twen- 
ty-five years  served  as  school  trustee.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  Crete  Lodge  No.  763,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.;  before  this  he  was  a  charter  member  of 
Grant  Park  Lodge  No.  640.  After  became  to 
Crete  he  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Eastern  Star  and  has  since  held  his  connection 
with  the  same,  and  was  its  first  worthy  patron, 
holding  the  office  for  two  years. 


(TAMES  L.  O'DONNELL.  The  family  of 
I  which  Mr.  O'Donnell  is  a  representative 
(2/  has  been  identified  with  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois for  more  than  one-half  century.  It  was 
established  in  Dayton  Township,  LaSalle  County, 
111.,  by  his  grandfather,  James  O'Donnell,  a 
farmer,  who  spent  his  later  years  in  that  part  of 
Illinois.  The  father,  William,  who  settled  in  the 
same  county  in  1S46,  improved  a  tract  of  raw 
land  in  Dayton  Township,  making  of  it  a 
valuable  farm.  Besides  agricultural  pursuits  he 
was  extensively  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  draft 
horses  and  roadsters  and  also  owned  a  number  of 
fine  cattle.  From  time  to  time  he  added  to  his 
property  until  his  possessions  included  several 
farms.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs 
and  held  a  number  of  township  offices,  in  which, 
as  in  his  private  business  matters,  he  displayed 
the  possession  of  good  judgment  and  wise  dis- 
crimination. His  death  occurred  in  1889,  when 
he  was  almost  seventy  years  of  age.  In  early 
manhood  he  had  married  Johanna  Keating,  who 
removed  from  Quebec,  Canada,  to  LaSalle 
County,  111.,  in  1S46,  and  is  still  living  at  the  old 


homestead.  Like  her  husband  she  has  always 
been  a  devoted  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Of  eleven  children  that  attained  mature  years  all 
but  two  are  still  living,  seven  of  whom  are  in 
LaSalle  County,  and  one  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business  in  Omaha. 

On  the  home  farm  in  LaSalle  County  James  L. 
O'Donnell  was  born  August  10,  1849,  being  the 
eldest  of  the  entire  family.  After  completing 
public  school  studies  he  entered  the  University  of 
Niagara,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  spent  the  college  year 
of  1S68-69.  After  teaching  school  for  a  year  he 
returned  to  the  university  for  another  year  and 
then  taught  school  one  winter.  He  took  up  the 
study  of  law  with  Glover,  Cook  &  Campbell,  of 
Ottawa,  in  1872,  and  later  read  with  Mayo  & 
Widmer,  of  the  same  city.  He  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  supreme  court  at  Springfield,  111., 
in  January,  1874,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year 
opened  an  office  at  Braidwood,  this  county. 
July  29,  1874,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
P.  C.  Haley,  in  Joliet,  and  the  firm  of  Haley  & 
O'Donnell  has  since  built  up  a  large  and  im- 
portant practice  in  the  various  courts,  and  is  now 
the  oldest  firm  of  attorneys  in  the  city.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  sanitary  district  in  1893 
they  have  been  its  attorneys,  and  for  years  they 
have  acted  as  attorneys  for  the  Santa  Fe, 
Wabash,  Michigan  Central  and  Elgin,  Joliet  & 
Eastern  Railroads. 

Aside  from  his  other  interests  Mr.  O'Donnell 
is  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Joliet 
public  library.  For  years  he  acted  as  attorney 
for  the  Mutual  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
of  which  he  has  been  a  stockholder  from  the  first 
and  is  now  a  director.  While  he  has  never 
cared  to  identify  himself  closely  with  politics  he  is 
nevertheless  well  posted  concerning  the  issues  of 
the  day.  He  devotes  himself  unreservedly  to 
professional  work.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Union  Club.  He  was  appointed  assignee  of 
the  Stone  City  Bank,  of  Joliet,  upon  its  failure  in 
December,  1892,  and  for  four  years  was  con- 
nected with  the  litigation  growing  out  of  the 
failure. 

The  home  of  Mr.  O'Donnell,  at  No.  103  Lin- 
coln street,  is  presided  over  by  his  wife,  whom  he 


I.S2 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  in  Joliet  in  1877  and  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Costelle  E.  Edgerly.  She  was 
born  in  Penobscot  County,  Me.,  and  in  1876 
came  to  Joliet  with  her  parents,  Lorain  G.  and 
Sarah  Edgerly.  Her  father,  who  was  for  a  time 
a  farmer  in  Putnam  Count}-,  this  state,  served  in 
an  Illinois  regiment  during  the  Civil  war;  he  is 
now  living  retired  in  Joliet.  The  family  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  O'Donnell  consists  of  three  children, 
Edith  N.,  Louise  and  Francis,  of  whom  the  first- 
named  was  a  graduate  of  the  Joliet  high  school, 
class  of  1897,  and  is  now  a  student  in  the  Chicago 
Art  Institute. 


V  A  RS.  CORNELIA  M.  SHERWOOD  is  the 
V  widow  of  Stephen  Alanson  Sherwood,  of 
(fj  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  the  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel C.  Mason,  a  pioneer  of  Joliet  Township.  Pos- 
sessing a  strong  character,  and  a  desire  to  do 
good,  she  assisted  many  charitable  movements, 
and  has  been  a  factor  in  many  enterprises  for  the 
benefit  of  the  people.  It  was  in  no  small  degree 
due  to  her  influence  that  the  Silver  Cross  hospital 
was  established,  and  she  served  as  a  member  of 
its  first  board  of  directors,  aiding  in  placing  on  a 
solid  basis  an  institution  that  has  since  been  one 
of  the  most  successful  charities  of  Joliet.  The 
project  of  building  the  hospital  was  first  brought 
forward  by  the  King's  Daughters  and  Sons,   and 


she  was   president  of  the   society  at   the   time, 
therefore  materially  assisted  in  all  of  its  plans. 

Stephen  Alanson  Sherwood  was  born  in  Utica, 
N.  Y. ,  in  1848,  and  was  next  to  the  youngest  of 
five  children,  one  of  whom,  Edwin,  served  in  the 
Civil  war.  His  father,  Stephen,  a  native  of 
Connecticut  and  descendant  of  one  of  the  old 
families  near  Hartford,  removed  to  Utica  in  an 
earl}'  day  and  engaged  in  business  there.  He 
died  in  New  York  City  in  1892.  His  three  sons 
continued  the  business  after  his  death  under  the 
firm  name  of  Sherwood  &  Hemmens,  and  his  son, 
Stephen  A.,  was  thus  engaged  until  he  died 
April  23,  1876.  Politically  he  affiliated  with  the 
Republicans.  He  served  as  lieutenant  of  the 
Utica  Citizens'  Corps,  and  exempt  fireman  of 
New  York.  In  1871,  in  Joliet,  111.,  he  married 
Miss  Cornelia  M.  Mason,  whom  he  had  known 
in  Utica,  and  who  returned  with  him  to  re- 
side there.  She  received  a  good  education  in 
Houghton  Seminary,  at  Clinton,  N.  Y.  Both  by 
natural  gifts  and  education  she  was  fitted  for  the 
responsibilities  of  life  and  for  a  prominent  position 
among  men  and  women  of  culture  and  worth. 
Two  years  after  her  husband's  death  she  returned 
to  Joliet  and  has  since  made  her  home  on  the 
Mason  estate,  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city.  Her 
two  sons  are  interested  in  Joliet  enterprises,  the 
older,  Arthur  Mason,  being  in  charge  of  the  office 
of  the  Joliet  Rattan  and  Reed  Company,  while 
.the  younger,  Louis  Alanson,  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Sherwood  &  Harper,  proprietors  of  a  pho- 
tographic studio  on  Jefferson  street. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


155 


JOSEPH   BRAUN,  Jr. 


30SEPH  BRAUN,  Jr.,  secretary,  treasurer 
and  manager  of  the  E.  Porter  Brewing  Com- 
pany, is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Joliet  and 
takes  an  active  part  in  enterprises  calculated  to 
advance  the  city's  welfare.  In  188S  he  was 
elected  assistant  supervisor  of  Joliet  Township 
and  served  in  the  office,  by  re-election,  for  four 
years.  Under  Mayor  P.  C.  Haley  he  held  office 
as  city  oil  inspector  for  two  years.  In  1895  he 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  third  ward  in  the  city 
council  and  in  1897  and  1899  was  re-elected  alder- 
man, which  office  he  has  filled  creditably  to  him- 
self. In  the  council  he  serves  as  chairman  of  the 
committees  on  claims  and  street  lighting,  and  as 
a  member  of  the  finance  and  printing  committees. 
Largely  through  his  energy  and  activity  the 
movement  was  started  looking  toward  the  pur- 
chase of  the  two  parks,  Bush  and  East  Side,  by 
the  city.  The  Democratic  party  represents  his 
political  views  and  receives  his  vote,  in  both  na- 
tional and  local  elections.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  and  county  central  committees  and 
in  1892  served  as  secretary  of  the  Jefferson  Club. 
He  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  German  Catholic 
Church.  Since  the  organization  of  St.  Aloysius 
Society  No.  21,  Western  Catholic  Union,  in  1888, 
he  has  served  as  its  president,  and  it  is  largely 
due  to  his  wise  leadership  that  the  society  now 
has  a  membership  of  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
two.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  During 
his  leisure  hours  he  finds  recreation  and  enjoy- 
ment in  athletics  and  various  sports.  He  is 
president  of  the  Joliet  Sharpshooters'  Association 
and  has  won  a  record  as  a  fine  shot.  At  Indian- 
apolis, in  1889,  and  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  1S90, 
he  was  king  of  the  national  tournaments  of  the 


shooting  society,  this  honor  being  conferred  upon 
him  in  recognition  of  his  record,  which  was  the 
highest  made.  The  society  was  organized  by  his 
father  and  others  in  1866  and  he  has  been  identi- 
fied with  it  since  1S83.  In  his  possession,  as 
prized  souvenirs,  are  twenty-six  gold  medals, 
which  have  been  given  him  for  successful  compe- 
titions in  shooting  contests. 

Joseph  Braun,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  and  a 
brewmaster  by  trade,  settled  in  Dupage  County, 
111.,  in  1852,  establishing  his  home  in  Naperville. 
In  1865  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  organized  the 
brewing  firm  of  Joseph  Braun  &  Co. ,  now  the 
F.  Sebring  Brewing  Company.  He  engaged  in 
the  brewing  business  until  he  died,  in  1869,  at 
forty-two  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  was  a 
Miss  Grath,  of  German  descent,  died  in  Joliet  in 
1882.  Their  only  child  who  attained  mature 
years  was  Joseph  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  Naper- 
ville, 111.,  in  i860,  and  has  made  his  home  in 
Joliet  since  the  age  of  five  years.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  St.  John's  parochial  school.  In 
1876  he  began  to  clerk  in  a  clothing  store  on  Jef- 
ferson street,  where  he  was  paid  $3  a  week.  He 
was  so  energetic  and  capable  that  in  time  he  be- 
came head  clerk.  In  1884  he  bought  out  Charles 
Brooks  and  started  the  firm  of  Braun  &  Raub  at 
No.  209  Jefferson  street,  where  he  engaged  in 
business  until  1893.  In  selling  out  to  his  part- 
ner in  1893  he  assisted  in  organizing  the 
E.  Porter  Brewing  Company,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  secretary,  treasurer  and  general  man- 
ager. Under  his  supervision  the  plant  has  been 
enlarged,  an  addition  built,  modern  improve- 
ments introduced,  and  the  quality  of  the  products 
brought  to  a  high  standard  of  excellence.  The 
location  of  the  brewery  covers  two  and  one-half 


I.S6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


blocks  on  South  Bluff.  There  is  also  a  large 
depot  at  Lemout,  with  an  ice  house  and  re- 
frigerator. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Braun  stands  at  No.  51 1 
North  Hickory  street.  He  was  married  in  Joliet 
to  Theresa,  sister  of  A.  J.  Stoos,  a  leading  mer- 
chant of  this  city.  They  have  six  children:  Ida, 
who  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Francis'  Convent  at 
Joliet,  111.;  Julius,  who  is  a  student  in  St. 
Francis'  College,  Ouincy,  111.;  Alma,  Henrietta, 
Marguerite  and  Robert. 


N()N.  JERRY  KENISTON.  There  is  prob- 
ably no  citizen  of  Wilton  Township  who  is 
better  known  or  who  occupies  a  higher  po- 
sition in  the  confidence  of  associates  than  does 
Mr.  Keniston.  During  the  Civil  war  he  showed 
his  patriotism  by  his  honorable  service  in  the 
Union  army  and  since  then  he  has  proven  him- 
self equally  active  in  civic  affairs,  giving  his  in- 
fluence to  aid  measures  for  the  benefit  of  his  com- 
munity and  taking  his  part  as  a  public-spirited 
citizen  in  progressive  movements.  During  the 
three  terms,  beginning  in  1S70,  that  he  served  as 
supervisor  of  Wilton  Township,  he  participated 
personally  in  man}-  important  measures  for  the 
benefit  of  the  township;  gaining,  as  a  public  offi- 
cial, a  name  so  creditable  and  a  position  so  high 
that  in  1S78  he  was  chosen  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  state  legislature.  In  that  body,  as  in 
positions  of  lesser  importance,  he  maintained  a 
reputation  for  integrity,  energy  and  ability,  and 
his  service  was  not  only  satisfactory  to  his  own 
party  (the  Republican),  but  to  his  political  op- 
ponents as  well.  He  has  frequently  represented 
his  party  as  a  delegate  to  conventions,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  important  committees. 

Heredity  having  much  to  do  with  a  mans  suc- 
cess in  life,  it  will  be  of  interest  to  review  Mr. 
KL-niston's  ancestral  history.  His  grandfather, 
Isaac  Keniston,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  im- 
mediately after  his  marriage  to  Deborah  Gray, 
removed  with  his  bride  to  what  is  now  Sheffield, 


Caledonia  County.  Yt.,  making  the  trip  on  horse- 
back through  the  forests.  He  settled  in  a  tim- 
bered region  and  cleared  a  farm  from  the  prime- 
val wilds.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  did 
his  part  to  defend  American  interests  and  gain  in- 
dependence for  our  country.  His  brother,  David, 
who  was  born  in  the  province  of  Maine,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1736,  also  served  in  the  Revolution  and 
was  a  member  of  the  famous  Boston  tea  part}  in 
1773.  In  1S45  ne  came  to  Chicago,  where  he 
died  February  24,  1852,  at  the  great  age  of  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  years,  three  months  and 
seventeen  days.  He  was  buried  with  military 
honors.  June  14,  1S94,  a  Grecian  cross  was 
erected  in  Lincoln  Park  on  the  site  of  his  burial 
place  by  a  number  of  Chicago  pioneers  and  there 
has  frequently  been  plans  formed  for  the  erection 
of  a  monument  to  his  memory  by  various  societies. 
He  was  the  last  surviving  member  of  the  Boston 
tea  party. 

Joseph  G.  Keniston,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Sheffield,  Yt.,  October  17,  1798.  After 
his  marriage  to  Sally  Glidden,  a  native  of  Shef- 
field, he  engaged  in  fanning,  in  connection  with 
which  he  also  owned  and  operated  a  sawmill.  In 
1854  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  the 
site  of  our  subject's  farm,  buying  one-half  section 
of  land.  Here  he  remained  for  ten  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Aurora,  111.,  in  order  to  give 
his  children  the  advantages  of  good  schools.  In 
that  city  he  died  in  June,  1S67.  During  the  ex- 
istence of  the  Whig  party  he  voted  for  its  candi- 
dates, and  after  it  disintegrated  he  became  a  Re- 
publican. In  religion  he  was  of  the  Baptist  faith. 
In  his  family  there  were  eleven  children,  only 
three  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:  Emeline,  widow 
of  William  Urie,  of  Minneapolis,  Minn. ;  Hiram  B., 
of  Lents,  Ore.;  and  Jerry. 

At  the  old  homestead  in  Sheffield,  Yt.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  article  was  born  March  2,  1829.  His 
education  was  largely  self- acquired,  although  he 
had  the  advantage  of  study  in  common  schools 
and  a  term  in  St.  Johnsbury  Academy.  After 
teaching  school  for  one  term,  in  185 1  he  went  to 
Massachusetts,  and  for  three  years  was  employed 
in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  He  joined  his  parents 
in  Illinois  shortly   after  their  removal  west  and 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i57 


spent  some  months  in  this  county,  after  which  he 
was  employed  by  a  dairy  company  in  St.  Louis 
for  a  year.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  went  to  York 
state  and  was  married,  in  Pike,  Wyoming  Coun- 
ty, November  30,  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Tiffany, 
who  died  January  24,  1862.  In  i860  he  returned 
to  this  county  and  settled  on  an  eighty-acre  tract, 
which  now  forms  a  part  of  his  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres. 

In  the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Keniston  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  One  Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  went  to  the  front.  Soon  after  his  enlistment 
he  was  made  second  lieutenant  of  his  company 
and  at  the  close  of  the  war  held  a  captain's  com- 
mission. He  took  part  in  even-  battle  in  which 
his  regiment  was  engaged  until  the  engagement 
at  Chickamauga,  where  he  was  captured  and 
taken  to  Libby  prison.  He  was  held  a  prisoner 
for  seven  months  and  was  then  removed  farther 
south.  March  2,  1S65,  he  was  released  at  Wil- 
mington, N.  C,  and  proceeded  to  Benton  Bar- 
racks, St.  Louis,  where  he  reported  for  duty.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  May  15.  Returning 
home  he  resumed  farm  work.  He  is  a  member 
of  H.  B.  Godard  Post  No.  736,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Manhattan,  and  since  1897  has  served  as  com- 
mander of  the  post.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
lodge  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  in  Manhattan. 

February  21,  1866,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Keniston  to  Miss  Martha  Lynde,  who  was 
born  in  Williamstown,  Vt.,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Dolly  (Smith)  Lynde.  She  is  a  descendant, 
it  is  supposed,  of  Benjamin  Lynde,  mentioned  by 
Brancroft  in  history,  who  came  with  a  number  of 
prominent  men  from  England  and  settled  in 
Massachusetts  about  1630.  The  name  of  Lynde 
is  inseparably  associated  with  the  business  and 
public  affairs  of  Williamstown.  Hon.  John 
Lynde,  father  of  Mrs.  Keniston,  was  born  in 
Williamstown  in  18 10  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
began  to  teach,  which  occupation  he  followed  in 
the  winter,  working  on  the  farm  during  summer 
months.  In  1832  he  married  Dolly  Smith,  who 
died  in  1881.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Ellen, 
Mrs.  W.  Bass,  of  Ottawa,  Kans. ;  John,  Jr.,  of 
Williamstown;  Martha;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Nathaniel 


Simons,  of  Princeton,  111. ;  George  W. ;  James  K. ; 
Laura,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Cheney,  of  Williamstown; 
Emma,  wife  of  Dr.  William  B.  Mayo,  of  North- 
field;  and  Dr.  Cornelius  V.,  of  Northfield,  Minn. 
Mr.  Lynde  was  a  farmer  until  1S65,  after  which 
he  engaged  in  trade  until  1S87  and  then  resumed 
farming.  He  was  often  called  upon  to  settle  es- 
tates and  was  a  general  counselor  in  business  and 
legal  matters.  For  more  than  two  generations 
he  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Northfield,  and 
later  of  the  Barre  Bank.  First  a  Whig,  then  a 
Republican,  he  was  active  in  each  party  in  turn. 
For  forty-four  consecutive  years  he  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  In  1876  he  was  elected  state 
senator,  and  for  two  terms  he  was  assistant  judge 
of  the  county  court.  His  name  will  long  be  re- 
membered in  Williamstown  as  that  of  a  public- 
spirited  and  benevolent  citizen.  His  father, 
Cornelius  Lynde,  left  Harvard  College  at  the  op- 
ening of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  enlisted  in 
the  Continental  army,  in  which  he  rose  to  the 
rank  of  major.  In  1786  he  moved  from  Williams- 
town, Mass. ,  to  the  town  of  the  same  name  in 
Vermont,  and  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  the  new  settlement.  He  assisted  in  the  allot- 
ment of  land  to  his  associates,  was  justice  of  the 
peace,  the  first  town  clerk,  and  from  1791  to 
1795  served  as  representative  to  the  legislature, 
later  was  a  member  of  the  state  council  and  for 
two  years  associate  judge.  In  the  first  year  of 
the  century,  at  a  meeting  in  his  house,  a  Univer- 
salis! society  was  organized,  believed  to  be  the 
earliest  in  the  state.  His  wife  was  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Col.  Jacob  Davis,  the  pioneer  of 
Montpelier.  Several  of  his  sons  became  influen- 
tial business  men. 

The  head  of  the  Lynde  family,  since  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Keniston's  father,  who  died  in  1S96,  is 
John  Lynde,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  1835,  came  to 
Will  County  in  1856,  and  there  listened  to  one  of 
the  joint  debates  between  Lincoln  and  Douglass 
during  the  memorable  campaign  of  1858.  Dur- 
ing the  war  he  served  as  commissary  sergeant, 
regimental  quartermaster  with  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant, and  on  staff  duty.  From  1870  to  1877 
he  was  a  clerk  in  the  postoffice  department  in 
Washington,  since  which  time  he  has  resided  in 


1 53 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Williamstown,  his  early  home-  One  of  his  broth- 
ers, Charles,  also  served  for  three  years  in  the 
Union  army;  he  died  in  1874.  Another  brother, 
George  W.,  born  in  1848,  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  at  Williams- 
town,  and  has  many  other  important  interests. 
He  is  vice-president  of  the  Barre  National  Bank; 
in  18S8  served  in  the  house  of  representatives 
and  is  at  present  state  senator.  He  is  a  half- 
owner  of  the  grist,  saw  and  polishing  mill  at 
Mill  Village,  which  is  the  most  important  indus- 
try in  that  town.  James  K.  Lynde,  another 
brother  of  Mrs.  Keniston,  was  born  in  1S42,  and 
is  a  wealthy  business  man  of  Williamstown,  own- 
ing a  large  store  there.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Williamstown  Granite  Company,  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Construction  Company,  and  a  part 
owner  of  the  Monument  House. 

Just  prior  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war 
Miss  Lynde  was  a  student  in  Barre  Academy. 
The  faculty  received  a  request  to  send  a  compe- 
tent teacher  to  Alabama  and  asked  her  to  accept 
the  position.  In  February,  i860,  she  wTent  south 
and  began  the  work  of  an  instructor.     On  the 


breaking  out  of  hostilities  she  was  importuned  to 
remain,  but  feeling  it  was  not  safe  for  her  there 
she  decided  to  come  north.  June  3,  1861,  she 
started  for  Illinois  and  joined  a  sister  in  Will 
County.  Soon  afterward  she  was  engaged  to 
teach  in  the  Wilmington  schools.  Later  she 
taught  the  Wilton  Center  school.  In  1864  she 
went  to  Racine,  Wis.,  where  she  taught  for  one 
year,  then  returned  to  Vermont  and  was  married 
to  Mr.  Keniston  at  the  old  homestead.  Of  their 
union  ten  children  were  born,  seven  now  living. 
The  two  oldest,  Henry  C.  and  John  L. ,  are  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Chicago  as  dealers  in  paints, 
oils  and  wall  paper,  the  former  being  in  the  sub- 
urb of  Englewood,  while  the  latter  is  at  No.  194 
Twenty-second  street.  Laura  A.  from  childhood 
showed  a  decided  musical  talent  and  was  given 
excellent  advantages,  graduating  from  the  musi- 
cal conservatory  at  Pottsdam,  N.  Y.  She  is  now 
a  teacher  of  vocal  music  and  physical  culture  in 
Olean,  N.  Y.,  public  schools.  The  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  Herbert,  of  Chicago; 
Carroll,  on  the  home  farm;  Raymond,  in  Okla- 
homa; and  Daisy,  a  student  in  the  local  schools. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


161 


HENRY  J.   HOLM, 


HENRY  J.  HOLM,  who  is  manager  of  the 
creamery  at  Goodings  Grove,  Homer  Town- 
ship, came  to  this  count}-  in  1881  and  began 
the  cultivation  of  the  one  hundred  and  fort}-  acres 
comprising  his  present  homestead.  By  good 
management  and  energy  he  brought  the  place 
under  excellent  cultivation.  As  necessity  de- 
manded, he  erected  farm  buildings.  In  1896  his 
barn  burned  down  and  he  built  the  one  he  now 
uses,  a  substantial  building  with  basement  32x60 
feet  in  dimensions;  also  a  corn  crib  24x32.  His 
barn  is  so  large  that  it  will  accommodate  eighty 
tons  of  hay  at  one  time.  The  stock  are  given 
stalls  in  the  basement.  He  engages  in  the 
raising  of  cattle  and  in  the  dairy  business,  milk- 
ing eleven  cows.  Largely  through  his  efforts  a 
creamery  was  started.  He  was  the  first  to  sub- 
scribe for  stock  and  furnish  money  for  the  enter- 
prise, and  he  now  has  quite  a  sum  invested  in  the 
business.  Besides  being  manager  of  the  cream- 
ery he  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company. 
All  products  are  shipped  to  Chicago,  where  Elgin 
prices  are  paid.  It  is  due  to  his  management  and 
good  judgment  that  the  business  has  been  made 
so  profitable,  returning  to  its  stockholders  divi- 
dends that  are  larger  than  was  first  anticipated. 
The  quality  of  the  butter  is  so  excellent  that 
it  always  commands  a  high  price.  For  instance, 
in  September,  1899,  they  turned  out  eight  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  sixty-eight  pounds  of 
butter,  which  sold  at  an  average  price  of  twenty- 
two  and  one-half  cents  per  pound,  this  making 
the  cash  receipt  from  seven  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  twenty-nine  pounds  sold  outside  of  the 
community  $1,749,  an  estimate  that  gives  an 
idea  of  the  dimensions  of  the  business  and  ex- 
plains the  reason  for  the  high  rating  of  the  stock. 
8 


Mr.  Holm  was  born  in  Kensington,  111.,  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1857.  His  father,  John,  a  native  of 
Mecklenburg-Schwerin,  Prussia,  came  to  Amer- 
ica at  eighteen  years  of  age,  spending  six  weeks 
on  the  water.  He  proceeded  at  once  to  this 
county,  where  he  was  employed  on  farms.  Later 
he  sawed  wood  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
making  about  $1,600.  With  this  money  he 
bought  land  in  Worth,  Cook  County.  The  place 
was  raw  prairie  and  required  considerable  effort 
to  get  under  cultivation.  Being  industrious  he 
prospered.  The  property  that  he  first  purchased 
is  now  worth  many  hundred  times  what  he  paid 
for  it.  By  adding  to  his  holdings  he  became  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres, 
comprising  a  valuable  farm,  on  which  he  still  re- 
sides. He  has  served  as  commissioner  and  is  a 
Republican  in  politics.  In  religion  he  believes  in 
Lutheran  doctrines.  While  living  in  Kensington 
he  married  Carolina  Hock,  also  from  Prussia. 
They  have  five  children,  viz. :  Henry  J. ;  Mrs. 
Mary  Handorf,  of  Marley,  this  county;  Dora, 
wife  of  Dan  Laufer,  of  Homer  Township;  Fred, 
who  superintends  his  father's  farm;  and  Carrie, 
wife  of  Paul  Hampel,  of  Washington  Heights. 

The  life  of  our  subject  has  been  passed  in  Cook 
and  Will  Counties..  He  remained  at  home  until 
his  marriage,  April  n,  1881,  which  united  him 
with  Louise,  daughter  of  Henry  Sahs,  of  Oak 
Lawn.  She  died  in  1896,  leaving  five  children, 
Henry,  Louise,  Alice,  Cora  and  Carrie.  Since 
1 89 1  Mr.  Holm  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  school  directors.  His  political  views  are  in 
accord  with  the  platform  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Homer  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company,  an  organization  which  has 
proved   of  great  benefit  to  the  farmers  of  this 


162 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


township.  Reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  he  has 
always  favored  its  doctrines  and  supported  its 
enterprises. 


Gfl  LFRED  T.  CORBIN,  a  leading  business 
J_J  man  of  Plainfield,  is  the  proprietor  of  an 
/  I  establishment  in  which  he  carries  a  com- 
plete assortment  of  dry-goods,  groceries,  hats  and 
caps,  etc.  In  addition  to  this  business  he  has 
other  interests  of  varying  degrees  of  importance 
and  value.  He  owns  a  half  interest  in  a  hard- 
ware store  in  Phoenix,  Ariz.,  of  which  his  son- 
in-law  is  the  manager.  He  also  has  shares  in 
the  Bankers'  Mining  &  Milling  Company,  which 
owns  a  mine  on  Bull  Mountain,  at  Cripple  Creek, 
Colo.,  and  also  has  mining  interests  at  Leadville, 
that  state. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Elihu  Corbin,  was 
born  in  Rutland,  Vt.,  and  in  boyhood  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  For  a  time  he  carried  on  a 
boot  and  shoe  business  in  Cleveland,  after  which, 
with  a  partner,  he  operated  a  tannery.  The 
excitement  caused  by  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California  reached  him  and  he  determined  to  seek 
in  the  far  west  a  fortune.  In  1850  he  went  to 
the  Pacific  coast  overland  and  remained  a  year, 
when,  his  brother-in-law  being  taken  sick,  he 
started  east  with  him  via  Panama,  but  the  sick 
man  died  before  home  was  reached.  Resuming 
the  shoe  business,  Mr.  Corbin  manufactured 
shoes  of  his  own  leather  and  built  up  a  good 
trade  in  Cleveland.  However,  desiring  to  seek 
another  location,  he  sold  out  in  1852  and  came 
to  Plainfield,  111.,  November  5,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  a  portion 
of  which  is  now  in  the  city  limits.  He  platted 
the  land  in  town  lots  and  sold  it  as  opportunity 
afforded.  On  the  remainder  he  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farm  pursuits,  and  added  to  it  from  time  to 
time.  Finally  retiring,  he  established  his  home 
in  the  town.  On  the  Republican  ticket  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  held 
for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.     During 


the  Civil  war  he  held  office  as  deputy  United 
States  marshal.  In  religion  he  was  an  active 
worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His 
life  was  devoted  to  various  pursuits,  and  in  each 
he  seemed  to  meet  with  success.  As  a  farmer 
he  was  thorough  and  painstaking,  as  a  business 
man  energetic  and  up-to-date.  From  i860  to 
1862  he  carried  on  a  mercantile  business  in  Plain- 
field,  but,  preferring  agricultural  pursuits,  he 
sold  out.  When  hediedini895  he  was  eight}- - 
two  years  of  age. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Elisa  A.  Fish, 
a  native  of  Groton,  Conn.,  and  now  a  resident 
of  Plainfield,  111.  In  spite  of  her  eighty-three 
years  she  is  quite  active.  Of  her  nine  children 
four  are  deceased.  Hannah  is  the  widow  of 
Capt.  D.  Sullivan,  who  was  a  captain  in  the 
Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry  during  the  Civil  war; 
Emma  M.  is  the  widow  of  E.  Holbrook,  of 
Batavia,  111.;  and  Mary  E.  resides  with  her 
mother.  The  youngest  of  the  family  is  Louis  D., 
who  clerks  for  his  brother.  Another  son,  Ed- 
ward \\\,  was  a  merchant  in  Colorado  and  died 
there,  but  is  buried  in  Plainfield.  Mrs.  Eliza  A. 
(Fish)  Corbin  is  a  granddaughter  of  Ebenezer 
Fish,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  for 
six  months  a  prisoner-of-war.  His  son,  Eben- 
ezer, served  during  the  second  war  with  England. 
He  walked  the  entire  distance  from  Connecticut 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1S11,  and  settled  in  that 
place,  where  he  became  a  prominent  citizen,  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  Methodism,  giving  the  site 
for  two  churches.  He  died  in  18S0,  aged  ninety- 
three  years.  His  wife  was  Johanna  Stanton,  of 
Stonington,  Conn. 

In  Cleveland,  Ohio,  our  subject  was  born  Jan- 
uary 6,  1843.  He  was  nine  years  of  age  when 
the  family  settled  in  this  county.  Two  years 
later  he  secured  work  as  a  clerk  in  Plainfield. 
He  continued  steadily  in  business,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  time  spent  in  a  commercial  college 
in  Chicago.  In  1870,  with  two  partners,  Mr. 
Corbin  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Plainfield.  His  partners  were  G.  N.  and  W.  H. 
Chittenden;  the  former  sold  his  interest  to  his 
partners  in  1887.  Three  years  later  our  subject 
bought  his  partner's  interest  and  has  since  man- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


l63 


aged  the  store.  During  the  mining  excitement 
in  Montana  he  spent  three  years  in  that  territory 
(1864-67),  and  besides  mining  took  up  a  ranch. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Plainfield  Lodge 
No.  536,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  politics  he  is 
stanchly,  though  not  actively,  a  Republican,  and 
has  held  various  township  and  city  offices,  to 
which  he  was  elected  on  the  party  ticket.  His 
marriage  united  him  with  Miss  Laura  A.  Pratt, 
daughter  of  the  late  S.  S.  Pratt,  who  was  a  mer- 
chant in  Plainfield.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
daughter,  Grace,  who  married  Charles  H.  David- 
son, a  hardware  merchant  in  Phoenix,  Ariz. 
They  have  one  son,  Harold  Corbin  Davidson. 


V/lAJ.  EDWIN  S.  MUNROE.  The  largest 
Y  real-estate  firm  in  Joliet  is  that  of  Mun- 
(f)  roe  Brothers,  composed  of  ex-Senator 
George  H.  and  Maj.  Edwin  S.  Munroe,  who 
since  1896  have  conducted  a  mortgage,  loans,  in- 
surance, real-estate  and  general  trust  company's 
business,  with  offices  in  the  Munroe  hotel  block. 
Since  1S98  they  have  laid  out  the  Munroe  & 
Kelly  subdivision,  west  of  Henderson  avenue, 
and  the  Munroe  &  Melchior  and  the  Munroe  & 
Norton  additions,  while  prior  to  this  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  platted  many  subdivisions 
while  doing  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
G.  Munroe  &  Sou,  including  the  Ridgewood  ad- 
ditions to  Joliet.  It  is  doubtful  if  any  individual 
or  organization  has  accomplished  more  than  they 
in  the  development  of  property  interests  and  the 
advancing  of  teal-estate  values;  hence  their  work 
possesses  permanent  merit. 

In  Florence"  Township,  this  county,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  September  29,  1857, 
a  son  of  George,  and  a  brother  of  George  H. 
Munroe,  to  whose  biographies  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred for  the  family  history.  His  education  was 
obtained  in  public  schools  primarily  and  was 
completed  in  Northwestern  University,  which  he 
attended  from  1874  to  1876,  having  applied  to 
this  purpose  his  earnings  while  assisting  his  fath- 


er in  the  grocery  business  in  Joliet.  While  at- 
tending the  university  he  was  very  closely  con- 
nected with  the  work  of  building  the  gymnasium 
and  presenting  it  to  the  college;  and  as  secretary 
and  treasurer  he  was  one  of  the  leading  members 
of  the  board  of  directors  having  the  work  in 
charge. 

Upon  leaving  the  university  Mr.  Munroe  be- 
came salesman  and  bookkeeper  for  his  father's 
grocery,  and  later  traveled  for  the  house.  In 
January,  1SS1,  he  became  traveling  salesman  for 
the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  John  Roper  &  Co. 
Four  years  later  he  severed  his  connection  with 
them  in  order  to  accept  a  position  as  commercial 
traveler  with  Reid,  Murdoch  &  Co.,  the  largest 
wholesale  grocery  house  in  Chicago,  and  he  con- 
tinued with  them  for  eleven  years,  until  1896. 
Meantime  he  had  been  extensively  interested  in 
Joliet  real  estate.  Purchasingthecorner  of  Chicago 
and  Clinton  streets,  where  the  Joliet  National 
Bank  stands,  he  built  the  Ed  S.  Munroe  block 
in  1882,  and  from  that  time  to  this  his  real-estate 
interests  have  constantly  enlarged  and  broadened. 
He  occupies  the  homestead  on  East  Cass  street, 
built  in  1887  by  his  father.  There,  with  his  wife 
and  three  children,  George  M.,  Edwine  M. 
and  Stanley  M.,  he  has  a  pleasant  home  in 
which  his  leisure  hours  are  passed.  He  married 
Marie,  daughter  of  Gallus  Muller,  who  came  to 
Joliet  just  before  the  Chicago  fire  and  was  chief 
clerk  for  the  Illinois  penitentiary  for  over  twenty 
years. 

In  1876  Mr.  Munroe  entered  the  Illinois  Na- 
tional Guard,  becoming  a  private  in  Company  B, 
Tenth  Battalion.  At  the  formation  of  the 
Twelfth  Battalion,  two  years  later,  he  was  made 
quartermaster,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and 
continued  in  that  capacity  for  eight  years,  the 
battalion  meantime  becoming  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment. In  1886  Governor  Fifer  commissioned 
him  major  of  the  regiment,  and  he  continued  as 
such  until  the  reorganization  of  the  guard  and 
the  merging  of  the  Fourth  into  the  Third  Regi- 
ment. He  was  called  into  active  service  at  the 
time  of  the  Braidwood  strike  of  1877,  the  LaSalle 
trouble  of  1878,  the  Joliet  and  Lemout  strikes  of 
1885,  and  the  Braidwood  labor  troubles  of  1889. 


i64 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


He  is  a  member  of  the  Veteran  Roll  of  the  Illinois 
National  Guard.  Politically  a  Republican  and 
interested  in  the  success  of  his  party,  he  is  never- 
theless in  no  sense  of  the  word  a  politician,  his 
time  being  fully  occupied  with  the  cares  of  his 
constantly  increasing  business.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Union  Club  of  Joliet.  In  religion 
he  is  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  is  secretary  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  and  is  a  delegate  representing  Rock 
River  Conference  in  the  General  Conference  to 
be  held  in  Chicago  in  1900,  which  is  the  supreme 
organization  of  the  entire  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  throughout  the  world. 


HENRY  H.  LICHTENWALTER.  Since 
his  settlement  in  this  county  Mr.  Lichten- 
walter  has  been  known  not  only  as  a  sub- 
stantial farmer,  but  also  as  a  progressive  citizen 
and  an  earnest  Christian.  Although  he  started 
for  himself  with  very  little  means  (having  only 
$68  at  the  time  he  came  to  Illinois),  he  has  be- 
come one  of  the  large  land  owners  of  Jackson 
Township,  and  his  name  is  synonymous  with 
successful  agriculture.  He  is  the  owner  of  six 
farms,  aggregating  eleven  hundred  acres.  This 
large  property  represents  the  results  of  honest  in- 
dustry and  frugality,  traits  that  have  always  been 
very  noticeable  in  his  character.  Besides  his 
farming  and  stock  interests  he  acts  as  local  agent 
for  the  Greengarden  Mutual  Insurance  Company. 
During  the  eighteenth  century  the  Lichten- 
walter  family  was  founded  in  America  by  a 
German,  who  settled  in  Adams  County,  Pa.,  and 
remained  there  from  that  time  until  his  death. 
The  descendants  of  one  of  his  sons  may  now  be 
found  in  Lehigh  County,  Pa.  Another  of  his 
sons,  Abraham,  was  a  native  of  Adams  County, 
but  spent  his  last  years  on  a  farm  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  buried  at  Canton,  that 
state.  His  son,  Solomon,  was  about  twenty-one 
when  the  family  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Ohio.     He  took  up  a  tract  of  wild  land,  which  he 


cleared  and  improved,  and  there  he  spent  his  re- 
maining years.  He  was  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  Stark  County.  For  many  years  he 
was  an  elder  in  the  Lutheran  Church  and  the  old 
house  of  worship  he  helped  to  build  is  still  stand- 
ing, in  good  repair.  The  honor  of  being  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Ohio  conference  was  conferred  upon 
him.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  eighty- 
eight  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  Catherine 
Hane,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  at  four 
years  of  age  had  been  taken  to  Ohio  by  her 
father,  Charles  Hane;  afterward  she  resided  in 
Stark  County  until  her  death,  at  fifty-two  years. 
Of  her  twelve  children  seven  are  now  living, 
namely:  Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Stark  County; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Martin  Metz,  of  El  wood,  111.; 
John,  also  of  Elwood;  William,  whose  home  is 
in  Manhattan;  Henry  H.;  Christian,  a  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  in  Thayer  County,  Neb.;  and 
Amanda,  who  married  William  Young  and  lives 
in  Stark  County. 

The  education  acquired  by  our  subject  was  suf- 
ficient to  enable  him  to  teach  school,  and  in  this 
occupation  he  continued  for  two  years.  For  five 
years  he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade.  August 
31,  1856,  he  bade  farewell  to  his  relatives  and 
started  for  the  west,  full  of  hope  for  the  future, 
and  with  all  the  determination  that  youth  and 
health  and  an  earnest  spirit  can  give.  He  arrived 
in  Joliet  on  the  1st  of  September.  After  two 
months  in  the  city  he  went  to  the  country,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  for  two  years.  In  1858  he 
rented  a  farm  six  miles  south  of  Joliet,  and  there 
he  tilled  the  soil  for  eleven  years.  In  1869  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Florence  Township  and  at 
once  commenced  the  improvement  of  the  prop- 
erty, on  which  he  made  his  home  for  the  next 
twenty-three  years,  meantime  following  the  gen- 
eral lines  of  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
owned  four  hundred  acres  in  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Hiram  E.  Guiss.  With  him  he 
also,  for  sixteen  years,  operated  a  threshing  ma- 
chine, having  contracts  for  work  of  this  kind  in 
Florence,  Jackson,  Manhattan  and  Wilton  Town- 
ships. Their  machine  was  one  of  the  first 
threshers  brought  to  the  county.  In  1886  he 
bought   a  farm   in  Jackson   Township  and  five 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


165 


years  later  he  moved  to  it.  He  remained  there 
until  March,  1900,  when  he  removed  with  his  wife 
and  daughter  to  Manhattan,  his  son  remaining  on 
the  farm. 

Politically  a  Republican,  Mr.  Lichtenwalter 
was  on  that  ticket  elected  supervisor  of  Florence 
Township,  road  commissioner,  justice  of  the 
peace,  collector,  school  trustee,  etc.  In  1858  he 
married  Leah,  daughter  of  John  Guiss.  They 
have  six  children  living,  viz.:  Orlando,  Frank, 
Albert  (of  Florence  Township),  Frances  (wife  of 
R.  F.  Weibel),  John  and  Addie.  The  family 
are  active  workers  in  Grace  Evangelical  Church. 
Mr.  Lichtenwalter  was  converted  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  and  has  since  lived  an  exemplary 
Christian  life.  Since  1890  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  conference  and  in  189S  he  was 
a  delegate  to  the  general  conference  of  the  United 
Evangelical  Church  at  Johnstown,  Pa.  In  1894 
he  donated  land  for  a  church  building  and  he 
also  contributed  largely  to  the  erection  of  the 
same,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  its  maintenance.  He  has  filled  the 
office  of  Sunday-school  superintendent  constantly 
and  for  some  years  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
church. 


REV.  MOTHER  ALEXANDER  MUNCH, 
who  is  at  the  head  of  the  community  of  Fran- 
ciscan Sisters,  located  at  Joliet,  has  for  years 
been  a  potent  factor  in  the  advancement  of  its 
work  and  growth.  St.  Francis'  convent,  which 
the  Sisters  have  in  charge,  was  founded  in  1865, 
its  first  location  being  on  the  corner  of  North 
Broadway  and  Division  street,  Joliet,  but  in  1882 
it  was  removed  to  the  present  location,  in  the  most 
elevated  part  of  the  city,  away  from  the  din  of  the 
busy  streets.  The  cornerstone  of  the  large  main- 
building  was  laid  in  1881,  but  the  building  was 
not  completed  until  1882.  From  the  time  of  its 
establishment  in  1865  this  convent  has  been  the 
mother-house  of  this  community.  About  1874  St. 
Francis'  Academy  was  started,  and  it  is  now  one 
of  the  best  schools  of  its  kind  in  the  county.    The 


building  is  provided  with  dormitories,  class 
rooms,  music  rooms,  studio,  a  recreation  hall,  an 
extensive  library  and  scientific  apparatus  and 
specimens  for  illustrating  the  various  branches  of 
science.  The  course  of  study  comprises  three 
departments,  each  consisting  of  four  grades,  and 
each  grade  requires  one  year's  time.  Special 
attention  is  given  to  the  department  of  music, 
which  aims  at  thoroughness  and  adapts  the  most 
improved  methods  to  the  cultivation  of  correct 
taste  and  an  appreciation  of  classical  music. 
Students  are  drilled  in  harmony,  the  technique 
and  theory  of  music.  Attention  is  also  given  to 
oil  painting  and  water  colors.  The  large  studio 
affords  the  students  excellent  facilities  for  the  study 
of  drawing  and  painting;  a  special  feature  has  been 
made  of  china  painting,  and  a  kiln  for  firing  is  in 
charge  of  one  of  the  Sisters.  As  a  stimulus  to 
effort,  gold  medals  are  awarded  each  year  to  those 
attaining  the  highest  standard  of  excellence.  The 
work  of  the  academy  has  been  thoroughly  sys- 
tematized, so  that  the  best  results  may  be  obtained 
from  the  pupils,  and  their  progress  in  study  is 
judiciously  promoted. 

Upon  the  establishment  of  the  convent  in  1865, 
Rev.  Mother  Alfreda  Moes,  a  French  lady,  was 
placed  at  its  head.  She  was  followed  successively 
by  Rev.  Mother  Alberta  Stockhof,  Mother  Mary 
Frances  Shanahan,  Mother  Mary  Celestine  Son- 
tag,  Mother  Lucy  Raub  (a  native  of  Joliet), 
Mother  Mary  Angela  Rosenberger  and  Mother 
Alexander  Munch.  Mothers  Sontag,  Raub  and 
Rosenberger  each  held  the  position  for  six  years. 
In  August,  1899,  Rev.  Mother  Alexander  Munch 
was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  convent.  She  was 
born  in  Joliet,  a  daughter  of  Xavier  Munch,  and 
received  her  education  in  Catholic  schools,  grad- 
uating in  1870,  since  which  time  she  has  been 
connected  with  the  work  of  the  Franciscan  Sisters. 

Under  the  supervision  of  the  Franciscan  Sisters 
of  this  community  are  thirty  mission  houses  in 
various  parts  of  this  state,  Ohio,  Wisconsin,  Mis- 
souri and  Pennsylvania,  where  they  have  charge 
of  the  instruction  of  eight  thousand  children,  in- 
cluding St.  John's,  St.  Joseph's  and  Holy  Cross 
parochial  schools  in  Joliet.  In  1898  they  estab- 
lished the  Guardian  Angels'   Home  for  Children 


1 66 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  erected  a  building  on  Buell  avenue  with 
accommodations  for  sixty.  Already  fifty-five 
orphans  have  been  placed  under  their  care  in 
this  institution.  In  the  rearing  of  the  children 
given  to  their  charge  they  show  a  painstaking 
thoroughness  and  the  most  earnest  desire  to  im- 
plant in  their  hearts  pure  and  lofty  purposes  and 
to  cultivate  good  morals. 


(IL.LIAM  M.  CLOW  owns  an  improved 
stock  and  dairy  farm  on  section  14,  Wheat- 
land Township.  Born  on  a  farm,  he  se- 
lected agriculture  as  his  life  occupation;  the  suc- 
cess he  has  met  proves  he  made  no  mistake. 
Under  his  father  he  acquired  some  knowledge  of 
many  details  connected  with  cultivating  the  soil 
and  raising  stock.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  started  for  himself,  bought  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  of  unimproved  land,  which  he  has 
since  added  to  by  the  purchase  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres.  He  assisted  in  incorporating 
the  creamery,  which  proved  to  be  profitable.  He 
has  held  the  offices  of  township  clerk,  road  com- 
missioner and  school  director,  and  in  politics  is 
a  Democrat. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Robert  Clow, 
a  native  of  Dumfrieshire.  Scotland,  brought  his 
family  to  America  in  1837.  He  and  his  family 
(six  sons  and  two  daughters)  rented  the  old 
Shaker  farm  on  Sodus  Bay,  N.  Y.,  which  they 
worked  six  years.  In  1843  they  came  west  via 
the  Erie  canal  and  the  lakes  to  Chicago.  Set- 
tling in  Will  County,  he  and  his  sons  pre-empted 
and  purchased  some  fourteen  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  He  resided  on  the  place  until  his  death  in 
1877,  aged  eighty-five  years.  His  wife  died  in 
Scotland.  They  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters. 
At  the  time  the  family  came  to  America,  Rob- 
ert Clow,  Jr.,  father  of  our  subject,  was  eighteen 
years  old.  He  accompanied  his  father  to  this 
county  in  1844  and  was  identified  with  its  farm 
and  public  interests  all  his  life.  In  1849,  at  tne 
age    of  thirty-one,    he    married    Miss    Rosanna 


McMickeu,  who  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland, 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1843. 
Their  home  was  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
15.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics.  He 
served  one  term  in  the  Illinois  legislature,  two 
terms  as  circuit  clerk  of  the  county,  and  also 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  township  clerk  and  super- 
visor. He  died  September  15,  1888,  and  his  wife 
in  1895,  at  the  home  of  her  son,  John  B.  They 
had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  William  M.;  Ellen  J.,  wife  of  Charles 
H.  Farquhar,  of  Chicago;  Adam  S.,  who  farms 
his  grandfather's  homestead;  John  B.,  who  has 
succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  his  father's  place; 
and  Rose,  wife  of  H.  H.  Hyland,  of  Lamar,  Mo. 
The  eldest  child  of  his  parents,  our  subject 
was  born  December  18,  1850.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  local  schools  and  four  terms  at 
Aurora.  In  1S74  he  married  Eliza  Y.  Cherry, 
of  Kendall  County,  an  estimable  woman  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
The}-  have  five  children,  namely:  Ida  G.,  de- 
ceased; Robert  C,  Annie  L.,  Charles  H.  and 
Lena.  The.  family  stand  high  among  the  people 
of  the  township,  and  are  respected  in  the  best 
social  circles,  their  intelligence  and  refinement 
bringing  them  many  friends. 


0ANIEL  C.  MASON  resided  on  his  farm 
adjoining  Joliet  from  the  fall  of  1S69  until 
his  death  in  1S96.  During  these  years  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  built  up  a  homestead 
that  won  admiring  notice  from  passers-by.  His 
original  tract  comprised  seventy-one  acres  in  the 
home  place,  to  which  he  added  until  he  was  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  improved 
with  all  needful  buildings,  and  bearing  every  evi- 
dence of  the  owner's  judicious  oversight.  He 
was  born  January  12,  181 1,  the  seventh  among 
eleven  children  that  attained  mature  years,  whose 
parents,  Arnold  and  Mercy  (Coman)  Mason,  re- 
moved after  marriage  from  Berkshire  County, 
Mass.,    to    New    Hartford,    near    Utica,    N.   Y. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


167 


There  he  remained  until  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
Upon  leaving  home  he  went  to  New  Jersey  and 
worked  under  his  father,  who  had  a  contract  for 
building  a  portion  of  the  Delaware  and  Raritan 
canal.  After  a  year  there  he  joined  the  firm  of 
Mason  &  Downing  in  a  contract  for  excavating 
through  Bergen  Hill  for  the  old  Jersey  Central 
Railroad,  and  also  helped  to  dig  the  Morris  canal 
from  there  to  Jersey  City.  The  next  contract 
was  for  building  two  sections  of  the  Croton  water 
works,  in  New  York  City.  Later  he  engaged  in 
farming  near  his  old  home  until  1869,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois. 

April  16,  1844,  Mr.  Mason  married  Miss  Cor- 
nelia H.  Kellogg,  the  second  in  a  family  of  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  whose  parents  were 
Truman  and  Meliuda  (Marsh)  Kellogg,  natives 
of  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Mason  was  born 
June  8,  1S24,  and  was  reared  on  her  father's 
farm.  She  became  the  mother  of  two  children, 
Truman  A.  Mason,  of  Joliet,  and  Mrs.  Sherwood, 
who  occupies  the  family  homestead.  Through- 
out the  entire  period  of  his  residence  in  this  coun- 
ty Mr.  Mason  proved  himself  to  be  a  progressive 
citizen,  an  enterprising  farmer,  warm  friend  and 
accommodating  neighbor,  and  his  death  was 
mourned  by  the  many  to  whom  his  sterling  qual- 
ities had  endeared  him. 


"RUMAN  A.  MASON.  The  value  in  any 
community  of  a  citizen  is  not  marked  mere- 
ly by  the  success  that  has  attended  his  ef- 
forts in  business,  but  also  by  his  character  in  pri- 
vate life,  his  progressive  spirit  as  a  citizen,  and 
the  interest  he  maintains  in  measures  affecting 
the  public  welfare.  Judged  by  these  standards, 
•  Mr.  Mason  may  be  classed  among  the  most  val- 
ued citizens  of  Joliet.  While  various  enterprises 
have  felt  the  impetus  of  his  aid,  he  is  most  wide- 
ly known  as  president  of  the  Joliet  National  Bank, 
which  he  organized  March  2,  1891,  and  of  which 
he  has  since  been  the  head.  This  institution  has 
enjoyed  a  remarkable   growth.       Within    eight 


years  after  its  organization  its  deposits  had 
reached  $750,000,  and  it  ranks  among  the  first  in 
the  state  in  the  extent  of  its  transactions  and  in 
reliability.  The  co-laborers  of  the  president  have 
remained  unchanged  from  the  first,  and  are  as  fol- 
lows: R.  T.  Kelly,  cashier;  H.  O.  Williams,  tel- 
ler; and  Charles  G.  Pierce,  bookkeeper;  nor  has 
the  board  of  directors  been  altered  in  any  appre- 
ciable degree. 

Tracing  the  histor)'  of  the  Mason  family,  we 
find  that  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Arnold 
Mason,  was  born  in  Cheshire,  Mass.,  September 
10,  1777,  and  died  March  9,  1862.  His  marriage, 
December  29,  1796,  united  him  with  Mercy  Co- 
man,  who  was  born  October  20,  1776,  and  died 
November  9,  1850.  Her  father,  Daniel  Coman, 
a  native  of  Swansea,  R.  I.,  was  a  captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  married  Hannah  Angell, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Barrington,  R.  I.,  Decem- 
ber 14,  1750.  This  entire  Rhode  Island  colony 
came  from  Suffolk,  England,  and  settled  in  Swan- 
sea and  Rehoboth.  Hannah  Angell  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Nedabiah  Angell,  who  was  born  April  29, 
1712,  and  died  April  19,  1786;  her  mother,  Mary 
Winsor,  was  born  September  2,  17 18,  and  died 
June  9,  1758.  Nedabiah's  father,  Daniel  Angell, 
was  born  May  2,  1680,  and  died  June  16,  1750; 
he  married  Hannah  Winsor.  He  was  a  son  of 
John  Angell,  born  in  Rhode  Island  in  1643,  and 
died  July  27,  1720;  he  married  Ruth  Field,  a 
daughter  of  William  Field. 

The  first  member  of  the  Angell  family  in 
America  was  John's  father,  Thomas  Angell,  who 
was  born  in  Suffolk  County,  England,  in  1618, 
and  died  in  September,  1694.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  Roger  Williams  in  the  ship  "Lion," 
Capt.  A.  Pearce,  in  1631.  His  wife,  Alice,  died 
in  Rhode  Island  in  Januar3',  1695.  Mary  Win- 
sor, wife  of  Nedabiah  Angell,  was  also  his  cousin, 
he  being  a  son  of  Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Mercy  (Williams)  Winsor,  the  latter  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  illustrious  Roger  Williams  by  his  mar- 
riage to  Mary  Wanton. 

After  his  marriage  Arnold  Mason  removed  to 
New  Hartford,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  a  large 
farmer  and  also  for  many  years  proprietor  of 
Mason's  inn,  the  old    "half-way"   house  on  the 


1 68 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Albany  turnpike.  He  was  one  of  the  contrac- 
tors for  the  Harlem  high  bridge  in  New  York  City 
and  for  a  majority  of  the  high  rocky  cuts  out  of 
Jersey  City  and  Bergen,  N.  J.;  also  had  contracts 
on  the  Erie  canal,  being  one  of  the  largest  con- 
tractors of  his  day.  During  the  war  of  1812  he 
served  as  a  captain  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Sackett's  Harbor.  When  he  settled  in  New 
Hartford  he  had  only  $100,  but  by  his  own  ener- 
gy and  the  aid  of  his  wife  he  became  very  suc- 
cessful.    In  religion  he  was  an  ardent  Baptist. 

Levi,  father  of  Arnold  Mason,  was  born  in 
Swansea,  R.  I.,  October  15,  1752,  and  was  acci- 
dentally killed  August  20,  1S44.  His  wife.  Amy 
Gilsou,  who  was  born  June  30,  1751,  died  six 
days  after  her  husband,  her  death  being  the  re- 
sult of  grief  over  his  loss.  He  and  six  of  his 
brothers  were  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  at  Ben- 
nington during  the  Revolutionary  war.  For  some 
years  he  lived  in  Cheshire,  Mass.,  but  his  last 
days  were  spent  with  his  son,  Arnold,  in  New 
Hartford,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Nathan,  was  born 
May  10,  1705,  and  died  in  1758;  August  26,  1731, 
he  married  Lillis  Hale,  daughter  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Tillinghast)  Hale.  It  was  Nathan 
Mason  who  established  the  family  in  Cheshire, 
Mass.,  removing  there  from  Swansea.  He  was  a 
son  of  Isaac  Mason,  born  July  15,  1667,  and  died 
January  25,  1742,  who  was  a  deacon  in  the  Sec- 
ond Baptist  Church  in  Swansea  from  its  organi- 
zation in  1693  until  his  death.  Isaac  was  a  son 
of  Sampson  Mason,  who  emigrated  from  Suffolk, 
England,  and  settled  in  Dorsetshire,  Mass.,  in 
1649,  thence  in  1657  removed  to  Rehoboth,  R.  I. 
From  all  the  best  authorities  the  statement  is 
made  that  he  was  a  dragoon  in  Cromwell's  arm\-. 
He  married  Mary  Butterworth,  a  sister  of  Deacon 
John  Butterworth,  at  whose  home  in  Swansea  the 
Baptist  congregation  of  the  town  was  organized 
in  1663. 

The  record  of  the  son  of  Arnold  and  father  of 
Truman  A.  Mason  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  volume.  Daniel  C.  Mason  had  two  children: 
Mrs.  Cornelia  Sherwood  and  Truman  A.  Mason. 
The  latter  was  bom  in  New  Hartford,  N.  Y., 
March  14,  1846,  and  was  reared  in  Utica,  attend- 
ing public   schools  and    Whitestown    Academy. 


At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  rented  his  father's 
farm  and  for  a  year  carried  on  a  stock  business. 
In  the  spring  of  1866  he  came  to  Illinois,  thence 
went  to  Missouri,  and  returning  to  Chicago,  be- 
came assistant  pilot  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road. After  eight  months  he  accepted  a  position 
with  a  wholesale  house  in  Utica,  where  he  re- 
mained for  six  months  as  an  employe.  He  then 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Rawley  Bros.  & 
Co.,  which  continued  in  business  for  some  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1869  he  sold  out  and  settled  in  Jo- 
liet,  where,  in  the  spring  of  1870,  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  with  H.  W.  and  F.  B.  Plant, 
as  Mason  &  Plant,  this  firm  continuing  to  oper- 
ate a  planing  mill  and  lumber  yard  until  1880, 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved.  In  1SS0  he 
opened  a  wholesale  and  retail  lumber  yard  on  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad,  shipping  lumber  from 
the  Michigan  pine  woods  in  large  quantities;  he 
was  the  first  lumberman  in  Joliet  who  shipped 
exclusively  b\-  rail,  which  he  found  to  be  more 
rapid  and  satisfactory  than  by  canal.  His  health 
becoming  impaired  by  the  pressure  of  business, 
he  deemed  it  advisable  to  sell  out,  which  he  did 
in  1887,  and  afterward  recuperated  until  his 
strength  was  regained. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Mason  is  interested  in 
politics.  He  served  for  one  term  each  as  alder- 
man from  the  third  ward  and  assistant  supervisor. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  township  board  of  educa- 
tion and  one  of  the  city  school  inspectors,  being 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  buildings,  which 
work  takes  much  of  his  time.  He  is  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  State  Bankers'  Association  and  one  of 
its  leading  members.  Socially  he  is  connected 
with  the  Union  Club.  In  Masonry  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Matteson  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. : 
Joliet  Chapter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.:  and  Joliet  Coru- 
mandery  No.  4,  K.  T.  His  marriage,  which 
took  place  in  Joliet,  united  him  with  Anna  E., 
daughter  of  W.  P.  Caton,  who  settled  in  Chicago' 
during  the  '30s.  They  are  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Cornelia  Louise,  who  graduated  from 
Houghton  Seminary  in  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  John  H.  Garnsey,  of  Joliet;  William 
C,  of  Mankato,  Minn.,  who  is  a  civil  engineer 
with  the  Northwestern  Railroad;  and  Elizabeth  C. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY   Of  ILLINOIS 


/9^^UcUc^o 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


171 


CAPT.  EDWARD   McALLISTER. 


gAPT.  EDWARD  McALLISTER.  As  the 
name  indicates,  the  McAllister  family  is  of 
Scotch  origin.  The  first  to  seek  a  home  in 
America  were  three  brothers,  one  of  whom  settled 
in  New  York,  another  in  Philadelphia,  and  the 
third  in  Pelham,  Mass.  The  latter,  Hon.  Hamil- 
ton McAllister,  moved  to  Salem,  N.  Y.,  in  1760, 
when  all  of  Washington  County  was  a  wilderness 
and  the  surrounding  country  was  sparsely  settled. 
The  nearest  mill  was  at  Albany,  forty-five  miles 
distant,  and  thither  his  wife,  Sarah,  rode  on 
horseback  with  a  sack  of  wheat,  returning  home 
with  the  flour.  He  was  the  first  representative 
ever  elected  from  Washington  County  to  the  state 
legislature.  In  those  days  the  members  were 
obliged  to  pay  their  own  expenses,  and  it  was  his 
custom  to  take  with  him  to  Albany  enough  but- 
ter to  pay  his  board.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
sheriffs  of  Washington  County.  In  political 
views  he  was  a  Whig. 

The  youngest  son  of  Hamilton  McAllister  was 
William,  who  was  born  in  Salem  in  a  house  that 
had  been  built  on  the  home  place  in  1785. 
While  engaged  in  lumbering  he  accidentally 
split  his  foot  with  an  axe,  inflicting  an  injury  so 
serious  that  he  was  unable  to  serve  in  the  war  of 
1812.  However,  two  of  his  brothers  represented 
the  family  in  the  army.  He  assisted  in  clearing 
the  home  place,  which  was  covered  with  pine;  the 
stumps  of  these  he  pulled  and  with  them  built 
a  fence  that  remains  to  this  day.  Buying  the 
interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  homestead,  he 
spent  his  remaining  years  thereon,  meantime 
taking  great  pains  to  place  the  land  under  culti- 
vation. In  politics  he  voted  with  the  Democrats. 
He    was    a    strict    supporter  of  Scotch   Presby- 


terian doctrines  and  for  many  years  served  as 
trustee  of  his  church.  When  General  Burgoyue 
passed  through  on  his  way  to  Bennington  he  used 
the  church  building  as  a  barracks  and  afterward 
burned  it;  on  two  other  occasions  the  church  was 
burned  to  the  ground,  but  each  time  the  McAl- 
listers assisted  liberally  in  rebuilding. 

One  of  the  brothers  of  William  McAllister  was 
John,  who  in  young  manhood  started  for  the 
west.  Going  down  the  Ohio  River  in  a  flatboat, 
he  proceeded  up  the  Mississippi  and  the  Illinois 
and  in  18 19  settled  in  Jersey  County. 

The  marriage  of  William  McAllister  united  him 
with  Hannah  Shoudler,  whose  father,  Andrew, 
was  a  descendant  of  an  old  Holland  family  of 
New  York,  while  her  mother  was  of  English 
lineage.  Five  children  were  born  to  their  mar- 
riage who  attained  mature  years,  namely:  Archi- 
bald, deceased,  who  was  for  years  a  successful 
farmer  of  this  county,  but  whose  last  days  were 
spent  in  Chicago;  William  K.,  who  was  a  judge 
on  the  supreme  bench  of  Illinois  from  1870  to 
1873,  later  was  judge  of  the  circuit  court  of  Cook 
County,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  held  office 
as  judge  of  the  appellate  court;  Mrs.  Catherine 
Walker,  who  resides  in  Salem,  N.  Y.;  Edward; 
and  Jesse,  who  engaged  in  the  wool  and  com- 
mission business  in  Chicago,  but  was  killed  in  a 
collision  on  the  Panhandle  Railroad. 

In  the  house  built  by  his  grandfather  in  1785, 
the  subject  of  this  article  was  born  December  24, 
1828.  His  education  was  largely  acquired  in 
Washington  Academy  at  Salem,  an  institution 
his  grandfather  had  helped  to  build  and  support. 
His  favorite  recreation  in  boyhood  was  hunting, 
and  he  became  an  expert  shot.      When  twenty- 


172 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


four  years  of  age  he  came  to  Illinois  and  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Plainfield  Town- 
ship, Will  County,  where  he  now  resides.  It 
was  raw  prairie  land,  without  any  buildings  or 
fences.  Borrowing  the  money  to  make  the  first 
payment,  he  began  to  improve  the  place.  He 
has  put  in  eleven  miles  of  tiling,  so  that  every 
foot  of  ground  is  tillable.  At  one  time  he  was 
heavily  engaged  in  raising  hogs,  but  owing  to 
the  cholera  scourge  he  dropped  the  business. 
One  of  his  specialties  has  been  dairying.  For 
about  ten  years  twenty-five  hundred  pounds  of 
butter  were  made  on  his  place  each  year,  for 
which  he  was  paid  twenty-five  cents  a  pound. 
Prior  to  1899  he  not  only  managed  the  place,  but 
did  much  of  the  active  work  himself,  but  recent- 
ly, owing  to  heart  trouble,  he  has  confined  his 
attention  to  superintending  the  work  of  others. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  part}-  he  has  been 
a  Republican,  and  for  years  has  been  the  head  of 
the  party  delegation  in  his  township,  but  has 
held  no  office  except  that  of  supervisor  in  1885. 

June  4,  i860,  Captain  McAllister  married  Fan- 
nie Beebe,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  oldest  son  died  when  six  years 
of  age.  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Edward  R.  Mc- 
Clelland, of  Plainfield  Township;  Ada  married 
Dr.  Evans,  of  Spring  Valley ;  Jessie  was  a  teacher 
in  this  county  and  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Foss, 
youngest  son  of  L.  T.  Foss,  an  old  settler  of 
Plainfield  Township;  and  Clyde  assists  his  father 
in  the  management  of  the  farm. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  Captain  Mc- 
Allister was  among  the  first  to  offer  his  services 
to  the  Union.  In  1856  he  had  assisted  in  organ- 
izing the  militia  here  which  was  known  as  the 
Plainfield  Artillery,  and  he  was  the  first  man  in 
this  part  of  the  country  to  enlist  in  the  Civil 
war.  April  19,  1S61,  his  name  was  enrolled  for 
service.  He  was  elected  captain  of  artillery  and 
commanded  the  best  battery  of  artillery  in  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee.  His  company  enlisted 
for  three  months.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  or- 
ganized a  company  for  three  years'  service.  He 
proceeded  first  to  Cairo.  In  September  he  was 
sent  to  Fort  Holt,  Ky.,  which  at  that  time  was 
the  lowest  Union  fort  on  the  river.      In  February, 


1S62,  he  joined  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  His 
was  the  first  battery  to  enter  Fort  Henry,  and 
Captain  McAllister  was  put  in  command  of  the 
fort.  From  there  he  was  ordered  to  Fort  Don- 
elson,  where  his  was  the  first  shot  fired  by  the 
Arm}"  of  the  Tennessee  Saturday  morning,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1862.  Finding  that  the  enemy  were 
preparing  to  break  through  the  lines  he  opened 
on  them  with  one  of  his  guns  without  orders, 
thus  waking  all  the  troops  around  him,  and 
this,  the  first  gun  fired  in  the  battle,  was  the  noti- 
fication to  the  entire  army  of  the  opening  of  that 
memorable  engagement.  His  own  guns  being 
disabled,  he  was  ordered  to  select  what  he  wanted 
from  the  forty-eight  captured  from  the  enemy. 
As  his  ammunition  did  not  fit  them  he  objected 
to  their  use,  and  finally  secured  an  order  to  go  to 
General  Sherman  at  Paducah  and  get  a  new  out- 
fit of  brass  guns.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh  he  had 
this  new  and  superior  outfit.  Having  erected  his 
battery  at  the  edge  of  a  clearing  across  which  he 
fought  and  silenced  Stanford's  Mississippi  bat- 
tery, he  afterward  noticed  a  column  of  infantry, 
the  Fourth  Tennessee,  in  columns  of  fours,  ap- 
proaching along  a  road.  He  sent  three  cannon 
to  the  rear  and  placed  the  fourth  in  the  road, 
then  opened  on  the  enemy  with  canister,  killing 
thirty-one  and  wounding  one  hundred  and  sixty 
men  according  to  the  Confederate  reports  of  the 
war.  The  execution  of  this  one  gun,  served  by 
nine  good  men,  was  probably  the  most  severe  on 
record  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Captain 
M:Allister  helped  to  train  the  gun  and  only  beat 
a  hasty  retreat  when  the  enemy  was  within  thirty 
paces.  The  nine  brave  men  escaped  by  the 
enemy  firing  at  the  support  of  the  battery,  con- 
sisting of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois,  Twenty-fifth 
Indiana  and  Thirteenth  Iowa  Infantries,  which 
lost  one  hundred  men  by  the  one  volley  fired  by 
the  enemy.  Captain  McAllister  was  for  years 
ignorant  of  the  real  facts  of  the  fight,  until  re- 
vealed to  him  by  old  comrades  and  Confederate 
soldiers.  His  gallant  service  in  that  engagement 
was  the  means  of  defeating  a  crack  battery  that 
had  never  before  met  with  defeat.  On  the  last 
day  of  the  battle,  Byrne's  battery  and  two  guns  of 
the  Washington   artillery   of  New   Orleans  (the 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


173 


crack  battery  of  the  Confederacy) ,  were  or- 
dered to  dislodge  a  battery  on  an  eminence  that 
had  stopped  the  advance  of  the  entire  army. 
Captain  McAllister  and  James  A.  Borland,  of 
Joliet,  were  riding  at  the  front,  preparing  to  fire 
at  the  battery,  when  a  shot  killed  their  horses  and 
General  Sherman's  horse,  which  was  tied  to  a 
sapling.  They  secured  good  locations  behind  a 
rise  in  the  ground,  and  carefully  biding  their  time, 
were  able  soon  to  silence  and  dislodge  the  battery. 
Soon  after  the  battle,  owing  to  sickness,  the  cap- 
tain resigned  his  commission  and  returned  home. 
In  1S94,  during  a  meeting  of  an  association 
formed  to  make  a  national  park  out  of  the  Shiloh 
battle  ground,  Captain  McAllister  met  on  a  boat 
one  of  the  members  of  the  Fourth  Tennessee  In- 
fantry,Thomas  M.Page,  of  St. Louis, who  told  him 
that  his  one  gun  killed  and  wounded  one  hundred 
and  ninety-one  men  in  seven  minutes,  and  he  gave 
the  captain  great  credit  for  the  defense  he  had 
made.  He  stated  that  he  was  willing  to  erect  a 
$2,000  monument  on  the  battle  ground.  Later 
the  government  planned  to  build  one  at  a  cost  of 
$750.  The  government  has  also  appropriated 
$225,000  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  national 
park  of  the  battlefield,  and  Captain  McAllister 
was  asked  to  select  four  pieces  to  mark  such  spots 
as  he  desired.  He  has  made  four  trips  to  Shiloh 
to  attend  meetings  of  Federals  and  Confederates. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  Bartle- 
son  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Joliet,  also  the  Society  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  Plainfield  Lodge  No.  536,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M. 


(31  J-  PERKINS,  M.  D.,  the  oldest  resident 
LA  physician  of  Plainfield,  is  a  native  of  New 
/  1  York,  born  in  Mount  Upton,  Chenango 
County,  March  20,  1834.  His  father,  Luke,  who 
was  also  of  New  York  birth,  followed  the  miller's 
trade  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  When 
advanced  in  years  he  retired  from  business  and 
came  west,  his  last  days  being  spent  in  the  home 
of  his  son  in  Plainfield.      He   voted   for  General 


Jackson  when  the  latter  was  elected  to  the  presi- 
dency, and  always  adhered  to  the  Democratic 
party.  In  religion  he  was  a  Methodist.  He 
married  Sarah  Preston  and  became  the  father  of 
a  large  family. 

When  only  fifteen  years  of  age  our  subject  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine.  In  the  spring  of 
1865  he  graduated  irom  the  Eclectic  Medical  In- 
stitute in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  came  at  once  to 
Plainfield,  where  he  opened  an  office.  Having 
practiced  previously  in  Vermont,  he  had  consid- 
erable helpful  experience,  and  from  the  first  he 
met  with  success,  building  up  a  valuable  prac- 
tice. Both  in  his  practice  and  from  a  financial 
standpoint  he  has  been  prospered.  Of  those 
who  represented  the  fraternity  at  the  time  of  his 
arrival  in  Plainfield  he  alone  survives.  Not- 
withstanding his  long  professional  career,  he  still 
retains  his  keenness  of  judgment,  quick  insight 
into  the  causes  of  diseases  and  skill  in  their 
treatment.  About  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago 
he  was  made  a  Mason,  and  since  then  he  has  been 
active  in  the  fraternity,  being  now  a  member  of 
Plainfield  Lodge  No.  536,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

In  i860  Dr.  Perkins  married  Eliza,  daughter 
of  Rufus  W.  Bangs,  of  North  Bennington,  Vt. 
The  only  daughter  born  of  their  union  was  Julia 
E.,  who  died  in  childhood.  Their  son,  Harry 
A.  Perkins,  is  engaged  in  business  in  Plainfield. 

Dr.  Perkins  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the 
upbuilding  of  Plainfield.  To  his  energy  and 
public  spirit  the  attractive  appearance  of  the 
town  is  in  no  small  measure  due.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
and  during  that  time  he  spent  a  year  in  securing 
the  erection  of  a  substantial  building  which  was 
built,  jointly,  by  two  districts.  At  first  the 
heavy  tax  necessitated  by  the  work  caused  dissat- 
isfaction and  criticism,  but  the  good  results  being 
apparent  to  all,  he  is  given  the  credit  due  him  for 
the  praiseworthy  enterprise.  The  two  large 
brick  store  and  office  buildings  on  the  north  side 
of  Lockport  street  were  erected  by  him.  For  his 
own  convenience  in  1897  ne  built  a  gas  plant, 
and  this  was  so  appreciated  that  he  afterward  en- 
larged it  in  order  to  furnish  light  to  the  entire 
block.     The  Republican  party  receives  his  sup- 


174 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


port  and  its  candidates  his  vote.  For  many  years 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  town  board,  being 
president  of  the  same  during  a  large  part  of  the 
time.  In  this  capacity  he  maintained  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  improvement  of  the  town  and  the 
widening  of  its  interests.  His  term  on  the  board 
expired  in  1895,  when,  deeming  his  long  period 
of  public  service  entitled  him  to  a  rest  from  such 
duties,  he  refused  a  continuance  in  office,  retiring 
with  an  honorable  record  for  diligent  discharge  of 
duties  and  for  the  zeal  displayed  in  behalf  of  local 
interests. 


HENRY  STELLWAGEN.  In  spite  of  the 
lapse  of  years  since  his  death,  Mr.  Stell- 
wagen  is  well  remembered  by  the  people  of 
Frankfort  Township,  among  whom  he  had 
always  made  his  home.  He  was  a  young  man 
possessing  many  worthy  traits  of  character,  and 
his  sudden  death,  at  the  very  outset  of  his  career, 
was  deplored  by  all  of  his  acquaintances.  Reared 
on  a  farm  and  familiar  with  agriculture  from  his 
earliest  recollections,  he  had  drifted  easily  into 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  for  which  he  seemed 
to  have  a  natural  aptitude.  Thorough-going  and 
progressive,  had  his  life  been  spared  he  would 
undoubtedly  have  attained  a  place  among  the 
wealthiest  farmers  of  the  township,  and  prob- 
ably, too,  would  have  been  prominent  in  local 
affairs.  As  it  was,  he  left  his  family  in  com- 
fortable circumstances,  his  property  including  a 
farm  in  Frankfort  Township  and  another  in 
Greengarden  Township. 

On  a  farm  owned  by  his  father,  Philip,  who 
was  a  pioneer  of  this  county,  Henry  Stellwagen 
was  born    November    15,     1S50.     His   boyhood 


years  were  passed  in  the  schoolroom  and  on  the 
farm.  Posses'sing  an  industrious  disposition,  he 
earlj'  took  a  place  among  the  rising  young  farm- 
ers of  the  township.  As  a  tiller  of  the  soil  he 
was  energetic  and  thrifty.  In  the  rotation  of 
crops  he  showed  excellent  judgment.  It  was  his 
aim  to  secure  from  each  acre  of  ground  the  larg- 
est possible  results.  He  had  good  ideas  in  re- 
gard to  fanning.  Agricultural  machinery  was 
introduced  whenever  possible  or  expedient. 
While  the  management  of  his  farm  kept  him 
very  bus}-,  he  nevertheless  found  leisure  for 
other  interests.  He  was  very  fond  of  music,  and 
for  some  time  was  a  member  of  a  band.  In 
politics  he  was  not  especially  interested,  although 
he  discharged  his  duty  as  a  citizen  and  cast  his 
ballot  for  Democratic  men  and  measures  calcu- 
lated to  advance  the  public  good. 

In  1S71  Mr.  Stellwagen  married  Miss  Mary 
Bechstein.  Five  children  were  born  of  their 
union.  The  oldest  daughter,  Christina,  is  the 
wife  of  Reinhold  Eichenberg,  a  commission  mer- 
chant in  Chicago.  Annie,  at  home,  is  a  teacher; 
Philip  died  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  six 
months;  Mar)-  is  assistant  postmistress,  and 
Henry,  who  attended  the  Athenaeum  College, 
clerks  in  a  wholesale  jewelry  store  in  Chicago. 
August  15,  1S82,  Mr.  Stellwagen  was  struck  by 
lightning  and  instantly  killed.  He  was  then 
thirty-two  years  of  age,  a  strong  and  active 
young  man,  with  every  prospect  of  a  successful 
future.  Since  his  death  his  widow  has  superin- 
tended the  management  of  the  farm  property 
and  the  education  of  her  children.  She  pos- 
sesses decided  business  talent,  and  has  superin- 
tended her  affairs  in  an  intelligent  manner;  at  the 
same  time  she  has  held  a  high  position  in  social 
circles  and  has  won  many  warm  friends  among 
the  people  of  the  village. 


OF    I    ^ 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


177 


DANIEL  HAYDEN. 


0ANIEL  HAYDEN,  a  large  farmer  and  ex- 
tensive cattle  dealer  of  Florence  Township, 
was  born  in  Kennebec  County,  Me.,  August 
13,  1839,  a  son  °f  Jonn  a»d  Hannah  (Kinsella) 
Hayden.  He  was  one  of  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  namely:  Mar}',  who  is  married, 
and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Maine;  Daniel,  of  this 
sketch;  Thomas  and  John,  farmers  of  Florence 
Township;  and  Hannah,  also  of  this  county. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Daniel  Hayden,  a 
native  of  Ireland,  was  one  of  the  active  partici- 
pants in  the  rebellion  of  1798.  When  advanced 
in  years,  in  1845,  he  came  to  America,  and  a  few 
months  later  died  at  the  home  of  his  son  John. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine 
Donahue,  and  died  in  Ireland  in  early  woman- 
hood. 

John  Hayden  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1S15,  and 
when  twenty  years  of  age  sought  a  home  in  the 
new  world.  He  purchased  land  in  Lincoln 
County,  Me.,  and  for  some  years  cultivated  that 
place.  In  1851  he  came  west  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Joliet,  where  he  bought  teams,  hired  men, 
and  engaged  in  teaming  to  the  quarries  and  rail- 
roads. After  five  years  in  that  business  he  re- 
sumed farming,  buying  fifty-three  acres  on  section 
12,  Florence  Township.  He  was  prosperous  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  became  the  owner  of  one 
thousand  and  two  hundred  acres,  and  was  rated 
among  the  wealthy  men  of  the  township.  Polit- 
ically he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  Ro- 
man Catholic.  His  death  occurred  on  his  farm, 
April  5,  1889.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Ireland 
and  died  in  this  county,  February  28,  1890,  was 


a  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Bridget  (Burns)  Kin- 
sella. Her  father  died  in  Ireland,  after  which 
her  mother,  with  a  sister,  came  to  America  about 
1850,  and  afterward  made  her  home  with  a  sou 
until  she  died.  The  Kinsella  family  at  one  time 
was  very  wealthy,  and  owned  valuable  landed 
interests,  but,  on  account  of  not  affiliating  with 
the  Established  Church,  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury their  property  was  confiscated. 

When  the  family  came  to  Illinois  our  subject 
was  twelve  years  of  age.  He  grew  to  manhood 
in  this  county,  and  attended  the  country  and  city 
schools.  January  26,  1862,  he  went  to  Wheeling, 
W.  Va.,  where  he  secured  employment  on  a  gov- 
ernment commissary  boat.  In  this  work  he  con- 
tinued until  the  4th  of  July,  1864.  His  first  trip 
was  the  conveying  of  a  load  of  bran  from  St. 
Louis  to  Wheeling,  and  on  the  return  trip  the 
boat  was  pressed  into  the  government  service. 
On  his  return  to  this  county  he  resumed  work  on 
the  home  farm.  At  the  death  of  his  father  the 
homestead  of  four  hundred  acres  and  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  one  mile  east  fell  to  his  mother, 
sister  and  himself,  and  when  the  mother  died  her 
portion  fell  to  him  and  his  sister.  He  is  one  of 
the  leading  cattle-feeders  in  the  township,  and  has 
been  especially  successful  in  this  line  of  work. 
In  religion  he  is  connected  with  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  at  Twelve-Mile  Grove.  Politic- 
ally he  votes  with  the  Democrats.  He  has  never 
married,  but  with  his  sister  continues  to  live  at 
the  old  homestead  to  which  he  came  in  his  youth, 
and  in  the  improvement  of  which  he  has  been 
interested  ever  since. 


178 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


VyiVRON  P.  HOLMES.  During  the  long 
y  period  of  his  residence  in  Spencer,  extend- 
(•)  ing  from  the  spring  of  1866  to  the  present 
time,  Mr.  Holmes  has  been  proprietor  of  a  gen- 
eral store  in  this  village  and  has  gained  a  wide 
circle  of  acquaintances  among  the  people  in  the 
northern  part  of  this  county.  He  has  erected  a 
store  building  and  residence  and  in  other  ways 
has  added  to  the  development  of  the  village. 
Various  local  offices  have  been  filled  by  him, 
among  them  those  of  road  commissioner  (three 
years),  collector  (four  years)  and  assessor  (one 
year).  For  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  serving  much  of  the  time  as  its 
treasurer.  He  has  been  active  in  the  Republican 
party  ever  since  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  John  C. 
Fremont,  and  keeps  posted  concerning  the  prob- 
lems that  are  of  national  importance. 

In  an  early  day  three  brothers  by  the  name  of 
Holmes  came  from  England  to  Connecticut  and 
from  there  removed  to  New  York  state  many 
years  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  the  lat- 
ter conflict  Orsamus  Holmes,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, bore  an  active  part  as  a  member  of  the 
army  of  the  frontier,  serving  with  Ethan  Allen 
at  Ticonderoga  and  being  twice  taken  prisoner. 
After  the  war  he  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Chau- 
tauqua County.  He  was  proprietor  of  a  hotel  on 
the  stage  line  from  Buffalo  to  Dunkirk,  which 
was  also  a  changing  post  for  the  stages  and  mails. 
His  son,  Asher,  was  born  in  Chautauqua  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  1835  came  to  what  is  now  Will 
(then  Cook)  County,  111.,  where  he  took  up  a 
claim  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22,  New 
Lenox  Township,  and  secured  the  land  at  the 
first  laud  sale  in  Chicago,  in  1836.  In  the  spring 
of  1837  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
upon  which  he  began  general  farm  pursuits.  On 
this  place  he  died  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six. 
A  man  of  mental  activity,  he  took  an  interest  in 
early  political  affairs  as  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat 
and  served  as  judge  of  elections.  At  the  time  he 
settled  in  this  count)-  Joliet  contained  only  nine 
houses.  He  lived  to  see  the  transformation 
wrought  in  the  ensuing  years,  but  died  before  the 
city  reached  a  high  state  of  prosperity.  Chicago 
being    the   only  market    for  grain,    he   was    ac- 


customed to  make  frequent  trips  to  that  city. 
During  the  war  of  18 12  he  took  part  in  the  serv- 
ice as  a  member  of  a  regiment  from  Dunkirk 
that  took  seventeen  prisoners;  at  the  time  he  was 
only  seventeen  years  of  age. 

The  lady  whom  Asher  Holmes  married  was 
Eliza  Ann  Elmore,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
and  died  at  the  old  homestead  in  Will  County 
when  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Of  their  union 
six  children  were  born,  namely:.  James,  deceased; 
Myron  P.;  Eliza  A.,  deceased;  Orsamus,  of  New 
Lenox;  Lydia,  wife  of  Henry  Glacier;  and  Julius, 
of  Chicago.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y. ,  June  8,  1830.  He 
was  about  four  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Illinois,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  in  the 
county  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  educa- 
tion was  received  principally  in  Albion  (Mich.) 
College.  In  1850  he  joined  a  party  of  Argonauts 
en  route  to  California,  and,  reaching  the  Pacific 
coast,  spent  five  years  engaged  in  mining,  with 
fair  success.  On  his  return  to  Illinois  he  spent 
two  years  with  his  mother,  then  again  went  to 
California,  where  he  operated  mines  and  carried 
on  a  lumber  business.  In  1864  he  returned  to 
this  count)'  and  two  years  later  opened  the  store 
of  which  he  has  since  been  the  proprietor.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
of  Mokena,  in  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for 
years.  By  his  marriage,  in  1864,  to  Lydia  Fager, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois  at  an 
early  age,  he  has  four  children,  namely:  Ada, 
wife  of  E.  E.  Swing;  Mary,  who  married  L.  F. 
Wilson;  Myron  H.,  who  is  in  Michigan;  and 
Edith,  at  home. 


IJJORMAN  S.  HAMLIN.  Although  begin- 
I  /  ning  his  life  in  this  county  with  very  little 
I  fo  money,  Mr.  Hamlin  has  long  been  known 
as  one  of  the  substantial  and  prosperous  farmers 
and  citizens  of  his  locality.  His  life  has  been 
characterized  by  industry  and  frugality,  and  in- 
dividualized by  sagacious  management  and  strict 
integrity.     Farming  has  been  his  life  work  and 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


179 


in  it  he  has  met  with  signal  success;  however, 
years  ago  he  retired  from  active  cares  incident  to 
the  tilling  of  the  soil  and  gathering  in  of  the 
crops,  but  he  still  superintends  his  various  in- 
terests, being  of  too  energetic  a  nature  to  content 
himself  in  idleness. 

In  Feuner  Township,  Madison  Count)',  N.  Y., 
Mr.  Hamlin  was  born  May  27,  1824.  His  father, 
Solomon,  a  native  of  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
removed  to  Madison  Count}-,  the  same  state,  with 
his  parents,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  forty -four.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  stanch 
Abolitionist  in  principle.  His  father,  Louis 
Hamblin  (for  in  that  way  the  name  was  spelled 
originally),  was  born  in  Connecticut  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  New  York  in  early  manhood;  he 
was  eighty-seven  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The 
family  is  of  English  extraction  and  was  repre- 
sented in  New  England  at  an  early  period. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Lucinda  (Stan- 
nardj  Hamlin,  a  native  of  Bennington,  Vt. ,  but 
a  resident  of  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  from  child- 
hood until  some  years  after  her  marriage.  Her 
last  days  were  spent  in  this  county  in  the  home 
of  her  son,  Norman  S. ,  where  her  death  occurred 
at  eighty  3'ears  of  age.  As  her  husband,  she 
held  membership  in  the  Baptist  Church.  Of  her 
four  sons  and  one  daughter  only  two  sons  are 
living,  Norman  S.,  and  Reuben  S.,  of  Canada. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  coun- 
try schools.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  a  youth  of  sixteen,  he  was 
taken  into  the  home  of  an  uncle,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  five  years.  Later  he  secured  work 
by  the  month.  In  the  spring  of  185 1  he  came  to 
this  county  and  bought  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  in  Lockport  Town- 
ship, for  which  he  paid  $5.50  per  acre.  Putting 
up  a  small  house  he  established  his  home  there. 
By  diligent  effort  he  made  the  necessary  improve- 
ments and  placed  the  soil  under  cultivation. 

In  those  early  days  the  country  was  destitute 
of  improvements.  While  for  a  number  of  years 
settlers  had  been  coming  to  the  county,  they  had 
settled  here  in  numbers  too  small  to  effect  any 
radical  transformation  in  the  appearance  of  the 


prairie,  on  which  one  might  still  ride  long  dis- 
tances without  fences  to  impede  his  progress. 
The  land  was  not  yet  under  first-class  cultivation, 
towns  were  small,  and  the  work  of  progress 
seemed  scarcely  begun.  Mr.  Hamlin  bore  his 
share  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  the 
county,  and  as  a  result  of  his  labors  he  became 
known  as  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  county. 
For  twenty  years  it  was  his  custom  to  buy  raw 
land,  improve  it  and  then  sell  at  an  advance,  and 
at  the  same  time  he  bought  and  sold  stock.  In 
the  spring  of  1870  he  sold  his  farm  land  and 
bought  a  home  in  Plainfield,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hamlin,  in  1849,  united 
him  with  Miss  Parnel  Keeler,  who  was  born  in 
Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  December  21,  1822,  and 
died  in  this  county  January  30,  1897.  The  only 
child  born  of  their  marriage  is  also  deceased. 

In  the  matter  of  good  roads  Mr.  Hamlin  has 
always  been  interested.  Years  ago,  when  the 
question  was  agitated,  he  advocated  the  buying 
of  gravel  pits  and  the  putting  of  gravel  on  the 
roads,  a  plan  that  proved  successful.  For  twenty 
years  he  served  as  road  commissioner  and  his 
work  while  filling  the  office  was  of  permanent 
value,  its  benefits  being  reaped  at  the  present 
time.  In  politics  he  is  independent,  voting  for 
the  best  men  of  either  party.  He  is  connected 
with  Plainfield  Lodge  No.  536,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 


'HOMAS  BURKE.  The  duration  of  Mr. 
Burke's  residence  in  Joliet  covered  a  period 
from  his  earliest  recollection  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  a  man  whose  friends  were 
many  and  whose  influence  was  great,  not  alone 
among  people  of  his  own  religious  and  political 
views,  but  among  all  citizens  who  held  in  respect 
a  man  of  undoubted  integrity  and  honor.  Twice 
he  was  elected  alderman  from  the  fifth  ward  and 
he  was  recognized,  during  the  period  of  his  serv- 
ice,  as  one  of    the   prominent    and  progressive 


i  So 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


members  of  the  board.  While  in  national  poli- 
tics he  voted  with  the  Democrats,  he  was  inclined 
to  be  independent  in  local  matters,  voting  for  the 
man  rather  than  the  party. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Richard  Burke,  came 
from  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  to  America  and 
settled  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  from  which  city  he 
moved  to  Joliet,  111.,  in  1839,  becoming  a  foreman 
in  Governor  Mattesou's  woolen  factory.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  St.  Patrick's  Roman 
Catholic  Church  and  when  he  died,  October  9, 
1858,  the  last  rites  over  his  body  were  said  in 
that  church,  and  his  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
cemetery  adjoining.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Bridget  Ryan,  died  in  Joliet  in 
1854.  Their  son,  Thomas,  was  born  in  Lowell, 
Mass.,  May  11,  1838,  and  grew  to  manhood  at 
the  family  homestead,  No.  150  Comstock  street, 
Joliet,  where  his  widow  now  lives.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  old  Broadway-  school  and  afterward 
became  interested  in  the  transfer  business,  which 
he  carried  on  for  many  years.  He  then  bought  a 
livery  business  at  No.  11 1  South  Bluff  street, 
where  he  built  a  stone  barn,  54x100  feet,  that  is 
still  the  finest  building  of  the  kind  in  the  city. 
From  that  time  he  was  actively  interested  in  the 
management  of  his  business,  which  grew  steadily 
and  brought  him  large  returns.  While  still  in 
the  full  possession  of  his  faculties,  he  died,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1898.  His  funeral,  held  at  St.  Pat- 
rick's, was  one  of  the  largest  ever  held  in  Joliet, 


and  his  body   was  laid   to  rest  in   the  parochial 
cemetery. 

The  church  from  which  his  body  was  carried  to 
its  final  resting  place  was  also  the  scene  of  his 
marriage  more  than  forty  years  before.  July  11, 
1856,  he  was  united  with  Miss  Mary  Hennessey, 
who  was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Bridget  (Collier)  Hennes- 
sey, natives  of  the  same  county.  Her  father,  who 
was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  came  to  America  to  join 
his  children  and  died  at  Camp  Grove,  Peoria 
County,  111.,  at  seventy  years  of  age;  his  wife, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Edward  Collier,  also  died 
in  Peoria  County.  They  were  the  parents  often 
children,  all  of  whom  came  to  America  and  six 
are  living.  Mrs.  Burke  was  a  small  child  when 
in  1852  she  crossed  the  ocean  in  a  sailing  vessel 
that  consumed  forty-two  days  in  the  voyage  to 
New  York,  from  which  city  she  went  to  Albany, 
and  thence  came  west.  In  religious  faith  she  is 
a-  Roman  Catholic,  belonging  to  St.  Patrick's 
Church.  Of  her  marriage  eleven  children  were 
born,  namely:  Mrs.  Agnes  Jacobs,  of  Joliet, 
John,  who  is  foreman  for  the  Wylie  Coal  Com- 
pany; Mrs.  Nellie  Sullivan;  Bernard  E.,  whose 
sketch  is  presented  in  this  work;  Mrs.  Katherine 
Wallace:  Thomas;  William,  who  is  employed  by 
A.  Dinet;  Annie,  who  is  clerk  in  a  dry-goods 
store  in  this  city;  Sadie,  principal  of  the  Pleasant 
street  school;  Hattie,  at  home;  and  Alice,  who  is 
with  her  brother,  B.  E.,  in  the  grocery. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


^VU^^/ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


183 


JAMES   H.  FERRISS. 


3 AMES  H.  FERRISS,  Joliet,  president  of 
the  News  Company,  was  born  in  Oswego 
Township,  Kendall  County,  111.,  November 
iS,  1849,  a  son  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  (Brown) 
Ferriss,  natives  respectively  of  Clinton  County, 
N.  V.,  and  Erie  County,  Pa.  His  ancestors  on 
the  father's  side  were  Welsh  Quakers.  Zebulon 
Ferriss,  the  head  of  the  family,  settled  in 
Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1630.  The  boyhood  of 
James  H.  Ferriss  was  passed  in  the  village  of 
Bristol  Station,  Kendall  County,  where  he  early 
became  familiar  with  the  business  of  a  cattle 
drover.  From  1869  to  1872  he  lived  upon  a  farm 
in  Kansas.  With  one  of  his  present  partners, 
Frank  H.  Hall,  he  leased  the  Yorkville  (111.) 
News  during  the  campaign  of  1876  and  through 
the  columns  of  the  paper  supported  Peter  Cooper 
for  the  presidency.  Two  years  before  this  he 
had  gained  a  knowledge  of  reportorial  work 
through  his  connection  with  the  Joliet  Daily  Sun, 
Hayward  &  Radcliff,  proprietors. 

In  January,  1877,  Mr.  Ferriss,  Mr.  Hall  and 
others  established  the  Phoenix,  an  independent 
weekly  paper,  at  Joliet  and  other  business  centers 
of  Will  County.  In  October  of  the  same  year, 
with  R.  W.  Nelson,  now  of  New  York,  and 
H.  E.  Baldwin,  one  of  his  present  partners,  Mr. 
Ferriss  purchased  the  Morning  News,  the  name 
of  which  was  afterward  changed  to  the  Joliet 
Daily  News.  From  that  time  to  the  present  he 
has  continued  with  the  paper,  excepting  two 
years  (1881-82),  when  he  edited  the  Morning 
News,  in  Portland,  Me.  He  was  married  at 
Falls  Village,  Conn.,  June  30,  1880,  to  Miss 
Olive  E.  Hunt,  a  former  resident  of  Bristol 
Station. 


HORACE  E.  BALDWIN,  Joliet,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  News  Company,  was 
born  in  Lacon,  Marshall  County,  111.,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1853.  His  parents,  John  G.  and 
Adeline  S.  Baldwin,  moved  to  La  Salle  County 
in  1854  and  remained  there  until  1870.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ottawa,  but 
moved  from  that  city  two  years  before  his  high 
school  course  was  completed.  Five  years  were 
spent  in  Kansas.  During  the  first  half  of  that 
time  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Woodson  County, 
and  during  the  last  half  he  made  his  home  in 
LaCygne,  Linn  Count}-,  where  he  learned  the 
printer's  trade  under  the  firm  of  Kenea  &  Gore, 
proprietors  of  the  Journal ' . 

In  1875  the  grasshopper  siege  caused  Mr. 
Baldwin  to  return  to  Illinois.  He  finished  his 
apprenticeship  in  a  job  office  in  the  old  Times 
building  in  Chicago,  and  in  the  following  year 
went  to  Kansas  City,  where  he  attended  the 
high  school.  February  4,  1877,  Frank  H.  Hall, 
present  business  manager  of  the  News  and  one 
of  the  partners  in  the  News  Company,  induced 
him  to  come  to  Joliet  to  work  in  the  Phoenix  of- 
fice. In  July  of  the  same  year  he  was  given  a 
position  on  the  Morning  Neivs,  and  September  30 
became  associated  with  R.  W.  Nelson,  now  of 
New  York,  and  James  H.  Ferriss,  one  of  his 
present  partners,  in  publishing  that  paper,  which 
in  1880  was  changed  to  an  evening  publication. 
He  has  been  connected  with  the  paper  from  the 
day  it  started,  April  9,  1877,  to  the  present  time, 
excepting  about  nine  months  spent  in  a  grain 
office,  in  1884. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  January  12,  1884, 
to  Miss  Lillian  M.  Truby,  of  Bird's  Bridge,  III., 


lS4 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  daughter  of  the  late  Marshall  Truby.  Five 
children  were  born  of  their  union:  Adda  M., 
Marshall  T. ,  H.  Robert,  Henry  D.  and  Phil. 


("RANK  H.  HALL,  business  manager  of  the 
r^  News  and  member  of  the  News  Company 
|  of  Joliet,  was  born  in  Dupage  County,  111., 
November  14,  1857.  His  parents  were  among 
the  pioneers,  having  settled  in  Dupage  and  Ken- 
dall Counties,  111.,  early  in  the  '30s.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  primarily  in  the  "little  red 
schoolhouse,"  after  which  he  studied  in  Jen- 
nings' Seminar}'  at  Aurora.  Leaving  school 
when  fifteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade.  Four  years  later,  with  one  of 
his  present  partners,  J.  H.  Ferriss,  he  published 
the  YorkvilleA'hv'rin  Yorkville,  111.  In  1877  he 
came  to  Joliet.  Until  18S2  he  engaged  in  news- 
paper work  here,  after  which  for  ten  years  he 
was  manager  for  the  American  Press  Associa- 
tion in  Cincinnati  and  Chicago,  and  also  held  re- 
sponsible positions  with  the  Chicago  Newspaper 
Union,  American  Type  Founders'  Company  and 
Thorne  Type  Setting  Machine  Company.  Few 
men  have  a  larger  personal  acquaintance  with 
the  newspaper  business  throughout  the  United 
States  than  he,  as  he  has  traveled  extensively 
through  most  of  the  states.  In  1897  he  returned 
to  Joliet,  where  he  has  an  attractive  and  comforta- 
ble residence  on  Sherman  street.  While  he  belongs 
to  a  few  fraternal  organizations  and  press  associa- 
tions, he  has  never  been  especially  interested  in 
lodge  work  nor  is  he  much  of  a  club  man.  He 
was  married  in  1880  to  Belle  G.  Moulton,  of 
Joliet,  and  they  have  a  son,  Harry  H.,  nineteen 
years  old,  and  a  daughter,  Elsie  Katherine, 
twelve  years  of  age. 


pGJlLLIAM  J.  BRUCE,  proprietor  of  the 
\  A  /  James  Bruce  quarries  at  Joliet  and  a  mem- 
V  Y  ber  of  the  Bruce  Stone  Company  at  Romeo, 
is  a  native  of  this  count}',  born  at  Lockport,  De- 
cember 6,  1857.     His   father,   James,    who    was 


born  at  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  October  11,  1823, 
came  to  America  shortly  before  attaining  his 
majority,  crossing  the  ocean  in  the  sailing  vessel 
"St.  Lawrence,"  in  1844.  After  a  voyage  of 
seven  weeks,  via  Montreal  and  the  lakes,  he  ar- 
rived in  Chicago,  from  which  point  he  proceeded 
to  Lockport.  The  trip  had  been  an  expensive 
one,  taking  all  of  his  money,  so  that  when  he 
reached  this  county  he  had  only  one  British 
shilling  left.  He  was  fortunate  in  at  once  secur- 
ing work.  Hiram  Norton  employed  him  as  a 
millwright  in  the  construction  of  the  Norton  mills. 
Later  he  acted  as  purchasing  agent  for  George 
Barnett  and  made  regular  trips  to  Chicago,  re- 
turning with  supplies.  He  also  acted  as  superin- 
tendent for  Mr.  Barnett.  In  time  he  became 
himself  a  contractor  and  employer  of  men.  He 
built  the  Illinois  Central  bridge  at  Lasalle  and 
continued  contracting  and  building  until  his  wife 
died,  in  the  fall  of  1865.  He  then  took  up  quar- 
rying, changing  his  occupation  in  order  that  he 
might  be  at  home  to  care  for  his  children.  In 
company  with  others,  he  bought  the  old  prison 
quarries,  but  gradually  he  bought  the  interest  of 
his  partners  until  he  finally  became  the  sole 
owner.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was  devoted  to 
the  quarry  business,  and  for  many  years  he  was 
the  largest  shipper  of  stone  from  the  county.  His 
success  in  the  business  induced  others  to  enter  it, 
and  thus  he  proved  a  great  help  in  developing 
one  of  the  most  important  industries  of  this 
locality.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  was,  how- 
ever, not  active  in  public  affairs  and  never  cared 
to  hold  offices.  While  he  was  not  connected 
with  any  denomination  he  attended  and  con- 
tributed to  the  maintenance  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  His  home  was  a  substantial  residence, 
built  by  himself,  on  the  road  between  Joliet  and 
Lockport.  Few  residents  of  the  county  have 
been  more  respected  than  he,  and  none  have  stood 
higher  among  their  associates  and  friends.  His 
worth  was  recognized  by  all.  His  character  was 
above  reproach.  After  a  very  active  life  he 
passed  from  earth  December  13,  1898,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years,  two  months  and  two 
days.  He  had  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Jane,  daughter  of  George  Stephen,  who 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


185 


came  to  this  county  at  the  same  time  with  James 
Bruce.  Five  children  were  born  of  this  union, 
viz.:  Georgiana,  deceased;  Belle,  wife  of  George 
P.  Stephen,  of  Lake  County,  111.;  William  J.; 
Margaret,  wife  of  J.  A.  Jamieson,  of  Marseilles; 
and  Jennie,  deceased.  By  his  second  wife,  Jane 
Stephen,  who  was  a  cousin  of  his  first  wife,  Mr. 
Bruce  had  four  sons,  namely:  Ebenezer  S. ,  de- 
ceased; James,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness at  Marseilles;  Harry  W.,  deceased;  and 
Robert. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  came 
to  America  when  in  middle  life  and  settled  in 
Will  County,  where  he  followed  the  millwright's 
trade.  He  had  four  sons,  James,  Samuel,  Alex- 
ander and  George.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
activity  and  energy.  His  death  was  sudden,  re- 
sulting from  cholera.  He  worked  until  dark  one 
evening  and  was  buried  before  daylight  the  next 
morning. 

While  he  had  very  few  educational  advantages 
our  subject,  William  J.  Bruce,  has  become  a  well- 
informed  man,  having  availed  himself  of  every 
opportunity  to  increase  his  fund  of  knowledge. 
When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  work  in 
quarries  and  this  business  he  has  since  followed. 
His  knowledge  of  the  occupation  has  therefore 
been  acquired  by  practical  experience.  For  some 
years  he  was  in  partnership  with  his  father,  until 
the  latter's  death.  The  only  serious  accident 
with  which  he  has  met  was  caused  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a  keg  of  powder,  which  blew  him 
through  the  side  of  the  house;  in  the  midst  of  the 
danger  he  did  not  lose  his  presence  of  mind,  but 
saved  his  life  by  throwing  himself  in  the  water  at 
the  bottom  of  the  quarry,  thus  putting  out  the 
fire.  While  he  escaped  unhurt,  his  hearing  was 
injured  by  the  accident.  As  a  business  man  he 
is  quick  and  active.  From  his  quarry  at  Romeo 
he  has  taken  as  much  as  twenty  thousand  tons  a 
month,  the  most  of  which  has  been  shipped  to 
Joliet  and  South  Chicago. 

In  national  politics  Mr.  Bruce  is  a  Republican, 
but  in  local  matters  is  independent,  voting  for  the 
man  rather  than  the  party.  He  is  connected  with 
the  blue  lodge  of  Masonry  at  Lock  port.  Decem- 
ber   23,    1885,    he    married  Jennie,   daughter  of 


William  Cameron,  of  Lockport;  she  was  born  in 
Canada,  but  has  spent  her  life  principally  in  this 
county.  Her  father  and  her  husband's  father 
were  born  within  four  miles  of  each  other  in  Scot- 
land. Of  the  seven  children  born  to  her  marriage 
three  are  deceased,  and  the  four  living  are  Cam- 
eron, Harry,  James  and  Jane.  The  family  oc- 
cupy a  comfortable  residence,  built  in  1896  by 
Mr.  Bruce,  and  standing  on  the  road  between 
Joliet  and  Lockport,  next  to  the  old  Bruce  home- 
stead, where  he  was  born. 


PQlLLIAM  RUHE,  treasurer  of  the  Crete 
\  A  /  Farmers'  Township  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
VV  Company,  was  born  in  Rumbeck,  at 
Schaumburg,  Germany,  November  30,  1839.  His 
father,  Frederick,  a  native  of  the  same  town 
as  himself,  engaged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing there.  When  he  was  forty-five  years  of 
age  he  decided  to  come  to  America,  and  pur- 
chased tickets  for  himself  and  wife  and  their 
five  children,  but  before  the  day  of  starting 
arrived  he  was  taken  sick;  after  an  illness 
of  two  weeks  he  passed  away.  Immediately 
after  his  burial  the  family  proceeded  on  their 
journey,  shipping  from  Baden  and  lauding  in 
New  York  after  a  voyage  of  forty-two  days. 
Thence  they  journeyed  to  Chicago,  but  a  month 
later  left  that  city  and  came  to  Will  County, 
settling  six  miles  south  of  Crete.  This  was  in 
1855,  and  William  was  then  a  boy  of  almost  six- 
teen. For  a  year  he  worked  on  a  farm,  after 
which  he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade.  Being 
the  eldest  of  the  children,  the  responsibility 
of  caring  for  the  family  fell  upon  him  after 
his  father's  death  This  trust  he  nobly  dis- 
charged, caring  for  the  others  until  they  were 
old  enough  to  become  self-supporting.  In  1861  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Washington  Township,  this 
county,  but  three  years  later  he  sold  the  place 
and,  after  spending  two  months  in  Chicago,  set- 
tled in  Crete,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
has  engaged  in  contracting  and  building  contin- 


1 86 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


uously,  with  the  exception  of  five  years  when  he 
was  manager  of  the  Crete  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, manufacturers  of  sash,  doors  and  blinds. 
His  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Louisa 
Mathias,  made  her  home  in  this  county  until  her 
death  at  seventy-two  years  of  age.  Of  her  chil- 
dren, the  second-born  died  at  thirteen  years; 
Louis  is  living  in  Crete;  Dora  married  Herman 
Grote,  and  lives  in  Minnesota;  and  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Homeyer,  of  Iroquois  County,  111. 

July  6,  1865,  our  subject  married  Sophia  Rol- 
ler, who  was  born  near  the  same  town  as  him- 
self. She  came  to  America  when  eighteen  years 
old  and  has  made  her  home  in  Crete  since  her 
marriage,  having  first  come  to  this  village  in 
i860.  Seven  children  comprise  their  family, 
viz.:  Sophia,  wife  of  John  Lucke,  of  Crete; 
William,  a  carpenter  and  builder;  Emma,  wife 
of  August  Hartmann;  Amelia,  at  home;  Bertha, 
who  married  Albert  Frye,  of  Watseka,  111.; 
Henry,  a  clerk;  and  Augusta,  at  home.  The 
family  are  connected  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 

In  political  views  Mr.  Ruhe  is  independent. 
In  1879  he  served  as  township  collector.  For 
eight  years  he  was  village  trustee,  and  for  four 
years  served  as  president  of  the  village.  The 
Crete  Farmers'  Township  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  of  which  he  is  treasurer,  was  organ- 
ized in  1 86 1,  and  reorganized  twenty  years  later. 
It  has  since  grown  to  be  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant enterprises  of  the  locality,  a  result  that  is 
largely  due  to  the  energy  of  its  officers.  At  this 
writing  Christ  Scheiwe  is  president  and  Her- 
man Schweppe  secretary.  There  are  over  twelve 
hundred  policies,  representing  nearly  two  mil- 
lion dollars,  in  force  in  six  townships.  Of  all 
the  mutual  companies  in  the  entire  state,  this 
company  has  the  finest  record.  Its  success  has 
indeed  been  remarkable.  June  7,  1884,  Mr. 
Ruhe  was  appointed  agent  for  the  company,  his 
territory  being  Will,  Monee,  Washington  and 
Crete  Townships.  In  1897  Crete  and  Monee 
Townships  were  given  to  his  son-in-law,  John 
Lucke,  and  Will  and  Washington  to  H.  F. 
Wilke.  In  January,  1898,  he  was  elected  a 
director  of  the  company  and  its  treasurer,  which 
positions    he  has    since  filled,  giving  a   bond  of 


$56,000  in  his  official  capacity.  His  attention  is 
closely  given  to  the  details  of  the  company's 
business.  As  treasurer,  he  is  accurate  in  the 
keeping  of  accounts,  and  his  books  are  models  of 
neatness  and  accuracy. 


EHARLES  A.  LARSON.  At  the  time  that 
Mr.  Larson  settled  in  Joliet,  in  the  spring 
of  1 88 1,  there  were  only  five  men  of  his 
own  nationality  in  the  city,  the  large  number  of 
Swedes  now  represented  in  the  population  hav- 
ing settled  here  since  that  year.  His  early  ex- 
perience in  his  new  home  proved  far  less  fortu- 
nate than  his  imagination  had  anticipated.  He 
worked  for  a  few  weeks  in  the  Davidson  stone 
quarries,  and  later  was  with  the  Joliet  Stone 
Company,  until  January  18,  1882,  when  a  prema- 
ture explosion  of  dynamite  injured  him  so  seri- 
ously that  for  a  time  his  life  was  despaired  of, 
and  it  was  not  until  five  months  later  that  he  was 
able  to  leave  his  room.  Being  unable  to  engage 
again  in  quarrying,  it  was  necessary  for  him  to 
seek  another  occupation,  and,  in  order  to  fit  him- 
self for  business,  he  studied  book-keeping  for  a 
few  months,  at  the  same  time  acquiring  a  better 
knowledge  of  the  English  language.  In  the 
summer  of  1882  he  entered  the  store  of  Brooks 
&  Strong,  with  whom,  and  with  their  successors, 
Strong,  Bush  &  Handwerk,  he  has  since  contin- 
ued, being  now  their  head  clerk.  He  is  also  a 
director  in  the  People's  Loan  and  Homestead  As- 
sociation. In  the  spring  of  1S99  he  received  the 
Republican  nomination  for  township  collector 
and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy-four,  taking  the  oath  of  office  in 
April  for  a  term  of  one  year. 

Near  Boros,  Elfsborslaeu,  Westrejutland,  Swe- 
den, Mr.  Larson  was  born  July  14,  1S62,  a  son 
of  Lars  and  Anna  (Anderson)  Johnson.  His 
father  was  a  member  of  an  old  family  that  owned 
the  estate  "  Skattegarden,"  which  property  was 
later  divided,  he  receiving  the  part  known  as 
"  Aatolsgaardeu."     In   1SS3  he   came  to  Joliet, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


187 


where  he  is  now  living,  retired  from  active 
labors.  His  wife,  who  is  also  living,  was  a 
daughter  of  Andreas  Anderson,  a  farmer  and 
owner  of  "Stureryd."  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  the  following  survive:  Jolian  A.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  in  Joliet; 
Charles  A.;  Johannes,  in  Colorado;  Alfred,  of 
Peoria,  111. ;  and  Mrs.  Minnie  Sophia  Eifler,  of 
Englewood,  111. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  America  was 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who,  in  July,  1880, 
left  Gottenburg  for  Hull  and  Liverpool,  and 
thence  crossed  the  ocean  on  the  steamer  "  Etru- 
ria,"  landing  in  New  York  after  a  voyage  of 
twelve  days.  On  the  2d  of  August  he  arrived  in 
Chicago,  where  a  farmer  hired  him  to  work  on  a 
farm  near  Peotone,  and  he  continued  there  for 
seven  months,  then  came  to  Joliet.  He  is  one  of 
the  best  known  Swedes  in  the  city,  and  among 
those  of  his  own  race  wields  a  large  influence. 
A  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  served  as 
a  member  of  the  congressional  committee  for 
eight  years,  and  has  also  worked  on  the  county 
committee.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Re- 
publican Club.  He  holds  the  office  of  vice-presi- 
dent for  Will  County  of  the  Swedish-American 
Republican  State  League,  and  is  also  secretary 
of  the  Swedish-American  Republican  Club  of 
Joliet.  Since  1891  he  has  been  collector  for  the 
Fraternal  Alliance.  He  is  identified  with  the 
North  Star  Association  of  Joliet  and  the  North 
Star  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Illinois. 
When  he  first  came  to  Joliet  there  were  so  few 
Swedes  that  it  was  of  course  deemed  unnecessary 
and  impracticable  to  hold  special  religious  serv- 
ices of  their  own.  However,  he  prevailed  upon 
three  others  to  join  with  him  in  paying  a  preacher 
to  come  from  Rock  Island  once  a  month.  From 
that  small  beginning  sprang  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church  of  which  he  is  treasurer  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees.  In  the  building  of 
a  house  of  worship  he  took  a  warm  interest,  as 
he  has  in  all  measures  for  the  benefit  of  the 
church. 

October  3,  1888,  in  Joliet,  Mr.  Larson  married 


Miss  Wilhelmina  Sophia  Jonson,  who  was  born 
in  Oskarshamn,  Smoland,  Sweden,  a  daughter  of 
Olaf  and  Maria  Sophia  Jonson.  Her  father,  a 
native  of  the  laen  of  Kalmar,  was  left  an  orphan 
at  five  years  of  age,  and  when  still  quite  young 
was  obliged  to  be  self-supporting.  He  became  a 
marine  engineer  and  followed  his  trade  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  Europe,  but  is  now  living  retired,  in 
Oskarshamn.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  two 
children,  one  of  whom  is  living,  Mrs.  Nils  Erik- 
son,  of  Joliet.  His  second  marriage  united  him 
with  a  daughter  of  Johan  Johnson,  an  inn  keeper, 
and  by  her  he  had  one  child,  Mrs.  Larson,  who 
has  made  her  home  in  Joliet  since  1886.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Larson  have  two  sons,  Harry  Emelius 
Levi  and  Ernst  Oliver  Milton. 


gERNARD  E.  BURKE.  In  the  list  of  en- 
terprising business  men  of  Joliet,  mention 
belongs  to  Mr.  Burke,  who  since  1895  has 
been  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  No.  314 
West  Marion  street.  During  that  year  he  bought 
his  present  site  and  opened  a  small  grocery,  after- 
ward building  up  a  good  trade  among  the  people 
of  the  locality,  whose  confidence  he  won  by  his 
honesty  and  reliability  in  business  transactions. 
In  1898  he  erected  a  three-story  brick  building, 
27x60  feet  in  dimensions,  two  floors  of  which  are 
occupied  by  his  stock  of  groceries,  produce  and 
meats. 

At  No.  i5oComstock  street,  Joliet,  in  the  ward 
where  he  now  resides,  Mr.  Burke  was  born  June 
30,  1863,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Hennessey) 
Burke,  pioneers  of  this  city.  He  was  educated 
in  the  local  schools.  When  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  embarked  in  the  transfer  business  for  him- 
self, and  continued  until  1895,  having  his  head- 
quarters at  Burke's  barn,  and  running  two  teams. 
In  1895  he  sold  the  business  in  order  to  turn  his 
attention  to  the  grocery  trade.  He  is  an  energetic 
and  capable  business  man,  and  shows  excellent 
judgment  in  his  enterprises. 

All  movements  for  the  benefit  of  the  city  receive 


iS8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  co-operation,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  his  assist- 
ance. He  is  a  leader  in  the  local  ranks  of  the 
Democratic  part}-,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  township  and  city  central  committee.  As  the 
Democratic  nominee  in  1896  he  was  elected  alder- 
man from  the  Fifth  ward  by  the  largest  majority 
ever  given  any  candidate  in  this  ward,  and  two 
years  later  he  was  re-elected  to  the  office.  At  this 
writing  he  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
schools  and  license  and  as  a  member  of  the  ordi- 
nance and  west  side  streets  committees.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  He  was  married  in  Joliet  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Kavanaugh,  and  a  native  of 
Troy  Township,  this  county.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  daughters,  Mary  B.  and  Helen  L. 


APT.  WILLIAM  DOUGALL,  M.  D.    While 


Dr.  Dougall  has  been  successfully  engaged 


E 

\J  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Joliet  since 
1872  he  is  perhaps  best  known  to  the  outside 
world  as  the  president  of  the  Illinois  Pure  Alumi- 
num Company,  of  Lemont,  a  comparatively  recent 
but  very  flourishing  organization.  The  company 
owns  a  plant  in  Lemont  that  is  rapidly  becoming 
celebrated  and  is  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the 
world.  Started  in  1892,  two  years  later  it  came 
into  the  charge  of  its  present  president,  under 
whose  wise  oversight  the  output  has  been  greatly 
increased.  The  products  include  everything  in 
aluminum,  from  a  hairpin  to  cooking  utensils  as 
large  as  three  hundred  gallon  kettles.  Shipments 
are  made  to  different  parts  of  the  United  States 
and  to  other  countries. 

Dr.  Dougall  is  a  graduate  of  Chicago  Medical 
School  (now  the  Northwestern  University  medi- 
cal department),  from  which  he  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.,  March  4,  1868.  Afterward  he 
practiced  at  Lemont,  Cook  County,  for  four  years, 
and  acted  as  chief  surgeon  of  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  canal  when  it  was  deepened.  Since 
1872  he  has  made  his  home  in  Joliet,  where,  un- 
der President  Harrison,  he  held   the  position  of 


pension  surgeon.  At  one  time  he  was  president 
and  later  secretary  of  the  Will  County  Medical 
Society,  and  he  is  also  connected  with  the  Illinois 
State  and  American  Medical  Associations.  In 
1879  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Joliet  by 
President  Hayesand  filled  the  position  during  the 
administrations  of  Garfield  and  Arthur,  retiring 
in  1883.  In  1875  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
count}-  Republican  central  committee  and  con- 
tinued in  that  capacity  until  1879. 

In  Paisley,  Scotland,  March  1,  1S42,  William 
Dougall  was  born  to  John  and  Margaret  (Hous- 
toun)  Dougall.  The  family  descended  from  the 
McDougalls,  who  were  represented  in  the  battle 
of  Baunockburn;  they  were  not  friendly  to  the 
historical  Robert  Bruce,  because  one  of  their 
family,  Red  Comyn,  had  been  assassinated  by 
him.  John  Dougall  was  born  December  10, 
1799,  and  became  a  cotton  spinner  near  Paisley. 
In  1858  he  brought  his  family  to  America  and 
settled  near  New  Haven,  Ind.,  where  he  died  De- 
cember 28,  1S74.  His  wife  was  born  in  Hous- 
toun,  Renfrewshire,  January  1,  1S01,  and  de- 
scended from  Sir  Patrick  Houstoun,  a  Huguenot, 
who  settled  in  Scotland  about  1585  and  became 
owner  of  Houstoun  castle.  Her  father,  John 
Houstoun,  was  a  farmer  there.  Of  her  twelve 
children  five  are  living,  viz.:  Mrs.  John  Hadden, 
Allan  H.,  William,  Mrs.  M.  F.  Williamson  and 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Beuiet.  One  of  her  daughters, 
Isabelle  F.,  Mrs.  Williamson,  spent  thirty  years 
in  the  mission  field  of  China,  and  died  there  in 
August,  1886. 

June  14,  1861,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
one  of  the  first  who  enlisted  in  a  three  years' 
regiment,  the  Fifteenth  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
was  appointed  corporal.  He  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Rich  Mountain,  Elk  Water,  Green- 
brier (Va.)i  Shiloh,  siege  of  Corinth,  Perry  - 
ville,  Stone  River  (where  he  was  wounded 
by  a  canister  shot),  Tallahoma  and  Chattanooga. 
October  1,  1863,  he  was  commissioned  a  captain 
in  the  Thirteenth  United  States  Colored  Infantry, 
in  which  capacity  he  continued  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  At  the  charge  of  Overton,  where  the 
colored  troops  fought  nobly,  he  lost  seventeen 
out  of  the   forty-three  men   in   his  company  and 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


189 


also  had  thirteen  wounded.  In  that  charge  he 
was  the  only  man  who  put  his  foot  on  the  rebel 
works,  and  when  the  line  was  formed  again  he 
was  once  more  at  the  front  and  captured  a  num- 
ber of  prisoners.  His  being  the  color  company 
suffered  more  than  the  others.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  refused  a  commission  in  the  regular 
army  and  resigned  as  an  officer.  Returning  to 
his  home  he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  which 
he  has  since  followed.  October  1,  1872,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Cassie  Walker,  of  Lemont,  by  whom 
he  has  two  children,  Mary  C.  and  William  Hous- 
toun. 

At  Maysville,  Ind.,  August  18,  1865,  Dr. 
Dougall  was  made  a  Mason.  Afterward  he  was 
senior  warden  of  Mt.  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  of 
Joliet.  He  has  also  been  an  officer  in  Joliet 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Joliet  Council  No.  82. 
In  1872  he  was  made  sir  knight  in  Joliet  Com- 
mandery  No.  4,  K.  T. ;  in  1880-81  served  as 
eminent  commander,  and  in  1882  was  prelate. 
He  has  been  post  commander  of  Bartleson  Post 
No.  6,  G.  A.  R.,  and  an  active  member  of  the 
Illinois  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion. 
Among  the  business  enterprises  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  is  the  Lake  street  elevated 
railroad  in  Chicago.  Local  movements  receive 
his  co-operation,  and  he  is  justly  numbered 
among  the  leading  professional  and  business  men 
of  his  home  city. 


PJ)ILS  PETER  LINDSTRUM  has  followed  the 
P /  merchant  tailor's  trade  since  he  was  nine 
I  ID  years  of  age,  gaining  his  rudimentary  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  under  the  instruction  of  his 
father,  Swen  Peter  Johanson,  a  merchant  tailor, 
who  died  in  Smaland,  Sweden,  at  seventy-five 
years  of  age.  The  latter  had  three  sons  (all  in 
America)  and  one  daughter  by  his  first  marriage, 
and  by  his  second  wife,  Christine  Miiller,  had 
only  one  child,  Nils  Peter,  who  was  born  in 
Bjelbo,  Christdaliasaken,  Smaland,  Sweden,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1850.  The  family  being  poor  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  attend  school  regularly;  in 


fact,  his  entire  attendance  at  the  common  school 
was  limited  to  eleven  weeks.  However,  being 
ambitious  to  learn,  he  often  devoted  his  evenings 
to  study  and  in  that  way  gained  a  practical  fund 
of  information  that  has  proved  very  helpful  to 
him.  As  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  be  of 
assistance  he  was  taken  into  his  father's  shop, 
where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  tailor's 
trade. 

April  21,  1869,  Mr.  Lindstrum  sailed  from  the 
old  country  for  America,  and  after  a  voyage  of 
fourteen  days  he  landed  in  Quebec,  May  21. 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  Chicago  and  from  there 
went  to  Galesburg,  111.,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  more  than  two  years.  On  his  return  to 
Chicago  he  secured  employment  in  a  tailor's 
shop.  In  July,  1883,  he  came  to  Joliet,  where, 
in  October,  1SS6,  he  opened  a  merchant  tailor 
shop  at  No.  913  South  Joliet  street.  During  the 
forty  years  that  he  has  worked  at  his  trade  he 
has  accpiired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  all  of  its 
details  and  is  a  reliable,  efficient  and  skilled  work- 
man, whose  reputation  for  honest}-  and  skill  has 
secured  him  the  patronage  of  first-class  custom- 
ers. Being  economical  he  has  saved  a  fair  pro- 
portion of  his  earnings,  and  is  therefore  in  com- 
fortable circumstances. 

The  Swedisli  Republican  Club  and  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  number  Mr.  Lindstrum  among 
their  members.  He  is  loyal  in  his  devotion  to 
the  government  and  true  to  his  adopted  country. 
One  of  his  half-brothers,  S.  J.  Lindstrum,  now 
of  Monmouth,  111.,  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1861  and  enlisted  in  an  Illinois  regiment,  where 
he  served  until  his  term  expired. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Lindstrum  was  Mathilda 
Nelson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden  and  died  in 
Chicago.  His  second  marriage  took  place  in 
Chicago  October  20,  1881,  and  united  him  with 
Miss  Matilda  Peterson,  who  was  born  at  "Foug- 
huld,'-' Jankopinglaen,  Smaland,  Sweden.  Her 
father,  Peter,  who  in  youth  served  in  the  Swedish 
army, afterward  cultivated  the  farm, '  'Foughuld," 
until  he  came  to  America.  Her  mother,  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Andres  Anderson,  a  farmer,  came  to 
the  United  States  and  died  in  Chicago.  All  of  her 
eight  children  also  came  to  this  country ,  and  all  but 


i  go 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


one  are  still  living,  six  of  them  being  in  Chicago. 
Mrs.  Lindstrutn  was  third  in  order  of  birth  and 
was  reared  in  her  native  land,  whence  she  accom- 
panied the  family  to  America  in  1879,  and  two 
years  later  she  was  married  in  Chicago.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lindstrum  have  many  friends  among  the 
people  of  their  nationality  in  Joliet,  where  they 
are  known  and  honored  for  their  integrity  of 
character  and  kindness  of  heart.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  daughters,  Matilda  C.  and  Anna 
W.  Lindstrum. 


EEORGE  C.  RAYNOR,  M.  D.  With  an  ex- 
perience as  a  physician  extending  over  the 
latter  half  of  the  nineteenth  century,  coupled 
with  a  broad  study  of  the  medical  science  and 
remedial  agencies,  Dr.  Raynor  readily  occupies  a 
position  among  the  leading  physicians  of  Joliet, 
where  he  has  engaged  in  practice  since  March, 
1870.  It  has  been  his  privilege  to  live  in  the 
greatest  age  of  improvement  and  progress  in  the 
world's  history.  He  has  seen  and  kept  in  touch 
with  the  developments  in  the  various  fields  of 
science,  and  particularly  those  made  in  his  own 
profession,  which  has  emerged  from  the  realm  of 
charlatanism  into  its  present  standing  as  the  most 
humanitarian  of  all  occupations.  Interested  in 
every  phase  of  the  healing  art,  he  has  been  a 
thoughtful  reader  of  medical  literature  and  a 
student  of  the  profession  through  all  these  years. 
His  standing  among  the  members  of  the  pro- 
fession here  was  shown  by  his  repeated  election 
as  president  of  the  Will  County  Medical  Society, 
which  organization  has  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his 
co-operation.  In  addition  to  his  private  practice 
he  was  for  twelve  years  surgeon  to  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  Company  in  this  city. 

Dr.  Raynor  was  born  in  Fairfield,   Herkimer 


County,  N.  Y.,  in  1826,  a  son  of  David  and 
Melinda  (Mather)  Raynor.  His  grandfather, 
Stephen  Raynor,  a  native  of  Long  Island,  settled 
upon  a  farm  in  Herkimer  Count}-,  and  upon  that 
homestead  David  Raynor  was  born  and  reared. 
The  latter,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  spent 
in  the  war  of  1812,  devoted  his  entire  active  life 
to  farm  pursuits,  remaining  in  his  native  county 
until  he  died  at  seventy-two  years.  A  man  of 
strict  religious  life,  he  was  an  active  worker  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  wife  was 
born  near  Utica,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  a  mem- 
ber of  an  old  Connecticut  family  that  claimed 
Puritan  descent.  Of  their  ten  children  all  but 
one  attained  mature  3'ears  and  four  are  living. 
The  doctor,  who  was  fifth  in  order  of  birth,  was 
reared  on  the  homestead  and  attended  district 
schools  and  the  Fairfield  Academy.  In  1S49  he 
entered  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1852,  with  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  Opening  an  office  in  St.  Johnsville, 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  he  built  up  a  large 
practice  and  remained  there  until  he  removed  to 
Illinois.  For  nine  years  he  served  as  coroner  of 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y. 

For  two  years  Dr.  Raynor  was  master  of  Mat- 
teson  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  Joliet.  He  is 
also  connected  with  Joliet  Commander}-  No.  4, 
K.  T.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  vestry  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
he  has  officiated  as  treasurer  of  the  board.  He  is 
an  Abraham  Lincoln  Republican,  but,  after  hav- 
ing voted  with  the  party  for  years,  when  in  1896  a 
gold  plank  was  put  in  the  platform,  he  felt  he 
could  not  longer  remain  with  it,  for  his  sym- 
pathies have  been  with  the  free  silver  movement, 
and  hence  he  supports  the  men  and  measures 
pledged  to  promote  the  latter  cause.  In  Mas- 
sachusetts he  married  Miss  Helen  Cole,  who  was 
born  in  Berkshire  County,  that  state,  and  died  in 
Joliet  in  1889.  The  only  child  of  their  union  is 
Lansing  James  Raynor,  a  business  man  of  Joliet. 


uhive  '  ,alN01s 


<jh»+i    % '  js/^^MI 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


193 


AMOS   H.  SCOFIELD. 


Gl  MOS  H.  SCOFIELD.  Of  the  citizens  whose 
Ll  presence  in  the  county  proved  helpful  to  its 
/  I  interests  none  is  more  worthy  of  mention 
than  the  late  Amos  H.  Scofield,  of  Plainfield. 
He  was  a  man  of  excellent  business  capacity  and 
one  whose  dealings  were  always  marked  by  in- 
tegrity. During  the  more  than  thirty-seven 
years  of  his  residence  in  Plainfield  he  witnessed 
the  changes  that  transformed  the  barren  prairies 
of  Will  County  into  rich,  fertile  farms,  replaced 
the  cabins  by  commodious  residences,  and 
brought  into  the  county  a  stream  of  immigration 
that  founded  towns  and  villages  and  carried  on 
the  work  of  civilization  until  Will  County  has 
taken  rank  among  the  best  counties  of  the  state. 

The  first  twenty-one  years  of  Mr.  Scofield's 
life  were  spent  in  the  state  of  New  York  (Genoa 
Township,  Cayuga  County),  where  he  was  born 
February  25,  18 13.  From  there  he  came  west 
and  settled  on  a  farm  at  North  Branch,  near  Chi- 
cago, where  he  tilled  the  soil  for  a  period  of  ten 
years.  Next  he  followed  farming  in  Newark, 
111.  In  September,  1855,  he  settled  in  Plainfield, 
where  for  one  year  he  engaged  in  merchandising. 
At  an  early  day  he  purchased  four  and  one-half 
acres  in  the  best  residence  portion  of  Plainfield; 
of  this  two  lots  were  sold  for  residences,  and  his 
widow  still  owns  three  acres,  which  forms  a  valu- 
able homestead. 

When  the  slavery  agitation  filled  the  whole 
land  Mr.  Scofield  was  firm  in  his  adherence  to 
abolition  principles.  Late  in  life  he  became  a 
prohibitionist  in  politics.  He  was  a  leading 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
regular  in  his  attendance  at  church  services,  Sun- 
day-school   and   prayer-meeting,    and    for   years 


served  as  a  class  leader.  Up  to  the  last  of  his 
long  life  he  retained  his  deep  interest  in  church 
work  and  his  declining  days  were  cheered  by  the 
hope  which  religion  gives.  He  died  very  sud- 
denly February  28,  1893,  when  eighty  years  of 
of  age,  leaving  to  his  friends  the  memory  of  an 
honorable  existence,  filled  with  good  deeds  and 
helpful  acts. 

September  18,  1855,  Mr.  Scofield  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Rhodes,  who  was  born  in  Rensselaer 
County,  N.  Y.,  but  in  childhood  accompanied 
her  parents  to  Jefferson  County,  the  same  state, 
where  she  was  reared  and  educated.  In  i85ishe 
came  to  Illinois  with  a  brother  and  settled  near 
Plainfield.  She  is  a  lady  whose  gentleness  of  dis- 
position has  won  for  her  many  friends  during  the 
many  years  of  her  residence  in  this  vicinity. 
For  sixty-six  years  she  has  been  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Though 
she  is  now  (1900)  eighty-two  years  of  age,  she 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  her  physical  and  men- 
tal faculties  and  retains  her  interest  in  the  world 
of  activity.  The  twilight  of  her  life  is  bright- 
ened by  the  esteem  of  the  neighbors  and  the  re- 
gard of  the  people  of  the  town  where  for  so  many 
years  she  has  made  her  home.  On  the  eighty- 
second  anniversary  of  her  birth,  January  27, 
1900,  she  celebrated  the  occasion  by  inviting  to 
her  home  a  number  of  friends,  all  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Seven  of  those 
assembled  were  over  eighty  years  of  age,  and 
three  of  these  were  widows  whose  husbands  had 
attained  eighty  years.  At  the  close  of  the  day  it 
was  the  verdict  of  all  present  that  the  occasion 
had  been  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  and  memor- 
able in  their  lives. 


i94 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


~ZRA  R.  LARNED,  M.  D.  To  be  a  descend- 
'p  ant  of  men  who  aided  the  colonies  in  their 
_  struggle  for  liberty  is  to  belong  to  the 
proudest  nobility  of  which  America  can  boast. 
Many  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  present  age  are 
those  who  trace  their  lineage  to  Revolutionary 
forefathers.  It  is  seldom,  however,  that  we  find 
a  family  with  so  many  representatives  in  the  early 
struggles  as  the  one  of  which  Dr.  Earned,  of  Joliet, 
is  a  member,  for  he  has  twenty-three  different 
claims  to  membership  in  the  Society  of  Colonial 
wars,  having  had  twenty-three  ancestors  in  those 
wars.  In  addition  to  belonging  to  this  organiza- 
tion, he  is  also  identified  with  the  Illinois  Chap- 
ter, Sons  of  the  Revolution. 

About  1630  William  Larned  came  to  America 
from  the  parish  of  Berrnondsey,  County  Surrey, 
England,  settling  in  Woburn,  Mass.  In  later 
years  the  family  removed  to  Connecticut.  His 
son,  Isaac,  who  was  born  in  Surrey  February  25, 
1623,  took  part  in  the  Indian  "war  in  1656;  he 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Isaac  Sterns.  Their 
son,  Isaac,  Jr.,  was  a  private  in  the  Indian  war 
in  1675  and  was  wounded  in  the  fight  with  the 
Narragansetts  during  that  year.  By  his  mar- 
riage to  Sarah  Bigelow,  he  had  a  son  William, 
who  married  Hannah  Bryant,  and  made  his 
home  at  Thompson,  Conn.  Next  in  line  of  descent 
was  Simon,  a  farmer  at  Thompson.  The  latter's 
sou,  Thaddeus,  was  born  and  reared  in  that 
place,  where  for  years  he  was  a  prominent  agri- 
culturist and  a  justice  of  the  peace.  During  the 
Revolutionary  war  he  served  in  defense  of  col- 
onial interests  and  endured  all  the  hardships  in- 
cident to  those  days  of  struggle,  exposure  and 
conflict.  One  brother,  Simon,  was  in  the  Revo- 
lution and  was  the  founder  of  the  Society  of 
"Cincinnatus."  Another  brother,  Jesse,  died  of 
wounds  received  in  campaigns  in  New  York 
state.  George,  son  of  Thaddeus,  was  for  years 
the  owner  of  Larned' s  mill  at  Thompson,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton.  On 
retiring  from  business  he  removed  to  Wickford, 
R.  I.,  where  he  died.  He  married  Maria  C. 
Read,  who  was  born  in  Thompson,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  William  Read,  of  that  place. 

Albert,    son  of  George  and  Maria  C.  (Read) 


Earned,  was  born  in  Thompson,  Conn.,  but  came 
to  Illinois  in  early  life  and  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  lumber  in  Chicago  with  W.  E.  Frost 
&  Co.  He  still  lives  in  that  city,  but  is  now 
retired  from  business.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Wharton,  who  was  born  in  Powhatan,  Ohio. 
Her  father,  William  Wharton,  a  native  of  Pow- 
hatan, Baltimore  County,  Md.,  removed  to  Ohio, 
where  he  platted  and  named  the  village  of 
Powhatan,  and  for  years  he  was  the  leading  man 
of  that  town,  being  mayor,  postmaster  and  justice 
of  the  peace,  as  well  as  the  proprietor  of  a  gen- 
eral store.  His  father,  Thomas  Wharton,  was 
born  in  Derbyshire,  England,  and  there  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  cotton.  Crossing  the  ocean 
to  Maryland  he  engaged  in  the  same  business  at 
Powhatan,  and  later  settled  in  Powhatan,  Ohio, 
where  his  declining  years  were  spent. 

Dr.  Larned  was  one  of  three  children,  of  whom 
one  is  deceased,  and  one,  Mrs.  Mary  Malkoff, 
resides  in  Chicago.  One  of  his  lineal  ancestors, 
Lieut. -Col.  James  Talcott,  was  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  colonial  forces  during  King  Phillip's 
war.  An  uncle  of  the  doctor,  Col.  Daniel  Read 
Larned,  served  during  the  early  part  of  Civil 
war  as  captain  and  assistant  adjutant-general  on 
the  staff  of  Major-General  Burnside.  In  1864  he 
was  breveted  major,  and  the  next  year,  in  recog- 
nition of  his  gallantry,  was  made  lieutenant- col- 
onel, being  mustered  out  of  the  volunteer  service 
with  that  rank.  In  1879  he  was  made  paymaster 
with  the  rank  of  major  and  later  became  chief 
paymaster  of  the  department  of  California  and 
Columbia.  In  1890  he  was  promoted  to  be 
deputy  paymaster-general  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
which  responsible  office  he  held  until  his  retire- 
ment in  1892. 

The  boyhood  }'ears  of  Dr.  Larned's  life  were 
passed  in  Chicago,  111. ,  where  he  was  born  Jan- 
uary 23,  1868.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he 
graduated  from  the  Chicago  high  school.  After- 
ward he  traveled  through  the  United  States,  and 
in  Mexico  and  British  Columbia.  In  1892  he 
took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he  carried 
on  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  Milton  Jay  for 
one  year.  He  then  entered  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, from   which,  after  four  years  Of  study,  he 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


'95 


graduated  in  1897.  He  came  at  once  to  Joliet, 
where  he  located  at  No.  310  Eastern  avenue  and 
where  he  has  since  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery.  He  is  connected  with  the 
Alumni  of  Rush  Medical  College,  is  past  officer 
in  the  Nu  Signa  Nu,  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Chicago  Academy  of  Science,  and  belongs  to  the 
Chicago,  Will  County  and  State  Medical  So- 
cieties and  the  American  Medical  Association. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and,  in  religious 
connection  a  member  of  the  Central  Presby- 
terian Church.  In  Rockford,  111.,  he  married 
Camilla,  daughter  of  Henry  Don  Kersley,  who 
came  from  Marquette,  Mich.,  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Rockford,  where  his  daughter  was 
born.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Larned  have  one  son,  Al- 
bert Dougall  Larned. 


EHARLES  GRAY  CHAMBERLIN,  the  lead- 
ing undertaker  of  Lockport,  is  a  desend- 
ant  of  a  colonial  family  of  New  England 
that  originated  in  Great  Britain.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Luther  C.  Chamberlin,  a  native  of 
Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  born  in  1789,  held  a 
captain's  commission  during  the  war  of  18 12  and 
at  its  close  married  Miss  Thankful  Talmadge,  of 
Litchfield,  Conn.  Some  years  he  spent  as  a 
farmer  in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  after  which  for 
fifteen  years  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Henrietta 
house  and  also  for  a  long  time  served  as  post- 
master of  Henrietta.  In  the  fall  of  1832  he  came 
west  to  seek  a  suitable  location  and  found  a  de- 
sirable site  in  what  is  now  Will  County.  Re- 
turning home  for  his  family,  in  January,  1833,  he 
again  traversed  the  long  distance  to  the  west.  He 
settled  one  and  a-half  miles  east  of  Lockport  on 
a  government  claim.  The  land  was  a  barren 
prairie.  Pottawatomie  Indians  still  roamed  over 
the  trackless  plains,  unmolested  by  white  men. 
He  spent  four  years  in  improving  his  claim,  but 
in  1837  removed  to  Peoria,  111.,  and  seven  years 
later  went  to  Milton,  Wayne  County,  Iud.,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  grain  and  warehouse  business. 


During  the  existence  of  the  Whig  party  he  ad- 
hered to  its  tenets,  and  after  its  disintegration 
became  a  Republican.  He  died  in  Milton  in 
1878,  having  survived  his  wife  for  twenty-six 
years.  They  had  three  children,  Lewis  L. , 
Sempronius  S.,  and  Ellen  M.,  Mrs.  Norton 
Davis. 

Sempronius  Samuel  Chamberlin  was  born  in 
Henrietta,  N.  Y.,  August  19,  1817.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  riding  an  Indian 
pony  the  entire  distance.  He  graduated  from 
Jubilee  College  in  Peoria.  When  his  parents 
moved  to  Indiana  in  1844  he  returned  to  Will 
County  and  began  taking  contracts  for  the  build- 
ing of  warehouses  and  other  structures.  One  of 
his  contracts  was  for  the  erection  of  the  large 
warehouse  of  Norton  &  Co.,  of  Lockport.  In 
1848  he  built  a  store  and  opened  an  undertaking 
establishment.  During  the  cholera  epidemic  of 
1854  he  and  his  workmen  were  kept  busy  every 
hour  of  the  twenty-four,  as  the  demands  for  their 
services  were  imperative  and  needed  prompt  at- 
tention. The  coffins  were  made,  by  hand,  of 
walnut  or  whitewood,  with  walnut  tops,  and 
trimmed  inside  with  book-muslin  headings.  Mr. 
Chamberlin  went  personally  to  the  homes  of  the 
dead  to  superintend  the  arrangements  for  the 
burial,  and  sometimes  made  as  many  as  eight  such 
calls  in  one  day.  In  1873  he  opened  an  under- 
taking establishment  in  Joliet.  He  continued  in 
business  as  a  funeral  director  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  December  4,  1897.  His  success 
financially  was  due  to  strict  attention  to  details 
and  fidelity  to  his  business.  He  was  a  man  of 
good  habits  and  exemplary  life  and,  although  not 
a  church  member,  was  in  sympathy  with  and  a 
contributor  to  religious  work.  He  refused  of- 
ficial positions  many  times  and,  aside  from  vot- 
ing the  Republican  ticket,  took  no  part  in  local 
affairs. 

January  19,  1842,  Mr.  Chamberlin  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Gray,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  and  accompanied  her  parents  to  this  county 
in  girlhood.  Her  death  occurred  in  Lockport 
April  9,  1889,  when  she  was  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  In  religion  she  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational   Church.       She    left     two    sons, 


196 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


George  N.  and  Charles  G. ,  both  of  whom  are 
engaged  in  the  undertaking  business,  the  former 
having  succeeded  his  father  in  the  Joliet  business. 
The  younger  son,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Lock- 
port,  January  30,  1859.  When  only  a  small  boy 
he  was  able  to  help  his  father  in  many  ways,  and 
frequently  held  the  light  for  him  nights  when 
he  was  working  at  the  bench.  From  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  was  in  partnership  with  his  father 
until  the  latter's  death,  when  he  bought  the 
Lockport  branch  of  the  business. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  united  him  with 
Miss  Mary  Emma  Taylor,  who  was  born  at  West 
Creek,  Ind.,  and  from  eleven  years  of  age  made 
her  home  with  her  grandparents  in  Lockport. 
They  have  three  daughters,  Eva  L. ,  Mary  Emma 
and  Josephine  E.  The  famil}-  are  connected  with 
the  Congregational  Church  of  Lockport  and  Mr. 
Chamberlin  is  a  contributor  to  the  same.  He 
has  been  an  active  Republican  and  in  1S99  was 
elected  collector  of  the  township.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, the  Order  of  Red  Men,  the  United  Order  of 
Foresters,  North  American  Union,  Eastern  Star 
Lodge  and  Lockport  Lodge  No.  538,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  in  which  latter  he  has  held  various 
offices. 


(lOHN  RANFT.  Through  an  honorable 
I  career  as  a  business  man,  Mr.  Ranft  laid  the 
Q)  foundation  of  the  large  trade  that  is  to-day 
efficiently  managed  by  his  widow.  He  was  born 
in  Oberverein,  Waldeck,  German}-,  January  16, 
1S43,  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Schneider) 
Ranft,  who  lived  upon  a  farm  in  that  country. 
At  an  early  age  he  began  to  support  himself, 
working  at  any  occupation  that  offered  an  honest 
livelihood.     In  1864  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  the 


United  States,  and  for  a  time  worked  on  a  farm 
in  New  Jerse\-,  receiving  $15  a  month.  On  com- 
ing west  he  spent  a  short  time  in  Chicago  and 
then  settled  in  Joliet,  near  which  city  he  worked 
on  a  farm  for  two  years.  Afterward,  for  five  and 
one-half  years,  he  worked  for  the  Sehring  Brew- 
ing Company.  In  1S84  he  bought  out  Mr.  Paige 
and  remodeled  the  bottling  works,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  ginger  ale,  soda 
water  and  similar  beverages.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Joliet  Sharpshooters,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Joliet  Saenger- 
bund.  In  the  latter  society  his  fine  baritone 
voice  made  him  especially  prominent  and  popu- 
lar. Politically  he  voted  with  the  Republicans. 
He  continued  to  carry-  on  business  in  Joliet  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  July  10,  1892. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Ranft,  who  was  Cather- 
ine Metzger,  a  native  of  Joliet,  died  in  this  city, 
leaving  one  child,  Annie,  who  is  now  living. 
October  24,  1884,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Auguste  Ernestina,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Annie  (Eggers)  Reimers,  all  natives  of  Lunden, 
Holsteiu,  Germany.  Her  father,  who  was  a  car- 
penter and  builder,  died  when  she  was  twelve, 
and  her  mother  had  passed  away  two  years  be- 
fore. Of  the  family,  three  are  living,  her  brother 
John  being"  a  farmer  in  Greengarden  Township, 
this  county,  while  Gustav  lives  in  Joliet.  She 
was  reared  in  Lunden,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1S83,  settling  in  Frankfort,  this  county, 
where  she  remained  until  her  marriage.  In  re- 
ligion she  was  carefully  reared  in  the  Lutheran 
faith,  and  has  always  adhered  to  its  teachings.  She 
is  the  mother  of  five  children,  Bertha,  Mamie, 
Linda,  Otto  and  Flora.  Since  her  husband's 
death  she  has  continued  the  business  so  success- 
fully that  she  has  built  up  a  large  trade,  not 
only  in  the  city,  but  throughout  Will  and  Grundy 
Counties,  and  has  gained  a  reputation  as  an  effi- 
cient business  woman . 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


199 


JOB  MEADE  TOBIAS. 


HOB  MEADE  TOBIAS,  of  Peotone,  was 
I  born  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  October  17,  1841,  a 
Q)  son  of  Lorenzo  Dow  and  Lucy  Bishop 
(Fletcher)  Tobias.  He  was  one  of  five  children, 
and  has  a  sister  and  brother  now  living,  viz.: 
Susan  Avilla,  wife  of  Andrew  Watson,  of  Elmira, 
N.Y.,  and  JuddS.,  who  is  connected  with  an  elec- 
tric light  business  in  Omaha,  Neb.  His  father 
was  born  about  four  miles  north  of  Burdette.on  the 
east  side  of  Seneca  Lake,  in  New  York, about  1807. 
He  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  and  after  his 
marriage  settled  on  an  unimproved  tract  of  land 
near  Southport.  Later  he  turned  his  attention 
to  lumbering.  His  business  ability  gained  him 
wealth,  but  through  an  endorsement  of  notes, 
amounting  to  more  than  $100,000,  which  he  was 
obliged  to  pay,  he  lost  all  his  property.  In  1S57 
he  came  west  and  settled  four  miles  east  of  Peo- 
tone, in  Will  Township,  where  he  paid  $12.50 
an  acre  for  one-half  section  of  laud.  After  pay- 
ing for  this  property  he  had  only  $1,000  left  of 
his  once  vast  fortune.  He  turned  his  attention 
to  the  stock  business,  and  the  heavy  advance  in 
prices  caused  by  the  Civil  war  once  more  placed 
him  in  affluence.  A  year  before  his  death  he  sold 
his  farm  and  retired  to  a  small  place  near  town, 
where  he  died  in  1868.  For  years  he  was  an 
active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Church  and  a 
member  of  its  board  of  trustees.  Though  not  an 
office-seeker,  he  held  a  number  of  local  positions 
of  trust.  One  of  his  hobbies  was  his  fondness 
for  a  good  horse.  He  knew  a  fine  animal  when 
he  saw  it,  and  always  liked  to  have  several  in 
his  barn.  His  wife  was  born  near  Waverly,  N.Y., 
in  181 1,  and  died  in  this  county  in  1882. 

The  farm  where  Lorenzo  Dow  Tobias  was  born 


was  a  part  of  a  grant  of  twenty-three  thousand 
and  forty  acres  made  by  the  colony  (now  the  state) 
of  New  York  to  his  grandfather,  Henry  Tobias, 
who  came  to  America  as  a  captain  of  a  company 
of  Hessians  under  the  British  flag  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Some  time  after  reaching 
this  country  he  decided  he  was  fighting  for  an 
unjust  cause,  and  so  joined  Washington's  army 
and  helped  to  free  America.  In  recognition  of 
his  services  the  state  of  New  York  granted  him 
a  tract  six  miles  square.  There  he  settled  and 
reared  his  family.  His  son,  Henry,  Jr.,  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  lived  on  the  same  place,  but 
after  his  death  his  widow  abandoned  the  property 
and  allowed  it  to  pass  out  of  the  family. 

When  a  boy  Mr.  Tobias,  of  this  sketch,  was  a 
pupil  of  H.  M.  Aller,  afterward  a  president  in 
the  state  university  of  Kansas;  Allen  C.  Storey, 
in  later  years  a  prominent  criminal  lawyer  in 
Chicago,  and  Judge  Miller,  afterward  a  justice  of 
the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  He  also  took 
a  course  in  the  academy  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  studied  civil  engineering  under  Prof.  Gillett. 
When  his  father  came  west  he  was  a  youth  of 
seventeen.  The  three  following  years  he  aided 
in  the  clearing  of  the  new  Illinois  farm.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  navy 
and  was  assigned  to  the  recruiting  service,  going 
to  New  York.  After  the  crew  were  enlisted  they 
spent  some  days  on  board  the  receiving-ship,  and 
later  were  sent  to  duty  on  the  gunboat  "Ranger," 
(now  in  the  Philippine  service).  Their  first 
engagement  was  the  capture  of  Roanoke  Island. 
Later  they  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Newberne 
and  Fort  Beaufort.  Following  this  they  were  on 
other  vessels  ou  short  scouting  expeditions.     On 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


being  mustered  out  of  the  navy,  in  1S62,  Mr. 
Tobias  joined  the  engineering  corps  of  the  United 
States  arm)-,  and  was  engaged  in  the  service  in 
North  Carolina.  During  the  winter  of  1863-64 
he  visited  his  parents,  after  which  he  enlisted  in 
the  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  was  sent  to  Ten- 
nessee to  do  duty.  However,  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville had  been  fought  before  he  reached  there, 
and  after  pursuing  the  enemy  down  into  Ala- 
bama he  and  his  regiment  were  mustered  out  of 
the  service  at  Selma,  Ala. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army  Mr.  Tobias 
went  to  the  frontier  of  Minnesota,  where  he 
worked  on  government  land  survey  and  for  other 
engineering  parties.  Two  years  later  the  death 
of  his  father  called  him  home.  Here  he  remained 
for  several  years.  February  17,  1S72,  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Sarah  May,  nee  Davis,  of  Swansea, 
South  Wales,  but  from  girlhood  a  resident  of  Illi- 
nois. By  her  first  husband,  Benjamin  G.  H. 
May,  she  had  two  children,  namely,  Harriet, 
wife  of  W.  C.  McEweti,  of  Harvey,  111.,  and 
Sarah  Ellen,  wife  of  James  A.  Cowing,  of  Home- 
wood,  111. 

To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tobias  four  chil- 
dren were  born,  viz.:  Joseph  P.;  Harry,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  laundry  business  at  Peotone; 
Frank,  a  telegraph  operator  at  New  Haven,  Mo., 
and  Lucy,  wife  of  Warren    B.   Mather,  of  Joliet. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Tobias  was  sent 
to  Peru,  South  America,  on  a  surveying  expedi- 
tion for  railroad  surveying.  He  spent  over  three 
years  in  that  country  and  crossed  the  Isthmus 
twice,  meantime  learning  much  concerning  Span- 
ish rule  and  the-  antiquities  of  South  America. 
On  his  return  to  Illinois  he  spent  a  year  in  Peo- 
tone and  then  went  to  Wilmington,  where  he 
carried  on  a  coal  business  for  two  years.  Later 
he  became  connected  with  the  engineering  de- 
partment of  the  Wabash  Railroad,  then  building 
into  Chicago,  and  had  charge  of  the  construction 
of  a  portion  of  the  road.  After  the  road  was 
completed  he  was  connected  with  the  engineering 
department  of  the  Tehauntepec  &  Inter-Ocean 
Railroad  in  Mexico,  where  he  was  employed  for 
two  and  one-half  years  as  assistant  to  the  chief 
engineer,  having  charge  of  the  construction  and 


location  of  the  route.  His  position  was  one  of 
great  responsibility,  and  including  the  paying  of 
all  the  workmen.  On  his  return  to  the  States  in 
1883  he  was  employed  by  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  in  the  construction  of  some  of  its 
branches  in  Mississippi,  which  work  consumed 
four  years,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  months 
spent  at  home.  On  the  completion  of  the  work 
he  was  for  one  year  proprietor  of  a  meat  market, 
which  he  had  taken  on  a  mortgage.  In  1887  he 
went  to  New  Orleans  and  engaged  in  bridge  con- 
tracting. During  his  two  years  in  that  city  he 
was  sent  to  Central  America  by  a  syndicate  of 
contractors  to  look  over  the  Nicaragua  canal. 
While  stationed  at  New  Orleans  he  received  a 
commission  from  the  Sanitary  Commission, 
backed  by  the  merchants  of  New  Orleans,  to 
look  into  the  sanitary  condition  of  those  seaports 
having  direct  trade  with  New  Orleans,  in  order, 
if  possible,  to  have  their  vessels  avoid  the  long 
quarantine.  In  1872,  while  on  his  way  to  South 
America,  he  met  an  old  friend  and  acquaintance, 
the  historic  Captain  Fry,  who  was  then  on  his 
way  to  take  command  of  the  "Virginius,"  and 
who  was  later  executed  at  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

In  18S9  Mr.  Tobias  was  sent  to  Cartagena, 
Columbia,  as  chief  engineer  of  the  Cartagena  & 
Magdaleua  Railroad,  and  laid  out  the  route, 
started  the  work  of  construction  and  continued 
with  the  enterprise  until  1893,  returning  to  the 
States  in  time  to  visit  the  Columbian  Exposition. 
His  next  enterprise  was  a  coal  and  lumber  busi- 
ness at  Peotone,  and  this  he  conducted  until  the 
spring  of  1899,  when   he  retired  from  business. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Tobias  is  a  charter  member  of 
Peotone  Lodge  No.  636,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  is  a 
Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Eastern 
Star  Lodge  No.  65.  William  A.  Webb  Post  No. 
657,  G.  A.  R. ,  numbers  him  among  its  members, 
as  does  also  the  John  A.  Smith  Garrison,  Knights 
of  the  Globe.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  but 
resigned  after  retiring  from  the  business.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  connected  with 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  has  served  his  con- 
gregation as  a  trustee.  His  life  has  been  an  ex- 
ceedingly active  and  busy  one,  replete  with  inci- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


201 


dent  and  adventure.  His  business  has  taken  him 
into  many  countries,  and  perhaps  no  citizen  of 
Peotone  has  a  more  thorough  and  cosmopolitan 
knowledge  than  he.  After  years  of  successful 
effort,  it  is  fitting  that  he  should  spend  the  after- 
noon of  his  life  in  a  pleasant  and  comfortable 
home,  surrounded  by  family  and  friends,  and  held 
in  the  highest  esteem  by  his  acquaintances 
throughout  the  country. 


5JEORGE  M.  CAMPBELL.  Of  those  who 
_  are  connected  with  the  stone  business  in 
^Ji  Joliet,  few  have  done  more  than  Mr.  Camp- 
bell to  aid  its  development  and  foster  its  success. 
His  name  is  inseparably  associated  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  Joliet  Stone  Company,  whose  re- 
markable success  was  largely  due  to  his  energy 
and  judgment.  When  this  property  was  sold  to 
the  Western  Stone  Company  in  1891,  he  contin- 
ued with  the  latter  as  Joliet  manager  and  stock- 
holder, but  after  two  years  sold  his  interest  in  the 
business  and  resigned  his  position.  About  the 
same  time  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  C. 
Dennis  as  Campbell  &  Dennis,  general  contrac- 
tors, which  business  he  now  continues  alone.  He 
is  interested  in  the  supply  house  of  A.W.  Hays  & 
Co.,  which  has  an  office  on  Cass  street,  and  keeps 
in  stock  a  general  stock  of  builders'  and  contrac- 
tors' supplies.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
Joliet  National  Bank  he  was  made  a  director, 
and  two  years  later  was  elected  vice-president,  in 
both  of  which  positions  he  has  since  been  retained. 
He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Joliet  Republican  Print- 
ing Company;  is  treasurer  of  the  Will  County 
Abstract  Company,  and  is  interested  in  the  Pur- 
ington  Paving  Brick  Company,  of  Galesburg,  111. 
The  Campbell  family  was  founded  in  America 
by  a  Scotchman  who  settled  in  New  Hampshire, 
and  whose  son,  Samuel,  was  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject.  A  native  of  New  Hampshire,  Sam- 
uel Campbell  removed  to  Maine  and  engaged  in 
farming  there  until  his  death,  at  sixty-five  years. 
His  son,  John  B. ,  who  was  born  in  Waldo  County, 


Me. ,  went  to  sea  in  boyhood  and  remained  for 
years  in  the  merchant  marine  trade,  meantime 
traveling  all  over  Europe.  On  leaving  the  sea 
he  became  a  carpenter  and  joiner  in  Belfast, 
Waldo  County,  Me.,  but  two  years  after  his  mar- 
riage removed  to  Massachusetts.  In  1857  he 
came  west,  first  settling  near  Marion,  Linn 
County,  Iowa,  and  engaging  in  the  carpenter 
business.  In  April,  1862,  he  came  to  Joliet, 
where  he  became  a  contractor  in  the  building  of 
canal  boats.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Iowa  and 
established  a  pleasant  country  home,  "  The 
Pines,"  in  Des  Moines,  two  miles  east  of  the 
capitol.  His  last  years  were  devoted  to  art  and 
literature,  and  he  passed  away  at  the  home  of  his 
son,  George  M.,  in  Joliet,  when  seventy-five 
years  of  age. 

The  marriage  of  John  B.  Campbell  united  him 
with  Margaret  W.  Norton,  who  was  born  at 
Buck's  Harbor,  Me.,  January  16,  1827,  and  is 
still  living.  Her  father  was  born  at  the  same  old 
homestead,  though  at  the  time  of  his  birth  Maine 
was  still  a  part  of  Massachusetts.  The  great- 
grandfather Norton,  an  Englishman,  settled  at 
Martha's  Vineyard,  and  afterward  built  the  home 
at  Buck's  Harbor;  later  he  took  part  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  John  B.  and  Margaret  W.  Camp- 
bell had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living, 
George  M.,  and  Mrs.  Susan  E.  Fox,  of  Denver, 
Colo. 

In  Unity,  Waldo  County,  Me.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  January  5,  1848.  He  ac- 
companied his  parents  in  their  various  removals, 
and  did  considerable  pioneer  farming.  While  at 
a  small  village  called  Central  City,  twelve  miles 
north  of  Marion,  Iowa,  under  his  father  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1862  he  came  to  Joliet. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Joliet,  and  a 
private  in  Springfield,  Mass.  After  leaving 
school  he  engaged  with  a  Joliet  contractor  for  a 
year  or  more.  For  a  short  time  he  clerked  for  G. 
Munroe  &  Son,  after  which  he  entered  the  stone 
business,  May  23,  1870,  as  bookkeeper  and  pay- 
master for  Sanger  &  Steel,  and  remained  with 
them  until  1S75.  With  George  H.  Munroe 
and  Daniel  C.  Hays  he  started  in  the  stone  busi- 
ness.    The  company  was   incorporated  in   1877 


202 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  a  capital  of  $30,000,  under  the  name  of  the 
Joliet  Stone  Company,  Mr.  Munroe  being  presi- 
dent, and  Mr.  Campbell,  secretary,  treasurer  and 
manager.  The  main  office  of  the  company  was 
in  Joliet,  and  there  were  five  branch  offices  in 
Chicago,  to  which  was  run  a  fleet  of  boats  owned 
by  the  company.  Thirteen  thousand  cars  of 
Stone  were  shipped  from  this  company's  quarries 
the  last  year  before  it  sold  out. 

While  business  matters  have  required  his 
almost  constant  attention,  Mr.  Campbell  has 
never  neglected  his  duties  as  a  citizen,  but  has 
aided  in  enterprises  for  the  public  good.  He  has 
always  been  a  staunch  Republican,  but  has  never 
been  an  office  seeker.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1873  Mr.  Campbell  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henry  Snapp,  who 
was  a  noted  attorney  of  Joliet  and  represented 
this  district  in  congress.  The  two  daughters  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  are  Jessie  M.  and  Ida  A. 


(II.I.IAM  JOSEPH  LYONS,  who  is  one  of 
the  leading  lumber  merchants  of  Joliet,  has 
spent  his  life  in  this  city-,  and  owns  a  fine 
home  at  No.  616  Western  avenue.  His  father, 
John  Lyons,  a  native  of  Ireland,  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  youth,  and  on  crossing  the  ocean 
to  America  settled  in  Joliet  in  1S49.  For  a  long 
time  he  engaged  in  the  building  business  here, 
having  a  number  of  important  and  profitable 
contracts.  In  1875  he  opened  a  lumber  business 
on  South  Bluff  street,  adjoining  the  Porter  brew- 
ery. Six:  years  later  he  moved  to  the  corner  of 
Desplaines  and  Clinton  streets,  and  continued 
actively  engaged  in  business  here  until  1897, when 
he  transferred  the  business  to  his  son,  William 
Joseph,  and   removed   to  Colorado  Springs,  his 


present  residence.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Will 
County  and  a  leader  in  the  local  Democracy. 
Many  of  the  buildings  which  he  erected  are  still 
standing,  and  their  excellent  condition  testifies  to 
his  skill  and  reliability  as  a  contractor.  He  mar- 
ried Susan  Feeney,  who  was  born  in  Channa- 
hon,  this  county,  and  died  in  Joliet  in  1885,  at 
thirty-eight  years  of  age.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Barney  Feeney,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  one 
of  the  pioneer  farmers  of  Channahon  Township. 

Three  daughters  and  four  sous  comprised  the 
family  of  John  and  Susan  Lyons.  Of  these  all 
are  living  but  one  daughter.  William  Joseph, 
who  was  next  to  the  eldest  of  the  family,  was 
born  at  the  family  home  in  Joliet.  January  1, 
1866.  After  having  studied  in  the  public  schools 
for  some  years,  in  1879  he  left  school  in  order  to 
learn  the  lumber  business  under  his  father.  He 
was  soon  made  bookkeeper,  and  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  business,  of  which,  in 
1890,  he  took  charge.  In  1897  he  purchased  the 
business,  and  now  has  entire  charge  of  the  large 
yards  on  Clinton  and  Desplaines  streets,  where 
he  carries  a  full  stock  of  lumber  and  building 
material.  He  buys  direct  from  mills  in  Wiscon- 
sin and  Michigan,  and  to  some  extent  also  from 
Southern  mills.  His  entire  time  is  devoted  to 
the  lumber  business,  and  he  is  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  all  of  its  details. 

In  [892-93  Mr.  Lyons  held  the  office  of  secre- 
tary of  the  city  Democratic  committee.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church 
and  the  Western  Catholic  Union.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  Knights  of  Honor,  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America  ami  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  last- 
named  order.  His  marriage,  in  Harvard,  111., 
united  him  with  Miss  Hannah  L.  Sweeney,  who 
was  born  in  that  city.  They  have  three  child:  en, 
Horace  R.,  Gladys  Marie  and  William  Joseph,  Jr. 


UWVERSITV  OF  ILLINOIS 


<\^7^CL  /  ^n^elt^r^^. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


205 


DAVID  CLARK  BALDWIN. 


0AVID  CLARK  BALDWIN.  The  life  of 
Mr.  Baldwin  was  inseparably  associated  with 
the  history  of  Loekport.  In  fact  the  village 
owed  its  existence  in  no  small  measure  to  his 
efforts,  for  he  was  one  of  its  incorporators  as  well 
as  one  of  its  first  officials.  During  the  sixty-two 
years  of  his  residence  here  he  witnessed  the 
transformation  of  the  place  from  a  small  and  iso- 
lated frontier  town  to  a  populous  and  thriving 
commercial  and  agricultural  center,  whose  manu- 
facturing interests  make  it  one  of  the  important 
towns  of  northeastern  Illinois.  It  was  his  privilege 
to  live  to  see  what  was  during  the  '30s  a  region 
of  almost  unsettled  land  transformed  into  a  finely 
improved  country  containing  cities  and  villages 
of  commercial  importance.  In  all  of  the  arduous 
and  stirring  scenes  of  pioneer  life  he  was  a  prom- 
inent figure.  His  was  the  hand  that  helped  in 
every  forward  movement,  his  the  eye  that  dis- 
cerned a  favorable  opportunity  and  his  the  mind 
that  planned,  years  ago,  a  prosperous  future  for 
his  home  town.  There  was  scarcely  a  business 
measure  projected  in  early  days  with  which  his 
name  was  not  associated.  To  illustrate  his  con- 
nection with  pioneer  transactions  it  may  be  stated 
that  some  wheat  he  purchased  went  into  the  first 
flour  manufactured  in  Loekport,  and  this  flour 
was  sold  in  Chicago,  entering  into  the  shipment 
of  the  first  hundred  barrels  of  flour  sent  from  that 
market.  At  the  time  he  came  west  Chicago  was 
an  uukno  vn  region,  whose  site  was  occupied  by 
Fort  Dearborn,  with  its  officers'  houses  and  bar- 
racks and  a  scattering  village  on  Lake  Michigan. 
As  Chicago  grew  he  kept  in  touch  with  its  devel- 
opment and  made  many  friends  amongthe  leading 
wholesale  merchants  of  that  city.  For  many  years, 
and  until  his  retirement  in  1888,  he  engaged  in 
10 


various  lines  of  merchandising,  and  in  this  way 
had  constant  relations  with  wholesale  dealers. 
With  them  he  held  a  high  position,  and  many  a 
busy  merchant  left  his  desk  on  Mr.  Baldwin's 
entrance  in  order  to  enjoy  a  social  talk  with  him. 
His  credit  was  the  highest,  and  even  the  loss  of 
his  business  block  (a  calamity  that  twice  over- 
took him)  failed  to  affect  his  credit  in  the  least, 
but  only  served  to  emphasize  the  high  confidence 
in  which  he  was  held,  and  brought  him  many 
offers  of  financial  assistance.  In  the  credit  book 
of  a  commercial  traveler,  opposite  Mr.  Baldwin's 
name,  were  the  words,  "Good  as  gold,"  and  this 
statement  found  echo  with  all  of  his  associates  in 
business. 

The  Baldwins  are  an  old  eastern  family.  Ben- 
jamin Baldwin,  a  native  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  was 
a  highly  educated  man.  His  son,  Timothy,  our 
subject's  father,  was  born  at  Canterbury,  Conn., 
April  15,  1775,  and  died  in  that  state  in  1840. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary 
Lathrop,  was  born  in  Connecticut  May  27,  1780, 
and  died  there  in  1852.  Their  son,  David  C, 
was  born  at  Canterbury  April  23,  1810,  and  at 
an  early  age  began  to  teach  school,  which  occu- 
pation he  followed  in  Connecticut,  New  York, 
Ohio  and  Illinois.  It  was  in  1834  that  he  came 
to  Loekport.  For  a  time  he  engaged  in  teaching 
and  had  charge  of  the  first  school  in  Homer 
Township.  Later  he  entered  business.  He 
proved  himself  to  be  a  man  of  unusual  business 
ability,  keen,  careful  and  conservative,  yet  ener- 
getic and  progressive.  Being  the  soul  of  honor 
and  integrity,  he  retained  the  confidence  of  asso- 
ciates. It  is  rare,  indeed,  that  a  man  is  met  in 
whom  are  combined  so  many  noble  traits  as 
appeared  in  Mr.  Baldwin's  character.     Of  all  the 


2o6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


people  in  the  town  there  was  none  but  had  a  good 
word  for  him.  Young  men  venerated  him  and 
children  were  always  his  friends,  while  those 
more  nearly  his  own  age  were  bound  to  him  by 
ties  of  intimate  and  long  association.  During 
the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  became  deeply  inter- 
ested in  floriculture  and  devoted  much  time  to  the 
raising  of  plants.  His  leisure  hours  were  spent 
with  his  flowers.  He  was  a  diligent  botanical 
student,  and  understood  the  entire  growth  of 
plants,  from  the  embryo  leaves  and  roots  to  the 
mature  plants  with  their  flowers.  The  contrast 
afforded  between  the  cares  of  business  and  the 
supervision  of  his  plants  seemed  restful  to  him 
and  afforded  him  one  of  his  greatest  pleasures. 

May  18,  1865,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Baldwin  to  Miss  Cornelia  A.,  daughter  of  Elias 
and  Mary  (Paine)  Freer.  Her  father,  a  native 
of  New  York,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1836  and 
settled  at  Forked  Creek,  eight  miles  east  of  Wil- 
mington. He  had  been  a  tanner  in  the  east,  but 
here  he  engaged  in  farm  pursuits.  After  a  few 
years  he  settled  in  Plainfield.  In  1861  he  came 
to  Lockport,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  He  was  a  stanch  Whig  and  an  anti-sla- 
very man.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  war  of 
1812  he  enlisted  in  the  American  army,  serving 
until  the  close.  His  father,  John,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  The  family  is  of  French- 
Huguenot  descent.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Bald- 
win was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt.,  removed  to 
New  York  in  girlhood  and  died  in  Lockport  in 
1879,  when  eighty-seven  years  of  age.  Both  she 
and  her  husband  were  active  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children  who  reached  maturity;  of  these 
Mrs.  Boylan,  Mrs.  Baldwin  and  Mrs.  Hanford 
are  living. 

At  the  time  the  family  came  west  Mrs.  Bald- 
win was  a  child  of  eight  years.  She  was  educated 
under  private  tutors  at  home  and  in  the  schools 
of  Miss  Carr  and  the  Misses  Whiting,  where  she 
met  many  young  ladies  who  afterward  became 
prominent  in  the  highest  social  circles  of  Chi- 
cago. For  years  she  has  been  identified  with 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  has  maintained  a  deep 
interest  in  religious  work    for   half  a   century. 


The  only  child  born  to  her  marriage,  Alice 
Louise,  died  when  in  her  sixth  year.  Afterward 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  adopted  a  daughter, 
Edith,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  O.  F.  Russell  and 
makes  her  home  with  her  mother. 

After  an   active  and  useful  life  Mr.  Baldwin 
entered  into  eternal  rest,  December  19,  1896. 


HORATIO  N.  MARSH.  Of  the  many  thou- 
sands of  men  now  living  in  Joliet  no  one 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  city  for  so  long  a 
period  as  has  Mr.  Marsh.  During  the  entire 
period  of  his  connection  with  local  history  he  has 
maintained  a  deep  interest  in  the  development  of 
the  city's  resources  and  has  aided  in  its  advance- 
ment. No  one  is  better  posted  than  he  concern- 
ing incidents  connected  with  the  history  of  Joliet, 
and  many  of  these  he  has  written  up,  thereby 
giving  them  a  permanent  value.  One  of  the 
local  matters  in  which  he  has  been  interested  has 
been  the  pronunciation  of  Joliet,  and  it  was  largely 
through  his  influence  that  an  ordinance  was 
passed  by  the  city  council,  April  22,  1895,  declar- 
ing the  proper  pronunciation  of  the  word  to  be 
Jo-li-et.  To  stir  public  sentiment  on  the  subject 
he  read  a  poem  at  one  of  the  schools  February 
27,  1894,  which  was  afterward  published  and 
widely  distributed,  and  which  accomplished  not 
a  little  toward  the  end  sought.  We  quote  from 
it  the  following  lines: 

If  by  some  other  name  the  fair  rose  that  we  greet, 
Has  a  beauty  as  rare,  and  a  fragrance  as  sweet, 
Does  it  follow  of  course  that  its  friends  should  not  claim 
For  their  favorite  flower  its  own  beautiful  name? 
So  our  city,  misnamed,  may  appear  just  as  fair, 
And  its  crown  of  achievement  as  royally  wear, 
Yet  who  would  not  wish  it  might  ever  be  known 
By  the  name  it  was  christened,  and  that  name  alone? 

As  one  reaches  our  city,  ere  brakes  can  be  set, 
The  brakemau  officially  cries:   Jol-ly-yet! 
And  at  the  hotel,  asked  the  name  of  the  place, 
Of  the  gem-bedecked  clerk,  with  the  rubicund  face, 
"Can  I  tell  you  the  name  sir,"  he  answers:    "You  bet! 
What  else  could  you  call  it  but  straight  Jo-li-ette." 
But  the  clerk  with  the  register  does  not  agree; 
Printed  Jo-li-et  plainly  as  any  may  see! 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


207 


But  pronouncing  so  badly,  though  only  a  fad, 

Has  led  to  a  spelling  as  wretchedly  bad. 

In  warehouse  and  store,  and  abroad  on  our  streets, 

And  on  missives  by  mail,  what  strange  spelling  one 

meets. 
We  have  Joliette  and  Joilet  and  quaint  Jolleyette, 
And  scores  of  strange  "spells"  we  would  gladly  forget! 
But  a  truce  to  bad  spelling;  we  sadly  deplore, 
As  practiced  too  oft,  its  orthoepy  more; 
And  marvel  that  people  of  culture  proclaim, 
Their  own  lack  of  taste,  -nispronouncing  the  name; 
And  more,  that  such  errors  in  usage  abound 
When  a  uniform  standard  is  readily  found! 

If  we  turn  to  the  library,  kind  Mrs.  Mack, 

To  the  goal  we  are  seeking  will  show  us  the  track; 

And  as  lexicons  modern  and  musty  we  turn 

Our  search  to  reward  we  this  lesson  shall  learn: 

—  That  in  spelling  and  accent  the  standards  agree; 

And  the  name  of  our  city  must  Jo-li-et  be! 

True,  the  Frenchman  will  sound  the  first  syllable  Zho, 

While  the  Saxon,  less  musical,  calls  it  plain  Jo, 

But  he  it  was  named  for  would  never  have  known 

His  name  as  oft  heird  in  this  city  of  stone. 

With  the  right  and  the  wrong  so  distinctly  in  view, 
What,  as  people  of  culture  and  taste,  shall  we  do? 
To  the  wrong  tamely  yield,  or  continue  the  fight 
Till  the  wrong  dies  ignobly,  and  triumph  the  right! 
With  our  schools  may  our  pulpits  and  platforms  unite, 
To  drive  these  misnomers  from  hearing  and  sight; 
The  speaker  who  slights  such  grammatical  laws, 
Should  be  greeted  with  hisses  instead  of  applause; 
The  teacher  who  would  not  correctly  pronounce 
The  name  of  his  Patron  deserves  the  grand  bounce; 
And  the  pupil  so  stupid,  a  vigorous  whack 
Of  the  pedagogue's  rule  on  the  end  of  his  back! 

And  brakeman,  oh!  brakeman,  in  pity  forbear 
With  uncouth  Jolley-yet  to  encumber  the  air; 
And  far  prettier  Jo-li-et  give  to  the  ear 
Of  the  traveler  waiting  your  message  to  hear; 
Do  this  and  we'll  honor  you  living,  and  dead 
A  Jo-liet  marble  will  place  at  your  head. 

Genealogical  records  show  that  the  Marsh  fam- 
ily accompanied  William  the  Conqueror  from 
Normandy  to  England,  settling  in  the  Marsh 
country,  from  which  fact  their  name  was  derived. 
The  family  in  America  descends  from  two  broth- 
ers and  a  cousin  who  came  from  England,  two 
settling  in  Massachusetts  and  one  in  Connecticut. 
This  branch  descends  from  John  Marsh,  who 
settled  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1635.  In  171 1  his 
descendants  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Montagua,    near    Deerfield,     Franklin    County, 


Mass.,  where  were  born  Jonathan  Marsh,  his  son 
Quartus,  and  grandson,  Horatio  N.  In  1835 
Quartus  Marsh  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a. 
farm  near  Crete,  where  he  died  in  1850.  He 
married  Sallie  Holt,  who  was  born  near  Deer- 
field,  of  English  descent,  and  died  in  this  county. 
Of  their  six  children,  Mary  A.  and  Jonathan  died 
in  this  county  and  Francis  in  Piatt  County; 
Edwin  lives  in  Chicago  and  Henry  in  Kansas. 

The  oldest  son  in  the  family,  Horatio  N. ,  was 
born  November  15,  1812.  He  distinctly  remem- 
bers the  dedication  of  Bunker  Hill  monument 
and  Lafayette's  visit  to  the  United  States.  In 
1827  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  western  New 
York,  settling  near  Rochester.  Soon  afterward 
he  was  apprenticed  to  the  cabinet-maker's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  some  years.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1835,  he  came  to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  by 
packet  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  steamer  to  Detroit, 
from  there  across  Michigan  by  wagon  and  on  to 
Joliet.  All  of  those  whom  he  accompanied  settled 
in  eastern  Will  County,  then  a  part  of  Cook 
County.  In  1836  Will  County  was  organized, 
and  the  same  year  a  bill  was  passed  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  canal.  On  account  of  lack  of 
funds  the  work  was  temporarily  suspended,  but 
some  years  later  the  state  obtained  a  loan  from 
England  and  work  was  resumed,  the  canal  being 
completed  in  1849.  Its  completion  enabled  the 
people  of  Will  County  to  board  a  packet  and  be 
in  Chicago  in  ten  or  twelve  hours,  which  they 
considered  very  satisfactory.  With  the  building 
of  the  Rock  Island  road  in  1852  the  distance  was 
covered  in  less  than  two  hours. 

After  working  for  a  short  time  as  a  journeyman 
cabinet-maker  Mr.  Marsh  opened  a  shop  of  his 
own  on  the  east  side,  but  later  moved  to  Bluff 
street.  He  continued  in  the  business  until  hand 
work  was  superseded  by  machinery  products  when 
he  quit.  In  1852  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad,  being  the  first  agent  ap- 
pointed on  the  new  road,  and  he  continued  to  be 
their  agent,  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
(1863-66),  when  he  was  postmaster,  until  1883, 
when  he  resigned  on  account  of  age.  During 
the  last  years  of  his  connection  with  the  railroad 
its  business  here  aggregated  $500,000  annually, 


208 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  his  responsibilities  as  freight  and  passenger 
agent  constantly  increased.  After  resigning  as 
agent  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  and  real-estate 
business,  continuing  ten  years,  when  he  retired 
from  business.  Fifty  years  ago  he  built  a  resi- 
dence on  what  is  now  Broadway  and  here  he  has 
since  made  his  home. 

Possessing  literary  ability,  Mr.  Marsh  has 
always  been  interested  in  newspaper  work  and 
has  been  a  constant  reader  of  local  and  general 
history.  From  1847  to  1852  he  was  editor  of  the 
old  Whig  paper,  which  was  called  the  Joliet 
True  Democrat  and  which  had  the  largest  circu- 
lation of  any  paper  for  miles  around.  This  paper 
has  since  been  merged  into  the  Joliet  Republican. 
In  1848  Mr.  Marsh  advocated  the  nomination  of 
General  Taylor.  In  1850  he  took  the  census  of 
Will  County.  He  was  interested  in  the  effort  to 
build  a  road  from  Joliet  to  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  to 
connect  with  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad,  but  on 
account  of  the  building  of  the  Michigan  Central 
road,  the  other  road  never  materialized.  During 
his  service  as  alderman  he  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  claims.  For  some  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  during  that  time, 
with  others,  he  began  the  building  of  the  fine 
schoolhouses  in  which  Joliet  now  excels.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  and  has  since  been  an  active  mem- 
ber and  ruling  elder,  also  a  participant  in  Sunday- 
school  work.  In  1836  he  voted  for  William 
Henry  Harrison  and  afterward  continued  a  Whig 
until  the  dissolution  of  the  party,  since  which  he 
has  been  a  stanch  Republican.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Tippecanoe  Club  of 
Chicago. 

In  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Marsh  was 
married,  in  1S35,  to  Miss  Mary  Kile,  who  died 
leaving  an  only  child,  William  H.  The  latter 
enlisted  in  the  Third  Illinois  Infantry  and  was 
fatally  wounded  at  Vicksburg,  where  he  died. 
The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Marsh  united  him 
with  Miss  Mary  L.  Pond,  now  deceased,  of  Mon- 
roe County,  N.  Y.  Their  only  child,  Frank  E., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in  Joliet, 
married  Miss  Kate  Richmond,  of  Joliet,  and  has 
two  sons,   both  graduates  of  the   Illinois  State 


University,  the  older  of  whom  is  engaged  in  med- 
ical missionary  work  in  Point  Barrow,  Alaska, 
and  the  younger  is  an  electrician  in  Minneapolis. 
Mr.  Marsh  was  married  again,  February  9,  1870, 
to  Miss  Jennie  R.  Foster,  of  Delavan,  Wis.  She 
was  born  October  3,  1831,  and  died  September  7, 
1896. 

As  is  commonly  known,  the  city  of  Joliet  is 
named  in  honor  of  Monsieur  Joliet,  a  man  of 
many  remarkable  qualities,  whose  self-sacrificing 
labors  left  their  impress  upon  the  subsequent 
history  of  the  county.  He  was  a  companion  of 
Father  Marquette.  In  1672,  when  he  and  Mar- 
quette were  returning  from  an  expedition  on  the 
Mississippi,  they  traveled  up  the  Illinois  and 
Desplaines  rivers  and  discovered  Mount  Joliet, 
which  was  named  in  his  honor.  When  the  town 
of  Joliet  was  laid  out  in  1834  it  was  recorded 
Juliet  by  an  ignorant  man,  who  was  unfamiliar 
with  the  origin  of  the  name;  hence  for  some  time 
it  was  often  called  Juliet  or  Juliette,  but  by  act  of 
legislature  the  name  was  changed  to  Joliet. 


NENRY  D.  HIGINBOTHAM.  The  Higin- 
botham  family  originated  in  England, 
whence  some  of  the  name  removed  to  the 
Barbadoes  during  an  early  period  of  American 
settlement.  Later  generations  were  actively 
identified  with  the  progress  of  New  England, 
where  they  prospered  in  the  pursuit  of  such 
occupations  as  were  then  in  vogue.  Charles 
Higinbotham,  who  was  the  sou  of  a  captain 
of  a  whaling  vessel,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island 
November  14,  1779,  and  in  youth  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Otsego,  N.  Y.,  where  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Gertrude  Dumont,  of  Westford,  the 
daughter  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Some  time 
after  his  marriage  he  removed  to  Allegan  County, 
Mich.  He  died  August  18,  1844.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  for  fourteen  years,  dying  July  17, 
1858,  when  seventy-eight  years  of  age. 

The  second  of  the  four  sons  of  Charles  Higin- 
botham, Henry  D.,  was  born  in  Worcester,  Ot- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


209 


sego  Count)',  N.  Y. ,  January  10,  1806.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  upon  a  farm  and  early  acquired 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  agriculture,  at  the 
same  time  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  In 
1831  he  married  Miss  Rebecca  Wheeler,  of 
Westford,  N.  Y.,  but  a  native  of  Canaan,  Co- 
lumbia County,  that  state.  Soon  after  their 
marriage  they  settled  in  Oneida,  N.  Y.,  where 
Mr.  Higinbotham  opened  a  blacksmith's  shop 
and  worked  energetically  at  his  trade.  How- 
ever, he  did  not  feel  satisfied  to  remain  in  the 
east,  where  opportunities  were  few  in  comparison 
with  those  offered  by  the  rich  but  unpopulated 
west.  Long  before  Horace  Greeley  had  uttered 
his  immortal  words:  "Go  west,  young  man," 
he  had  determined  to  follow  that  '  'star  of  empire' ' 
which  "  westward  takes  it  way." 

While  Will  County  was  still  a  part  of  Cook, 
Mr.  Higinbotham  settled  on  Hickory  Creek,  east 
of  what  is  now  Joliet.  It  was  in  June,  1834,  that 
he  arrived  in  the  region  with  whose  upward 
growth  he  was  to  be  so  intimately  identified.  His 
first  step  was  to  secure  land.  He  entered  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  two  and  one-half 
miles  east  of  Joliet.  With  his  wife  he  estab- 
lished a  little  home  in  the  midst  of  frontier  sur- 
roundings. There,  working  with  stout  hearts 
and  steady  industry,  they  made  their  home  for 
many  years.  It  was  his  task  to  clear  the  land, 
cultivate  the  fields,  build  necessary  buildings  and 
make  desired  improvements.  With  the  flight  of 
the  changing  years  he  added  to  his  property  and 
its  value  constantly  increased.  Soon  he  came  to 
be  recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  in 
the  county.  His  knowledge  of  agriculture  was 
thorough  and  broad,  covering  every  branch  of 
the  occupation.  He  thoroughly  demonstrated 
the  superiority  of  diversified  farming,  and  through 
his  varied  interests  gained  what  was  in  those 
days  a  large  fortune.  The  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  he  owned  were  mostly  un- 
der cultivation.  Besides  the  management  of  his 
landed  interests  he  owned  a  grist-mill,  which  for 
years  he  conducted  successfully.  While  he  did 
not  live  to  be  an  old  man,  yet,  after  sharing  in 
the  toils  and  privations  of  pioneer  existence,  he 
was   spared  to  witness   and  enjoy  the  comforts 


rendered  possible  by  the  energy  of  the  early  set- 
tlers. His  earnest  labor  brought  its  own  reward. 
Nor  was  his  success  only  in  a  financial  sense;  for, 
in  a  larger  degree,  he  was  successful  in  winning 
and  retaining  the  respect  of  his  acquaintances,  the 
esteem  of  his  associates.  He  was  regarded,  not 
only  as  a  modern  farmer,  whose  example  could 
be  emulated  with  profit,  but  also  as  an  upright 
man  and  a  good  citizen,  whose  character  was 
"sans  peur  et  sans  reproache."  Those  who 
knew  him  say  that  he  was  a  man  of  quiet,  unos- 
tentatious disposition,  and  one  whose  words 
were  few,  but  every  word  was  weighed  before 
uttered;  no  statement  was  ever  made  thought- 
lessly or  carelessly.  In  physique  he  was  strong 
and  stalwart,  possessing  the  muscles  of  an  ath- 
lete, with  a  soldier's  powers  of  endurance.  He 
was  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  who  lived  up  to 
the  lofty  teachings  of  that  illustrious  order.  In 
religion  he  was  of  the  Universalist  faith. 

In  1854  he  sold  his  farm  and  mill  and  moved 
to  Joliet,  establishing  his  home  at  No.  1009  Cass 
street,  which  is  still  known  in  the  city  as  the 
Higinbotham  homestead.  On  moving  here  he 
became  a  director  in  the  Will  County  Bank,  and 
was  afterward  interested  in  that  institution  as 
long  as  he  lived.  The  last  eleven  years  of  his 
life  were  not  the  least  active  or  fruitful  of  his  busy 
career.  He  aided  in  advancing  the  interests  of 
the  city,  where  he  exerted  a  wholesome  and  sal- 
utary influence  upon  the  people.  He  witnessed 
the  growth  of  the  county  from  a  poor  and  sparsely- 
settled  community  to  one  of  the  foremost  in  the 
state.  He  was  known  for  his  sound  and  careful 
judgment  as  a  business  man;  for  his  enterprise 
that  made  him  willing  to  identify  himself  with 
any  movement  for  the  good  of  the  people.  After 
eleven  years  in  Joliet  he  passed  away  at  his 
home  in  this  city,  March   13,  1865. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Higinbotham  united  him 
with  a  daughter  of  Samuel  B.  Wheeler,  a  native 
of  New  England,  and  a  sister  of  Mansfield 
Wheeler,  who  settled  in  Will  County  in  1832. 
The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higinbotham  com- 
prised the  following  sons  and  daughters  :  Har- 
low Niles  Higinbotham,  member  of  the  firm  of 
Marshall  Field  &  Co.,  of  Chicago  ;  Albert,  who 


2IO 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


served  in  Scott's  Chicago  regiment  during  the 
entire  Civil  war  and  died  in  Joliet  ;  Ambrosia, 
wife  of  Merritt  O.  Cagwin,  and  the  present  occu- 
pant of  the  Higinbotham  homestead;  Mrs.  Ann 
Eliza  Demmond,  of  Joliet ;  Mrs.  Gertrude  Leddy, 
and  Mrs.  Ellen  Darwin,  both  of  whom  died  in 
this  city  ;  and  Charles,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Elgin  postoffice. 


HARLOW  N.  HIGINBOTHAM.  None  of 
the  native-born  sons  of  Will  Count}-  surpass 
Mr.  Higinbotham  in  far-reaching  influence. 
For  years  he  has  been  connected  with  one  of  the 
largest  mercantile  establishments  in  the  world, 
the  success  of  which  has  been  promoted  by  his 
able  oversight.  But  his  prominence  is  not  lim- 
ited to  mercantile  circles.  In  public  affairs  he 
has  been  a  leading  figure.  As  president  of  the 
World's  Fair  he  gained  an  international  distinc- 
tion. It  was  his  enthusiasm  that  did  much  to 
start  the  movement  for  the  exposition  that 
achieved  greatness  in  its  fulfillment,  rendering 
possible,  in  the  midst  of  our  busy  workaday 
world,  the  establishment  of  a  "Dream  City," 
more  fair  than  artist's  brush  could  reproduce, 
and  more  beautiful  than  the  imagination  of  the 
beholder  had  ever  conceived.  Nor  has  he,  in 
the  remarkable  success  of  his  later  years,  forgot- 
ten the  home  of  his  boyhood.  He  still  retains 
his  interest  in  Will  County,  among  whose  people 
his  name  is  often  mentioned  as  a  worthy  candi- 
date for  United  States  senator.  Near  the  old 
home  where  he  was  born  he  has  built  a  mansion 
that  is  perhaps  the  most  elegant  of  any  country 
home  in  Illinois.  When  possible  for  him  to  se- 
cure a  day's  respite  from  his  business  cares  he 
may  be  found  at  the  old  homestead,  superintend- 
ing its  many  important  interests,  and  giving 
directions  regarding  the  management  of  the 
estate.  The  creation  of  this  beautiful  place  is 
itself  the  work  of  a  master-hand;  a  "dream  city'' 
with  park  and  palace,  a  vision  of  enchanting 
grace    never  to    be    forgotten  by  the    passer-by. 


Needless  to  say,  the  people  of  the  city  and  count)- 
are  proud  of  this  place,  and  prouder  yet  of  the 
career  of  the  owner,  and  who  is  still  alluded  to  as 
"  one  of  our  boys."  Harlow  N.  Higinbotham 
is  a  prince  among  men,  and  a  marvelous  produc- 
tion of  our  western  civilization — a  brain  firm 
and  fine  as  adamant,  a  heart  pure  as  gold  and 
tender  as  a  woman,  a  knight  of  the  twentieth 
century,  who  hardly  without  self-realization,  is 
a  true  type  of  an  humble  follower  of  the  "  Naza- 
rine. "  The  true  story  of  the  inner  life  of  Har- 
low N.  Higinbotham  will  never  be  written  ;  he 
must  and  will  live  in  the  hearts  of  those  whom 
he  has  benefited. 

The  various  benevolent  institutions  which  he 
has  helped  to  establish  and  put  on  a  sound  financial 
basis  will  assist  to  keep  alive  the  memory  of  a  man 
whose  whole  life  can  be  an  example  to  every 
young  man,  not  only  in  Will  County,  but  in  the 
whole  world.  The  result  of  his  financial  success 
we  can  see  and  estimate,  but  the  good  deeds 
done,  the  suffering  relieved,  the  happiness  and 
sunshine  entering  at  his  command  thousands  of 
hearts,  we  cannot  see,  except  in  occasional 
glimpses,  they  are  written  in  the  Book  of  Life, 
from  whence  the  real  reward  will  emanate.  The 
evening  of  his  life  will  be  spent  in  the  old  home- 
stead, and  as  the  shadows  lengthen  on  the  hill- 
side, proclaiming  the  dawn  of  the  real  life,  his 
retrospections  will  be  pleasant,  his  rest  well 
earned,  and  the  old  Will  County  friends  dearer 
than  ever. 


["REDERICK  R.  STRYKER.  The  Joliet 
Ty  Mound  Drain  Tile  Company,  of  which  Mr. 
|  Stryker  is  general  manager  and  a  director, 
is  one  of  the  leading  organizations  of  the  kind  in 
Illinois.  When  he  took  a  position  with  it  as  a 
workman  in  the  mechanical  department,  just 
prior  to  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  his  birth. 
the  plant  was  small  and  the  output  meager.  In 
1 880  he  was  made  manager  of  the  works,  on  sec- 
tion 19,  Joliet  Township,  and  afterward  com- 
pletely remodeled  the  plant,  built  new  kilns  and 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


211 


made  important  additions,  so  that  the  works  were 
the  most  complete  in  the  state.  For  years  the 
company  controlled  the  price  of  tile  in  the  state. 
The  capacity  of  the  works  is  three  million  feet 
per  annum.  Formerly  the  products  were  sold' 
almost  exclusively  in  this  locality,  but  now  ship- 
ments are  made  throughout  this  state  and  into 
Iowa,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Michigan  and  In- 
diana. Employment  is  furnished  to  between 
twenty  and  fort)-  men,  the  number  varying  with 
the  amount  of  work  to  be  turned  out,  and  the 
product  is  drain  tile  exclusively.  The  other  di- 
rectors and  officers  of  the  company  being  men 
who  have  business  interests  of  their  own,  Mr. 
Stryker  is  responsible  for  the  entire  management, 
and  its  prosperous  condition  is  the  result  of  his 
able  oversight.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
works,  as  well  as  manager  and  a  director. 

In  Cook  County,  111.,  our  subject  was  born 
May  8,  1S47,  a  sou  of  John  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Miller)  Stryker.  His  father,  who  was  born 
December  1,  1804,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
came  to  America  from  German}'  in  1828  and  spent 
two  years  in  New  York,  thence  migrated  to  Illi- 
nois in  1830.  He  had  previously  worked  as  a 
cabinet-maker,  but  on  coming  to  Cook  Count}' 
took  up  a  claim  and  engaged  in  farming,  which 
he  followed  until  his  death  at  sixty  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  physical  strength  and  powers 
of  endurance.  Up  to  the  time  of  Fremont's  can- 
didacy he  was  a  Democrat,  but  afterward  voted 
the  Republican  ticket.  During  the  early  days  he 
served  in  all  of  the  township  offices;  and  in  the 
deciding  of  disputes  regarding  claims  he  was 
called  upon  to  act  as  judge.  By  his  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  Miller  he  had  eleven  children.  Of 
these  ten  reached  maturity  and  nine  are  now  liv- 
ing. Mrs.  Elizabeth  Stryker  was  a  daughter  of 
George  Miller,  a  native  of  Berlin,  Germany. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age  our  subject  secured 
a  clerkship  in  Chicago,  receiving  $3  a  week  at 
first.  Afterward  he  became  an  agent  for  the  sale 
of  farm  machinery,  in  which  he  was  employed 
from  nineteen  to  twenty-nine  years  of  age:  He 
then  came  to  his  present  location,  and  has  since 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  drain  tile.  He 
owns  and  occupies  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 


fifty-four  acres  on  section  24,  Troy  Township, 
but  the  place  is  cultivated  by  tenants,  his  time 
being  given  wholly  to  his  business.  Politically 
he  was  an  enthusiastic  Republican  up  to  the  time 
of  Cleveland's  second  election,  when  he  favored 
his  candidacy  and  voted  for  him.  Since  then  he 
has  been  independent,  preferring  to  support  the 
men  whom  he  deems  best  qualified  to  represent 
the  people  rather  than  follow  strict  party  lines. 
He  is  interested  in  the  questions  of  the  day,  but 
his  business  takes  his  time  to  the  exclusion  of 
other  things,  and  he  is  therefore  not  a  politician 
in  the  ordinary  usage  of  that  word.  In  1873  he 
was  made  a  Mason  and  has  since  then  joined  the 
chapter  at  Evanston,  111. 

In  April,  1875,  Mr.  Stryker  married  Carrie 
Eloise,  daughter  of  Ira  Millard,  who  was  a 
pioneer  of  Cook  County  and  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, but  a  resident  of  New  York  state  prior 
to  coming  west.  Her  maternal  grandfather  was 
Gen.  Lewis  Peet,  who  fought  in  the  warof  1812, 
and  on  the  maternal  side  she  was  also  connected 
with  the  Seymours,  of  New  York.  Her  father's 
father  and  Millard  Fillmore's  mother  were  brother 
and  sister.  Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stryker,  six  of  whom  are  living.  The  old- 
est, Ira  Millard  Stryker,  who  is  cashier  in  the 
works  here,  married  Alice  M.  Sammons,  daugh- 
ter of  Duane  Sammons,  a  pioneer  farmer  of  this 
county.  The  other  children  are:  Gertrude 
Frances;  Elizabeth  Bell;  Clara  Winifred;  Mary 
Seymour,  whose  middle  name  comes  from  Dr. 
Seymour,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.;  and  Frederick  Fill- 
more. 


"T  PHRAIM  BAYARD,  superintendent  of  the 
't)  Bessemer  department  of  the  Illinois  steel 
__  works,  is  familiar  with  every  detail  of  the 
business,  to  which  his  attention  is  closely  given. 
By  his  efficient  management  he  has  proved  him- 
self "the  right  man  in  the  right  place."  He  un- 
derstands thoroughly  the  manufacture  of  steel, 
and  his  broad  experience  in  every  position, 
from  the  lowest  to  that  of  superintendent,  has 
proved  of  inestimable  value  to  him.     In  the  con- 


212 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


verting  department,  of  which  he  has  charge,  four 
hundred  and  ten  men  are  employed,  of  whom  two 
hundred  are  skilled  workmen.  The  capacity  is 
over  one  thousand  tons  in  twelve  hours. 

In  the  converting  department  there  are  twenty- 
eight  boilers  and  three  blowing  engines,  one  of 
five  thousand,  another  of  twenty-four  hundred 
and  the  third  of  eighteen  hundred  horse  power; 
with  eight  pressure  pumps,  which  furnish  pres- 
sure throughout  the  mill  of  four  hundred  pounds 
per  square  inch.  The  pig  iron  is  graded  to  one 
one-hundredth  per  cent.  This  iron,  combined 
with  steel  scrap,  is  charged  with  coke  and  lime- 
stone. After  melting  it  is  tipped  into  a  caldron 
and  conveyed  by  electric  crane  into  the  mixer, 
which  has  a  capacity  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
tons.  The  furnace  metal  is  also  brought  in  a 
molten  state  into  this  mixer  by  means  of  cranes, 
and  by  means  of  hydraulic  pressure  the  mixer  is 
tipped  sufficiently  to  pour  the  metal  from  it  into 
another  ladle,  which  conveys  the  metal,  after 
thorough  mixing,  into  the  converters.  It  is 
poured  in  by  hydraulic  pressure,  after  which  the 
blast  from  the  blowing  engines  is  turned  on,  and 
the  converter  b)^  hydraulic  pressure  is  placed  in  a 
vertical  position  until  such  time  as  the  metal  has 
been  converted  into  steel  with  the  adding  of  dif- 
ferent properties  to  bring  it  to  the  required  grade 
of  steel.  Afterward  the  converter  is  turned-  and 
the  molten  steel  poured  into  a  huge  ladle,  which 
is  conveyed  by  the  hydraulic  crane  over  the 
moulds  and  then  poured  into  the  large  moulds 
and  allowed  to  remain  until  chilled  sufficiently  to 
permit  the  withdrawing  of  the  moulds,  leaving  the 
steel  ingots  still  at  white  heat;  this  is  also  done 
by  hydraulic  pressure.  The  ingots  are  then  con- 
veyed on  cars  to  the  furnaces,  to  be  charged 
for  reheating,  and  in  due  time  they  are  drawn  and 
rolled,  thus  completing  the  process. 

Mr.  Bayard  was  born  in  Toronto,  Canada,  July 
18,  1868,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Ellen  (Johnston) 


Bayard,  natives  respectively  of  England  and 
Ireland.  His  grandfather,  James  Bayard,  brought 
the  family  to  America  and  settled  near  Toronto 
when  Robert  was  a  child  of  three  years.  The 
latter  spent  all  of  his  active  life  in  Toronto,  where 
he  was  engaged  as  a  contractor  and  builder.  He 
died  in  that  city  in  February,  1889,  when  fifty- 
nine  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  is  still  living  in 
Toronto,  was  a  daughter  of  Matthew  Johnston, 
a  native  of  County  Sligo,  Ireland,  who  settled 
near  Toronto  and  engaged  in  farm  pursuits 
there.  Our  subject  was  the  fifth  among  eight 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  He  was  reared 
in  Toronto,  attending  the  grammar  and  high 
schools  there.  In  the  fall  of  1S84  he  went  to 
Cheboygan,  Mich.,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business.  For  two  winters  he  engaged  in 
scaling  and  measuring,  and  during  the  summers 
was  fireman  on  tug  boats.  In  the  third  season  . 
he  secured  a  position  as  an  engineer.  From  that 
time  until  he  came  to  Joliet  he  was  engineer  of 
the  large  tug  "Duncan  City,"  on  the  straits  of 
Mackinaw.  In  18S7  he  settled  in  Joliet,  where 
he  secured  employment  in  the  steel  works,  be- 
ginning as  a  laborer  in  the  converting  depart- 
ment. A  year  later  he  received  promotion,  and 
was  given  charge  of  the  repairing  and  building  of 
the  bottoms  of  the  converters.  In  1891  he  was 
given  charge  of  the  steel  pouring,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1892  was  made  foreman  of  the  converting  mill. 
June  15,  1897,  he  was  made  superintendent  of 
the  converting  department,  which  responsible 
position  he  has  since  filled,  showing  ability  and 
intelligence  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

Politically  Mr.  Bayard  is  a  Republican,  stanch 
and  loyal  to  the  party,  but  not  caring  for  political 
positions  for  himself.  He  owns  a  residence  that  he 
built  at  No.  407  Richards  street,  and  here  he  and 
his  wife,  who  was  Cora  Belle  Newton,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  have  established  a  pleasant  and  at- 
tractive home. 


UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


215 


CHARLES  ROST. 


EHARLES  ROST,  superintendent  of  the 
county  poor  farm  in  Troy  Township,  was 
born  in  the  Kagenow,  Pomerania,  Prussia, 
December  11,  1841,  a  son  of  Carl  and  Mary 
(Rosz)  Rost.  His  father,  who  was  a  forester  in 
Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1862, 
and  settled  upon  a  farm  near  Macomb,  McDon- 
ough  County,  111.,  remaining  there  until  his 
death  in  1881.  His  wife"  survived  him  for  years, 
dying  in  1898.  In  religious  belief  both  were 
Lutherans.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
sons,  six  of  whom  are  living,  three  being  in  Ma- 
comb, one  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  another  in 
Kokomo,  Ind. 

Of  these  sons  our  subject  was  the  eldest. 
When  the  family  decided  to  come  to  America  it 
was  deemed  best  to  have  him  come  first,  alone, 
in  order  that  he  might  acquire  a  knowledge  of 
the  language  and  customs  of  the  people  before 
the  others  joined  him.  In  1859  he  crossed  the 
ocean  in  an  old  sailing  vessel,  "Columbia," 
starting  from  Hamburg  and  arriving  in  the  new 
world  after  a  voyage  of  sixty-two  days.  He  se- 
cured employment  in  a  wire  factory  at  Worcester, 
Mass.  During  the  Civil  war,  when  the  first  call 
was  made  for  three-year  men,  he  at  once  re- 
sponded to  the  call,  and  enlisted  at  Boston  in 
Company  B,  Twentieth  Massachusetts  Infantry. 
While  in  the  army  he  took  part  in  thirty-one  bat- 
tles, embracing  all  of  the  principal  engagements. 
Twice  he  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, after  which  he  spent  some  time  in  the  hos- 
pital at  Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  I.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Antietam,  also  in  front  of  Pe- 
tersburg in  1864,  and  was  held  in  Libby  and 
Belle  Isle  prisons,  and  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.    From 


the  ranks  he  rose  to  be  sergeant,  and  after  the 
battle  of  the  wilderness  was  commissioned  lieu- 
tenant. He  was  honorably  discharged  in  Boston, 
July  14,  1S65. 

The  war  ended,  Mr.  Rost  went  to  Leaven- 
worth, Kans. ,  and  was  appointed  in  the  quarter- 
master's department,  to  take  twenty-four  six- 
mule  teams  across  the  plains,  via  the  Arkansas 
River  and  Smoky  Hill  route,  conveying  supplies 
to  forts.  He  continued  in  the  government  em- 
ploy until  1867,  when  he  joined  a  battalion  raised 
to  suppress  the  Indians.  He  raised  a  company 
in  Leavenworth,  of  which  he  was  first  lieutenant, 
under  Oklahoma  Payne  as  captain.  The  com- 
pany took  part  in  a  number  of  hard  fights  along 
the  Arkansas  and  Smoky  Hill  rivers.  In  the 
fall  of  1867  he  was  mustered  out  at  Fort  Ells- 
worth. Going  south,  he  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  bridges  and  trestles  on  the  Louisville 
&  Nashville  Railroad  for  six  years.  When  work 
was  begun  upon  the  extension  from  Cairo  to 
Jackson,  Tenn.,  connecting  with  the  Mississippi 
Central,  he  took  a  contract  for  constructing  a 
portion  of  the  line.  While  working  in  the 
swamps  below  Cairo  he  was  taken  ill  with  mala- 
rial fever  and,  acting  upon  the  advice  of  his  phy- 
sician, returned  north  to  Macomb.  When  Major 
McClaughrey  was  appointed  warden  of  tht  state 
penitentiary,  Mr.  Rost  accompanied  him  to  Joliet 
as  steward,  which  position  he  filled  for  fifteen 
years,  until  the  election  of  John  P.  Altgeld  as 
governor.  He  was  then  chosen  superintendent  of 
the  county  poor  farm,  to  which  position  he  has 
been  re-elected  for  seven  consecutive  terms.  The 
county  buildings  as  they  now  stand  were  erected 
by  him  in  1892,  the  main  building  being  a  three- 


2l6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


story  stone  structure  with  a  capacity  for  two  hun- 
dred inmates.  There  are  now  one  hundred  and 
thirteen  inmates,  fifty-two  of  whom  are  incurably 
insane.  The  farm  is  situated  four  miles  west  of 
Joliet  and  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
acres,  which  are  cultivated  with  so  much  judg- 
ment and  energy  that  each  year,  over  and  above 
all  that  is  raised  for  use  by  the  patients,  there  is 
a  profit  of  between  $i  ,000  and  Si  ,500. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Rost  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Burlington  Post  No.  6, 
G.  A.  R. ,  the  Military  Order  of  Loyal  Legion, 
and  Matteson  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
He  is  a  Presbyterian  in  religion  and  a  Republican 
in  politics.  In  Clarksville,  Tenn. ,  November 
13,  1S71,  he  married  Margaret  O'Connor.  Four 
children  were  born  of  their  union,  three  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Alpha,  wife  of  Carl  E. 
Haffner,  of  New  York  City;  Lulu,  wife  of  J.  F. 
Frederick,  M.  D.,  of  Joliet;  and  Carl,  book- 
keeper for  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad 
Company. 


HON.  EVERETT  J.  MURPHY.  The  serv- 
ices which  in  the  past  Mr.  Murphy  has 
rendered  the  people  of  the  twenty-first  dis- 
trict of  Illinois  as  their  representative  in  the 
United  States  congress,  and  which  he  is  now 
rendering  the  people  of  the  state  in  the  office  of 
warden  of  the  Illinois  penitentiary,  entitle  him 
to  rank  among  the  eminent  men  of  the  state.  In 
the  councils  of  the  nation  he  has  won  for  himself 
an  enviable  reputation  for  statesmanship.  As  a 
member  of  congress  he  proved  himself  well  able 
to  occupy  a  high  rank  among  the  many  gifted 
men  of  that  body.  By  his  keen  judgment  and 
large  mental  endowments  he  has  aided  not  a 
little  the  progress  of  the  Republican  part}-  in  the 
nation.  Reared  in  that  faith  and  early  familiar 
with  its  principles,  he  saw  no  reason,  on  arriving 
at  mature  years,  for  changing  his  political  belief; 
in  fact,  the  history  of  the  nation  during  the  past 
decade  has  made  him  a  stronger  advocate  than 
before  of  Republican  doctrines.  Yet,  though  he 
has  lived  in  a  time  of  partisan  strife,  his  attach- 


ment for  his  party  has  been  broad  and  deep — the 
attachment  of  a  patriot,  not  that  of  a  mere  politi- 
cian, and  he  has  in  his  career  exemplified  the 
old  maxim  that  "He  serves  his  party  best 
who  serves  his  country  best."  In  the  office  of 
warden,  to  which  he  was  chosen  at  a  com- 
paratively recent  date,  as  the  successor  of  Major 
McClaughrey,  he  has  already  proved  himself  to 
be  the  right  man  in  the  place.  His  attention  is 
very  closely  given  to  the  duties  of  his  office, 
which  leave  him  little  leisure  for  recreation  or  for 
society;  yet,  in  the  midst  of  many  pressing  re- 
sponsibilities, he  keeps  in  touch  with  the  progress 
of  events  in  the  country  and  in  his  party,  and 
formulates  clear,  definite  opinions  upon  the  topics 
of  the  day.  The  enlargement  of  his  sphere  of 
activity  by  his  appointment  as  warden  was  a  just 
recognition  of  his  service  in  public  life.  To  the 
position  he  has  carried  the  same  degree  of  energy 
aud  the  same  progressive  spirit  that  character- 
ized him  in  the  halls  of  congress,  and  it  ma}-  with 
safety  be  predicted  that  his  record  as  warden  will 
equal  or  surpass  his  record  as  a  congressman  and 
legislator. 

His  devotion  to  the  Republican  party  is  a  trait 
which  he  inherits  from  his  father,  Hon.  William 
P.  Murphy,  who  came  from  Tennessee  to  Illinois 
in  1830,  and  settled  at  Sparta,  opening  an  office 
for  the  practice  of  law  and  continuing  in  the  pro- 
fession for  years.  Both  at  the  bar  and  ou  the 
bench  he  won  an  honorable  name.  He  filled  the 
offices  of  county  judge  and  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas,  in  both  of  which  he  showed  im- 
partiality, broad  knowledge  of  jurisprudence  and 
logical  reasoning  faculties.  He  gave  to  religious 
work  considerable  time  and  effort,  being  active 
in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  was  Sunday-school  superintendent. 
He  remained  active  in  professional  and  public 
affairs  until  his  death  in  1884.  Of  the  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J. 
Fresh,  Everett  J.  was  third  in  order  of  birth. 
He  was  born  July  24,  1852.  His  education  was 
received  in  the  grammar  and  high  schools  of 
Sparta.  From  the  age  of  twelve  to  twenty-three 
he  was  employed  in  mercantile  pursuits,  mean- 
time studying  at  night  with  the  intention  of  en- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


217 


tering  upon  the  practice  of  law.  His  first  public 
office  was  that  of  deputy  circuit  clerk  of  Ran- 
dolph Count}-  and  the  first  elective  position  he 
held  was  that  of  sheriff  of  the  same  count}-,  to 
which  he  was  chosen  in  1882.  Four  years  later 
he  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  legislature,  where 
his  service  was  creditable  to  himself  and  satis- 
factory to  his  constituents.  In  1889  he  was  made 
warden  of  the  southern  penitentiar}-  at  Chester, 
and  during  the  four  years  he  remained  there  he 
gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  every  detail  con- 
nected with  the  work,  thus  becoming  thoroughly 
qualified  for  the  more  responsible  position  he 
now  holds.  The  twenty-first  district  elected  him 
to  congress  in  1894,  and  there  he  was  instru- 
mental in  the  passing  of  various  important  bills. 
His  appointment  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
pardons  came  to  him  from  Governor  Tanner  in 
1897,  and  the  same  governor,  in  July,  1899,  ap- 
pointed him  warden  at  Joliet. 

March  30,  1875,  Mr.  Murphy  married  Miss 
E.  C.  Wilson,  by  whom  he  has  two  children, 
Mary  A.  and  William  A.  Mrs.  Murphy  is  a 
daughter  of  Capt.  Andrew  Wilson,  of  Sparta, 
who  was  with  A.  D.  Straight  in  the  escape  by 
tunnel  from  Libby  prison  during  the  Civil  war, 
but  was  subsequently  recaptured. 


30HN  KIRKHAM,  the  owner  of  a  good  farm 
in  Lockport  Township,  was  born  in  Notting- 
hamshire, England,  August  12,  1832,  a 
member  of  an  old  and  honored  family  of  that 
shire.  When  he  was  twelve  years  of  age  he  went 
to  a  hotel  as  first  turn  boy.  He  attended  night 
school,  but  is  practically  a  self-educated  man. 
He  was  fond  of  music,  and,  under  the  guidance 
of  a  competent  instructor,  he  soon  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  violin,  which  he  still 
plays  and  enjoys.  At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan to  learn  engine-building  and  was  apprenticed 
for  six  years  to  Clayton  &  Shuttle  worth,  of  Lin- 
coln, under  whom  he  gained  familiarity  with  the 
business.     It  was  his  desire  to  seek  a  home  and 


fortune  in  the  new  world,  but  his  parents  strongly 
opposed  him  in  his  wish.  However,  he  deter- 
mined to  cross  the  ocean  in  spite  of  their  protests, 
and  so  he  told  his  father  to  give  his  share  in  the 
family  estate  to  an  invalid  sister.  From  that  day 
he  never  asked  his  father  for  any  aid,  but  was 
able  to  make  his  way  in  the  world  for  himself. 
With  a  good  letter  of  recommendation  from  the 
firm  he  had  been  with  several  years  and  with  just 
enough  money  to  pay  his  way  to  America,  he  set 
sail  from  Liverpool  August  12,  1856.  After  a 
voyage  of  six  weeks  and  two  days  he  landed  in 
New  York  September  24  and  debarked  from  the 
four-masted  sailing  vessel  "City  of  Mobile,"  in 
which  he  had  made  the  voyage.  From  New- 
York  he  went  to  Dunkirk,  in  the  same  state,  and 
there  was  ill  for  several  weeks.  As  soon  as  he 
was  able  to  travel  he  started  for  the  west.  No- 
vember 7,  of  the  same  year,  he  landed  in  Lock- 
port,  with  only  three  cents  in  his  pockets.  He 
accepted  the  first  work  he  could  get,  for  which  he 
was  paid  $  10  a  month.  In  the  spring  he  secured 
employment  which  paid  him  $200  a  year,  without 
board.  His  next  work  was  the  building  of  six 
hundred  rods  of  fence,  and  he  also  engaged  in 
haying  during  the  season.  Later  he  went  into 
the  woods  and  cut  cord  wood,  for  which  he  was 
paid  fifty  cents  a  cord.  Going  from  Will  to 
Grundy  County,  he  worked  for  $14  a  month, 
continuing  there  for  two  years.  From  1861  to 
1862  he  was  foreman  of  a  farm  of  twelve  hun- 
dred acres.  He  then  bought  a  team  and  rented  a 
farm  in  Dupage  Township,  Will  County.  After 
a  year  he  removed  to  another  farm,  which  he 
rented  for  three  years,  later  buying  it  for  $40  an 
acre.  The  place  comprised  eighty-five  acres  and 
was  fairly  well  improved.  After  six  years  he 
rented  the  laud  and  moved  to  Lockport,  in  order 
that  his  children  might  attend  the  school  there. 
Meantime,  for  three  years  he  ran  an  engine  in  the 
Romeo  warehouse.  On  selling  his  farm  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  he 
has  since  owned  and  cultivated,  and  which  is  said 
to  be  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Lockport  Township. 
Before  leaving  England  Mr.  Kirkham  was 
married,  in  May,  1856,  to  Miss  Mary  Naylor,  au 
estimable  lady  and  a    consistent  member  of  the 


2l8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  died  April  3, 
1S9S,  leaving  two  children,  namely:  William 
Henry,  a  farmer  in  this  county;  and  Allie 
Louisa,  wife  of  Edson  E.  Harder,  who  rents  his 
father-in-law's  farm. 

In  political  views  Mr.  Kirkham  is  liberal  and 
independent,  voting  for  the  man  rather  than  the 
partj'.  Interested  in  good  roads  and  in  good 
schools,  he  has  done  excellent  service  for  the  dis- 
trict while  filling  the  offices  of  pathmaster  and 
school  director.  A  believer  in  Christianity  and  in 
sympathy  with  Christian  work,  he  has  assisted 
religious  enterprises  as  he  has  been  able.  Al- 
though he  started  in  this  county  wholly  without 
means,  he  has  worked  his  way  to  a  position  of 
independence  which  will  permit  him  to  spend  his 
declining  years  in  retirement  from  active  cares, 
enjoying  the  rest  he  has  so  truly  earned  and 
richlv  deserved. 


GJlLEXANDER  GROSS,  who  resides  in  the 
L|  suburbs  of  Joliet,  is  engaged  in  business  as 
I  I  a  contractor  of  stone  sidewalks  and  curbing. 
He  was  born  in  Kadelburg,  Baden,  Germany, 
January  26,  1S34,  and  was  the  son  of  Casper  and 
Anna  (Zuber)  Gross,  natives  of  the  same  place. 
His  father  carried  on  a  small  farm  and  at  the  same 
time  operated  a  stone  quarry,  continuing  the  two 
occupations  until  his  death,  at  sixty-four  years. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Zuber,  a 
farmer,  died  when  sixty-seven  years  old.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
survive,  viz.:  Alexander;  Mrs.  Mary  Overman, 
of  Chicago;  John,  a  stone-cutter  in  Joliet;  and 
Caroline,  who  lives  in  Pike  County,  111. 

In  common  with  the  German  custom,  our  sub- 
ject left  school  when  fourteen  years  of  age  and 
began  to  learn  a  trade.  Having  become  inter- 
ested in  the  stone  business  he  decided  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  stone-cutter.  This  he  learned 
thoroughly  and  followed  in  his  native  land  until 
he  came  to  America  in  1854.  He  sailed  from 
Havre  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Mammoth,"  which 
anchored  in  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  fifty-four 
days.    From  there  he  traveled  to  Chicago,  where 


he  secured  employment  at  his  trade.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1857,  he  came  from  Chicago  to  Joliet,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  in  the  building  of  the  state 
penitentiary,  being  one  of  the  first  stone-cutters 
employed  in  that  work.  He  was  appointed  fore- 
man of  the  stone  department  in  the  prison  in  the 
summer  of  1858,  a  responsible  position  which  he 
held  for  twenty-three  years.  From  the  time 
the  first  convicts  were  brought  to  the  peni- 
tentiary he  taught  them  the  trade,  and  he  had 
man\-  interesting  experiences  in  attempting  to 
transform  lawyers,  doctors,  tailors,  etc.,  into 
stone-cutters;  but  with  few  exceptions  they 
were  able  to  succeed  at  the  trade.  He  found  that 
as  a  class  the  sailors  made  the  best  workmen. 

Resigning  the  charge  of  the  department  in 
1 88 1,  Mr.  Gross  started  a  quarry  of  his  own 
with  James  Bruce  &  Co.,  and  continued  in  that 
until  1S87,  when  he  sold  out.  The  next  year  he 
bought  an  interest  with  M.  Krakar  in  the  Krakar 
Stone  Company,  of  which  he  was  secretary  and 
treasurer,  at  the  same  time  acting  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  company's  quarries  on  North 
Broadway  and  East  Maple  street.  He  was  a 
partner  in  the  firm  for  six  years,  after  which  the 
business  was  sold  to  the  Joliet  Limestone  Com- 
pany, and  he  continued  with  them  for  two  years 
as  foreman.  Since  then  he  has  contracted  for 
stone  sidewalks  and  curbing,  a  business  for  which 
his  long  experience  in  the  stone  trade  admirably 
qualifies  him.  He  owns  a  neat  residence  on 
North  Broadway,  surrounded  by  seventeen  acres 
of  grounds,  well  laid  out  and  rendered  attractive 
by  the  presence  of  shade  trees.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Saengerbuud,  the  Joliet  Sharpshooters' 
Association,  the  Turner  Society  and  Mount  Joliet 
Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  politics  he 
favors  Republican  principles. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gross  took  place  in  Joliet 
and  united  him  with  Miss  Margaret  Uebel,  who 
was  born  in  Prussia.  They  have  four  children 
living,  namely:  Laura,  who  is  the  wife  of  John 
Servis,  of  Joliet;  Rosetta;  Albertina,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Illinois  State  University  at  Cham- 
paign; and  Theodore,  a  graduate  of  the  Joliet 
high  school,  and  now  foreman  for  Bruce  Bros., 
of  this  city. 


UNIVERSITY  0*  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


221 


COL.  JOHN  BARNARD  FITHIAN. 


EOL.  JOHN  BARNARD  FITHIAN.  The 
position  which  Colonel  Fithian  has  held  in 
public  and  professional  affairs  since^he  came 
to  Joliet  in  1873  entitles  him  to  rank  among  the 
leading  men  of  the  city.  He  was  born  in  Liv- 
ingston County,  N.  Y.,  October  26,  1849,  and 
was  third  in  a  family  of  five,  his  brothers  and 
sisters  being:  W.  W.,  who  served  in  the  Sixteenth 
Kansas  Cavalry  during  the  Civil  war,  but  is  now 
a  resident  of  Joliet;  Edward  C,  of  Minnesota; 
Frances  C,  who  resides  in  California;  and  Mrs. 
Lillian  C.  Lewis,  of  New  York  City.  His  father, 
Rev.  William  Fithian,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
remaining  in  the  east  until  1857,  when  he  settled 
in  northwestern  Iowa.  In  the  fall  of  i860  he 
accepted  a  pastorate  in  Quincy,  111.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  entered  the  Union  army  and  was  as- 
signed to  the  charge  of  the  sanitary  department, 
afterward  making  his  headquarters  in  St.  Louis. 
In  later  years  he  gave  his  time  mostly  to  lectur- 
ing, which  work  took  him  to  the  principal  cities 
of  the  United  States.  He  died  of  cholera  in 
1874.  His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Clark,  of  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  died  in  1858. 

The  schooling  of  Colonel  Fithian  was  limited 
to  a  few  years,  as  since  he  was  twelve  he  has  been 
dependent  upon  his  own  efforts  for  the  acquire- 
ment of  knowledge.  In  1869  he  secured  em- 
ployment in  newspaper  work  in  Carlinville,  later 
was  reporter  on  the  Jacksonville  Journal  staff, 
next  went  to  Belleville  and  from  there  to  Litch- 
field. In  February,  1873,  he  came  to  Joliet, 
where  he  was  employed  in  connection  with  the 
penitentiary,  and  at  the  same  time  studied  law. 


In  1875  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  militia,  in 
which  he  was  successively  promoted  from  lower 
to  higher  offices,  and  at  the  time  of  his  resigna- 
tion in  1883  held  the  office  of  colonel  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois  Regiment.  September  15,  1876,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  at  which  time  he  discon- 
tinued his  other  work  and  turned  his  attention  to 
the  building  up  of  a  general  practice.  In  this  he 
was  successful,  becoming  known  as  a  safe  coun- 
selor and  able  attorney.  He  has  since  devoted 
himself  to  the  law,  from  the  practice  of  which  he 
has  acquired  a  neat  income  as  well  as  an  excellent 
reputation. 

Politics  engages  Colonel  Fithian's  attention  to 
the  extent  that  it  deserves  of  every  public- 
spirited  citizen.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican,  a 
believer  in  all  of  the  party  principles,  but  not  an 
active  politician.  At  this  writing  he  is  super- 
visor of  the  sixth  district  of  Illinois  for  the 
census  of  1900,  his  district  comprising  the  coun- 
ties of  Will,  Kankakee,  Iroquois  and  Vermilion. 
In  January,  1878,  he  married  Edna  C,  daughter 
of  Captain  Whitaker,  of  Carlinville,  111.;  they 
have  one  child  now  living,.  Lillian  Clare. 

The  connection  of  Colonel  Fithian  with  the 
Masonic  order  dates  from  1875,  when  he  was 
initiated  into  the  blue  lodge  and  took  the  first  de- 
gree of  Masonry.  He  has  since  been  an  inter- 
ested worker  in  the  fraternity.  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  council  at  Joliet  he  was  one  of  its 
charter  members.  He  has  officiated  as  master 
for  six  years.  In  October,  1893,  he  was  ap- 
pointed district  deputy  grand  master,  to  which 
position  he  has  since  been  reappointed  each  year. 
For  three  years  he  was  commander  of  the  Com- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


maudery  and  at  this  writing  is  the  principal  con- 
ductor of  the  work  of  the  Grand  Council, 
R.  &  S.  M.,  of  Illinois.  He  is  connected  with 
the  Masonic  Veterans'  Association  of  Illinois. 


G]  LBERT  J.  BATES.  Not  only  in  Joliet,  but 
LA  throughout  this  and  other  states,  Mr.  Bates 
/  I  is  known  through  the  medium  of  his  inven- 
tions. There  are  few  who  possess  greater  inven- 
tive ability  than  he.  This  talent  was  shown 
even  in  his  early  boyhood.  When  twelve  years 
of  age,  although  he  had  never  seen  a  scroll  saw, 
he  constructed  one  which  was  operated  by  foot 
power;  the  steel  of  a  hoop  skirt  was  used  for  the 
saw  blades  by  filing  teeth  in  it,  and  the  machine 
operated  successfully.  Three  years  later,  long 
before  the  days  of  bicycles  in  southwestern  Mis- 
souri, he  made  of  wood  a  two-wheeled  machine 
with  a  front  wheel  of  forty-four  inches,  which 
did  him  service  for  some  years;  he  had  never 
seen  a  wheel  of  any  kind  and  was  guided  in  his 
work  solely  by  the  pictures  in  catalogues.  The 
greater  number  of  the  machines  manufactured  by 
the  Bates  Machine  Company,  of  which  he  is  a 
stockholder  and  director,  were  made  and  per- 
fected by  him,  and,  of  varying  uses  and  qualities, 
illustrate  the  versatility  of  his  inventive  faculties. 
The  ancestry  of  the  Bates  family  appears  in  the 
sketch  of  William  O.  Bates,  presented  on  another 
page.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  of 
Canadian  parentage,  in  Washington,  Iowa,  in 
1863.  When  five  years  of  age  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Carthage,  Mo. ,  where  he  attended 
school.  Naturally  gifted  in  mechanics,  his  ac- 
tivities were  early  turned  in  that  direction.  For 
a  year  he  worked  in  a  machine  shop  at  Carthage 
and  for  eight  months  in  a  shop  at  Springfield, 
Mo.  He  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  held 
a  position  as  scroll  sawyer  for  three  months  and 
later  was  an  employe  in  a  steam  pump  factory. 
In  18S2  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  two  years  in  machine  shops.  While 
there  he  built  machines  for  making  check  wire 


for  a  Joliet  firm,  by  whom  he  was  offered  a  po- 
sition as  foreman  of  their  machine  department. 
Coming  to  Joliet,  in  a  few  months  he  was  also 
made  superintendent  of  their  barb  wire  depart- 
ment. Meantime  he  made  several  machines  for 
special  uses.  However,  the  remuneration  not 
being  in  proportion  to  his  work,  he  resigned  as 
foreman,  and  engaged  in  designing  and  building 
on  contract  machines  for   manufacturing    wire. 

With  his  brother  organizing  the  firm  of  Bates 
Brothers,  Mr.  Bates  started  a  machine  shop  in 
the  fall  of  18S5.  The  firm  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  wire  mill  machinery  and  also  carried 
on  general  machine  work.  The  plant  burned 
down  and  was  rebuilt  on  a  different  site.  In 
1888  the  Bates  Machine  Company,  which  has 
since  developed  into  one  of  the  most  important 
industries  of  Joliet,  was  incorporated.  Of  this 
Mr.  Bates  was  secretary  and  treasurer  from  the 
time  of  the  incorporation  until  September,  1895, 
but  his  outside  business  gradually  took  an  in- 
creasing amount  of  his  time  and  thought,  and 
obliged  him  to  resign  as  an  officer  of  the  com  - 
pan}-,  although  he  still  continues  to  hold  stock 
and  is  a  member  of  the  directorate.  The  com- 
pany pays  high  wages  and  employs  only  skilled 
labor.  The  plant  runs  during  the  entire  year 
and  the  products  comprise  all  kinds  of  wire  mill 
machinery,  including  engines  of  two  thousand 
horse-power,  some  of  which  are  shipped  to  the 
gold  mines  of  South  Africa.  There  is  scarcely 
any  part  of  the  world  to  which  the  engines  have 
not  gone,  and  in  every  place  their  value  is  im- 
mediately recognized  by  those  most  competent 
to  judge. 

As  mechanical  engineer  and  a  large  stock- 
holder, Mr.  Bates  is  now  identified  with  the 
American  Steel  and  Wire  Company.  He  is  pres- 
ident and  the  principal  owner  of  the  Joliet  Pure 
Ice  Company,  which  carries  on  a  large  wholesale 
and  retail  business,  and  owns  a  plant  having  a 
daily  capacity  of  forty  tons;  the  most  of  the  ma- 
chinery used  in  connection  with  the  plant  was 
manufactured  by  Mr.  Bates.  He  holds  stock  in 
the  American  Tin  Plate  Company,  is  extensively 
interested  in  lead  and  zinc  mines  at  Galena, 
Kans.,  and  is  president  and  the  principal  owner 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


223 


of  the  Bates-Cotter  Company.  His  attention  is 
principally  given  to  the  designing  of  machinery 
for  wire  mills.  He  is  the  inventor  of  the  Bates 
woven  wire  fence  machine,  which  manufactures 
two  designs  of  fence,  and  which  was  the  first  ever 
used  in  the  mills  of  the  American  Steel  and  Wire 
Company.  Through  his  efforts  the  machinery 
was  simplified  so  that  the  manufacture  can  be 
carried  on  at  about  one-tenth  the  cost  of  any 
other  machine.  Over  ninety  per  cent,  of  all  the 
barb  wire  made  in  the  world  is  manufactured  on 
his  machines,  and  his  designs  for  the  manufacture 
of  woven  wire  are  the  latest  and  best  developed. 
So  deeply  has  Mr.  Bates  been  engrossed  in 
the  designing  and  manufacture  of  his  various  in- 
ventions that  he  has  had  no  leisure  for  public  af- 
fairs and  politics,  in  which,  aside  from  voting  the 
Republican  ticket,  he  takes  no  part  whatever.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Union  Club  of  Joliet.  His  beau- 
tiful home,  at  No. 600  Western  avenue,  is  presided 
over  by  his  accomplished  wife,  formerly  Ellen 
Amos,  a  native  of  England,  and  in  girlhood  a 
resident  of  Colorado.  She  is  identified  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  holds  a  prominent  place 
in  the  most  select  social  circles  of  Joliet.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bates  have  four  children:  Pearl,  Walter, 
Richard  and  Albert  J.,  Jr. 


WILLIAM  O.  BATES,  treasurer  and  general 
manager  of  the  Bates  Machine  Company, 
was  actively  connected  with  the  organiza- 
tion and  incorporation  of  this  concern  in  188S, 
and,  as  superintendent,  had  charge  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  foundry  and  shop.  The  gradual  in- 
crease of  the  business  to  the  present  large  aggre- 
gate of  products  is  due,  in  no  small  extent,  to  his 
ability  and  judicious  oversight,  in  conjunction 
with  the  work  of  the  other  officers  of  the  com- 
pany. Employment  is  given  to  two  hundred 
skilled  laborers,  who  are  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  the  company's  patents.  The  output 
has  increased  from  $35,000  to  $250,000  at  the 
present  writing,   and    the  products  are  shipped 


to  every  part  of  the  globe.  The  works  are  located 
in  the  east  part  of  Joliet  and  cover  six  acres,  con- 
nected with  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific 
Railroad,  and  through  it  with  the  Santa  Fe, 
Michigan  Central,  Alton,  and  Elgin,  Joliet  & 
Eastern  roads,  by  means  of  which  facilities  for 
shipping  are  furnished  that  are  unequaled  in  the 
entire  west. 

Born  in  Hamilton,  Canada,  July  15,  i860,  the 
subject  of  this  article  is  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Mary 
(Oswald)  Bates,  natives  respectively  of  Hamilton 
and  Brantford,  Canada.  His  grandfather  Bates 
was  of  English  descent,  while  the  other  grand- 
father, James  Oswald,  a  farmer  in  Canada,  traced 
his  ancestry  to  Scotland.  For  some  years  Joshua 
Bates  was  employed  at  pattern-making  and  rail- 
road-building in  Canada.  In  1863  he  removed 
to  Washington,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  con- 
tracting and  building.  Four  years  later  he  settled 
in  Carthage,  Mo. ,  where  he  became  well  known 
as  a  contractor.  In  1886  he  joined  his  sous  in 
Joliet  and  assisted  them  in  their  factory  as  a 
pattern-maker.  He  died  in  this  city  February 
10,  1899,  when  sixty-nine  years  of  age.  His 
wife  died  in  Carthage,  Mo.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  daughters  (both  now  in  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.),  and  four  sons,  of  whom  three  are 
living,  all  in  Joliet. 

At  the  time  the  family  settled  in  Iowa  W.  O. 
Bates  was  three  years  of  age,  and  four  years  later 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Carthage,  Mo., 
where  he  studied  in  the  public  and  high  schools. 
In  1875  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  machinist's 
trade  in  Carthage.  For  three  years  he  continued 
as  an  apprentice,  after  which  he  was  made  fore- 
man in  the  same  shop.  Resigning  in  [882,  he 
sought  a  larger  field  for  work,  and  for  three  years 
he  was  connected  with  various  large  shops  in 
Chicago.  Iu  1885  he  came  to  Joliet  and  assisted 
in  forming  the  firm  of  Bates  Brothers,  which 
equipped  a  shop  near  the  center  of  town  and  be- 
gan to  manufacture  wire-working  machinery. 
On  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership  he  became 
superintendent  of  the  Bates  Machine  Company, 
of  which,  since  1895,  he  has  been  treasurer  and 
general  manager.  His  time  has  been  so  closely 
given    to  business   matters    that   he   has    never 


224 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mingled  with  others  in  the  conduct  of  political 
affairs,  although  he  is  well  informed  concerning 
politics  and  adheres  to  Republican  principles. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Union  Club. 
While  in  Chicago  he  married  Miss  Mary  Clarey, 
who  was  born  in  Brantford,  Canada,  and  by 
whom  he  has  three  sons,  Harry  J.,  Elbert  J.  and 
W.  Oswald. 

One  of  the  most  widely  known  products  of  the 
Bates  Machine  Company's  works  is  the  Bates- 
Corliss  engine,  which  embraces  in  its  construction 
all  that  is  superior  in  the  original  Corliss  type, 
together  with  many  new  and  important  features, 
which  give  increased  efficiency  with  a  lesser  de- 
gree of  complication.  From  the  foundry  to  the 
erecting  room  the  best  skill  is  used  in  its  manu- 
facture, so  that  the  finished  product  is  unexcelled 
for  accuracy  of  construction  and  perfect  work- 
manship. Its  main  attributes  are  strength, 
utility,  form  and  durability,  all  of  which  are  pro- 
moted by  the  original  style  of  valve  trips  used. 
In  1S95  the  Franklin  Institute  recommended  the 
award  of  the  John  Scott  legacy  medal  and  premium 
to  Albert  J.  Bates  for  his  invention  of  these  valve 
trips.  Awards  were  also  received  from  the  judges 
of  engines  in  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition. 
The  engines  are  used  in  every  part  of  the  world 
and  have  given  universal  satisfaction  wherever 
introduced.  A  number  of  vertical  condensing 
engines  have  been  purchased  by  the  Pullman 
Palace  Car  Company  and  other  well-known  con- 
cerns in  Chicago.  While  the  bulk  of  the  engines 
remain  in  the  United  States,  some  have  been 
shipped  to  other  countries.  Three  steam  jacketed 
cylinder  pumping  engines  were  built  for  the  New 


Heidelberg  Roodeport  Gold  Mining  Company  at 
Johannesburg,  S.  A.  R.;  two  cross  compound 
condensing  and  one  steam  jacketed  cylinder  for 
the  Vesta  Gold  Mining  Company,  in  the  same 
place,  and  one  engine  for  the  New  Rand  mines 
there,  while  other  companies  in  the  same  town 
have  purchased  engines  of  various  kinds.  Ship- 
ments have  been  made  to  Japan,  Mexico  and 
other  countries. 

In  the  field  of  wire  machinery  the  Bates 
Machine  Company  are  pioneers.  It  is  due  in  no 
small  measure  to  their  efforts  that,  during  the 
past  fifteen  years,  from  an  output  of  five  hundred 
pounds  of  8d  nails  per  ten  hours  the  production 
has  increased  to  three  thousand  pounds  of  8d 
nails  in  the  same  time.  The  Bates  wire  nail 
machine  is  designed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make 
it  serviceable  in  the  highest  degree,  and  is  con- 
structed so  as  to  make  either  one  or  two  nails  at 
each  revolution.  The  wire  nail  barbing  machine 
will  barb  all  sizes  of  nail  wire  from  No.  16  to  No. 
2  rod,  and  is  equipped  with  steel  shaftings,  cut 
gears  and  bearings  bushed  with  bronze.  Among 
other  machines  manufactured  are  the  wire  nail 
nimbler  for  tumbling  and  cleaning  wire  nails  and 
screws,  a  combination  two  and  four  point  barbing 
machine,  a  plain  wire  twisting  machine,  wire 
staple  machine,  wire  drawing  frame  and  blocks, 
power  wire  and  hand  wire  pointing  machines, 
die  plate  hammering  machines,  wire  baker,  wire 
muffle,  wire  mill  buggy,  wire  annealing  furnace 
and  steam  crane,  and  galvanizing  reel  and  wiper; 
also  the  Cookson  Improved  feed  water  heater, 
purifier,  filter  and  oil  separator,  which  is  said  to 
be  one  of  the  finest  heaters  in  the  world. 


UNIVERSITY  Of   ILLINOIS 


/jr/P      C     ^~ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


227 


HON.  JACOB  F.  LOTZ. 


HON.  JACOB  F.  LOTZ.  It  is  always  a 
proof  of  ability  and  faithfulness  when  a  man 
remains  with  the  same  firm  for  a  long  peri- 
od of  years,  discharging  responsible  duties  in  an 
intelligent  and  praiseworthy  manner.  Such  is 
the  record  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  came 
to  Lockport  July  20,  1858,  as  head  miller  for 
Norton  &  Co.,  and  continued  in  that  capacity 
and  as  superintendent  Until  January,  1899,  a 
period  of  more  than  forty  years.  Finally  failing 
health  rendered  it  advisable  for  him  to  sever  his 
connection  with  the  company  and  he  retired  to 
private  life.  He  has  been  active  in  local  matters, 
and  was  elected  the  first  mayor  of  Lockport, 
holding  the  office  for  two  terms.  At  another 
time  he  served  as  president  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  Lockport.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  during  much  of 
that  time  served  as  its  president;  during  his  con- 
nection with  the  board  the  high  school  and  other 
buildings  were  erected.  In  politics  he  has  al- 
ways been  a  Democrat.  Fraternally  he  is  iden- 
tified with  Lockport  Lodge  No.  538,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  chaplain;  and  is  also  a 
member  of  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T. 
With  his  family  he  attends  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of 
the  house  of  worship  he  served  on  the  building 
committee. 

Near  Altooua,  Blair  County,  Pa.,  our  subject 
was  born  May  18,  1824,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Cath- 
erine (Troxell)  Lotz,  natives  respectively  of  Ger- 
many and  Cambria  County,  Pa.  His  father, 
after  having  learned  the  miller's  trade  and  served 
in  the  German  army,  came  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  what  is  now  Huntingdon  County, 
Pa.     When  his  sou  was  eighteen  months  old  he 


was  accidentally  killed  by  a  tree  falling  upon 
him  in  a  storm.  His  wife,  who  died  in  Blair 
County,  was  the  daughter  of  a  Revolutionary 
soldier,  a  member  of  Washington's  body  guard. 
By  her  first  husband,  Mr.  Robinson,  she  had  two 
children,  both  now  deceased.-  Of  her  second 
marriage  six  children  were  born,  two  of  whom 
are  living,  John  Lotz,  of  Huntingdon  County, 
Pa.,  and  our  subject. 

When  Mr.  Lotz  was  nine  years  of  age  he  was 
orphaned  by  his  mother's  death.  He  was  then 
taken  into  a  farmer's  home,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  he  would  be  permitted  to  attend  school 
winters,  but  instead,  he  was  obliged  to  work  both 
summer  and  winter.  At  eighteen  years  of  age, 
having  determined  to  obtain  an  education,  he 
made  arrangements  for  working  for  his  board, 
with  the  privilege  of  studying.  This  he  did,  and 
in  a  measure  made  up  for  his  lack  of  earlier  op- 
portunities. Afterward  he  worked  in  a  mill  at 
$6  per  month,  remaining  there  for  several  years. 
After  his  marriage,  in  1848,  he  rented  a  mill, 
which  he  operated  for  three  years.  In  1854  he 
came  west  to  Illinois;  finding  business  dull  in 
Lockport,  he  went  to  Dixon,  where  he  worked 
for  three  years  or  more,  but  was  unfortunate  in 
losing  $1,000  that  he  had  saved.  From  Dixon 
he  returned  to  Lockport,  and  has  since  made  his 
home  here.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  drafted 
in  the  army,  but  was  rejected  on  a  physician's 
examination,  owing  to  physical  disability. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Lotz  was  Elizabeth  Ram- 
sey, who  died  in  Lockport,  January  25,  1867, 
leaving  three  daughters:  Keturah,  Mary  and  Ida. 
His  second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Lucy  Ramsey, 
of  Lockport,  by  whom  he  has  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,    namely:    Henry,  a   graduate   of   the 


228 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Philadelphia  Dental  College,  and  now  engaged 
in  practice  in  Lockport;  George,  who  is  with  the 
Adams  Express  Company,  in  Chicago;  Louis, 
who  is  bookkeeper  for  a  Lockport  firm;  John,  a 
student  in  the  Illinois  University;  and  Ella,  at 
home. 


UjELSON  D.  ELWOOD,  deceased,  who  was 
\l  one  of  this  county's  honored  pioneers,  was 
|  £>  born  in  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1818,  a 
son  of  Daniel  Elwood  and  a  nephew  of  Isaac  L. 
Elwood,  at  one  time  secretary  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company.  He  represented  the 
fourth  generation  in  America,  the  family  having 
been  founded  in  this  country  by  a  native  of  Essex 
County,  England,  who  settled  on  the  Hudson 
River.  When  eight  years  of  age  he  was  left  an 
orphan,  and  seven  years  later  he  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  clerk  in  Lockport,  N.  Y.  In  1837  he 
came  to  Lockport,  111.,  securing  employment  as 
an  engineer  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal, 
at  which  he  worked  in  the  summers,  while  he 
taught  during  the  winters.  On  his  election  as 
county  clerk,  in  1843,  he  came  to  Joliet,  and 
while  filling  that  position  he  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
term  as  clerk  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
wife's  brother,  Judge  Parks,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Parks  &  Elwood,  and  afterwards  he  managed 
the  real-estate  business  of  the  firm,  while  his 
partner  had  charge  of  law  matters.  At  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road Company  he  was  made  the  company's  sec- 
retary, and  also  served  as  a  director  until  the 
road  was  completed  into  Iowa.  Governor  Joel 
A.  Matteson  was  the  originator  of  the  road,  which 
was  opened  to  Joliet  in  1852.  Afterward  Gover- 
nor Matteson  and  Mr.  Elwood  built  a  part  of  the 
Chicago  &  Mississippi  Railroad  from  Joliet  to 
Alton,  and  this  road,  under  its  subsequent  name 
of  Chicago  &  Alton,  has  since  become  one  of  the 
most  successful  in  the  state.  In  1856  Governor 
Matteson  and  Mr.  Elwood  built  the  Joliet  & 
Northern  Indiana  Railroad,  which  connects  Joliet 


with  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  at  Lake 
Station,  Ind.,  and  in  1859  the  latter  road  pur- 
chased the  branch.  Until  1859  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  ran  to  Chicago  011  the  Rock  Island  tracks, 
but  in  that  year  its  roadbed  was  extended,  and 
the  road  was  known  as  the  Joliet  &  Chicago 
Railroad. 

In  1848  Mr.  Elwood  was  secretary  of  the  state 
senate.  Although  he  was  a  strong  Democrat,  he 
was  in  186 1  re-appointed  by  Governor  Yates,  a  Re- 
publican, as  one  of  the  penitentiary  commission- 
ers chosen  to  locate  the  state  penitentiary.  He 
retained  the  position  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred February  24,  1861.  For  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  vestry  of  Christ's  Episcopal 
Church.  While  he  was  identified  with  the  Odd 
Fellows  his  most  active  work,  fraternally,  was 
with  the  Masons.  He  was  grand  high  priest  of 
the  grand  chapter  of  Illinois,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  deputy  grand  commander  of  the  grand 
commandery  of  Illinois,  an  officer  in  the  grand 
lodge  and  a  thirty-third  degree  Mason. 

Mr.  Elwood  took  an  active  interest  in  all  edu- 
cational work,  and  for  many  years  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  school  inspectors  of  Joliet.  For 
two  terms  he  held  the  office  of  mayor,  and  for 
three  terms  served  as  an  alderman.  He  was, 
beyond  all  question,  one  of  the  most  active,  pro- 
gressive and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Joliet  of 
his  day.  *He  filled  positions  of  public  and  pri- 
vate trust  with  exacting  fidelity.  His  handiwork 
may  be  found  in  and  around  Joliet  to  this  day. 
He  erected  the  first  business  house  on  Jefferson 
street,  it  being  located  where  the  present  post- 
office  building  stands.  In  that  same  frame 
structure  were  for  a  time  the  offices  of  the  Chica- 
go, Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad  Company, 
and  there  the  building  of  that  road  was  planned. 

Although  but  forty-two  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  Mr.  Elwood  left  behind  him  a 
memory  that  will  endure  through  future  years. 
The  affectionate  remembrance  in  which  his  name 
is  held  by  all  the  older  members  of  the  Masonic 
fraternities  is  one  of  the  rare  evidences  of  deep 
and  lasting  love. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Elwood  united  him  with 
Miss  Juliet  L.   Parks,  of  Lockport,  N.  Y.     She 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


229 


survived  him  almost  forty  years,  passing  away 
May  6,  1900,  in  Chicago,  and  was  buried  in 
Joliet.  Her  father,  Joel  M.  Parks,  was  postmas- 
ter and  a  merchant  of  Lockport,  N.  Y. ,  and  in 
1837  settled  in  Lockport,  111.,  where  he  also  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  and  served  as 
postmaster.  Later  he  removed  to  Joliet,  where 
he  died.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  William  Good- 
ing, chief  engineer  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal. 

The  esteem  in  which  Mrs.  Juliet  L.  Elwood 
was  held  in  Joliet  was  shown  by  the  following, 
which  is  a  portion  of  an  article  published  in  a 
local  paper  at  the  time  of  her  death: 

"One  of  our  noblest  women  passed  away  Sat- 
urday night  when  the  soul  of  Mrs.  Juliet  L. 
Elwood  winged  its  flight  to  its  eternal  home. 
Everybody  in  Will  County  and  Joliet  knew  and 
loved  her,  and  all  alike  mourn  her  death. 

"Mrs.  Elwood  was  born  in  Bristol,  Ontario 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  16,  1819.  She  was 
married  to  Nelson  D.  Elwood  in  Lockport,  N.Y. , 
February  13,  1837,  and  shortly  after  moved  to 
Lockport,  Will  County,  111.  Some  time  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Elwood  she  moved  to  Chicago, 
where  she  died  on  the  6th,  at  2979  Prairie  avenue. 

"She  was  one  of  the  grandest  of  wives  and 
mothers.  All  loved  her  for  her  high  character, 
loving  ways  and  pure  womanly  traits. 

"The  funeral  occurred  from  Christ  Episcopal 
Church  this  afternoon  at  three  o'clock  to  Oak- 
wood.  The  tears  and  flowers  and  heartfelt  sighs 
of  the  mourning  relatives  and  friends  and  the 
mute  grief  shown  by  the  old-time  friends  and 
neighbors  told  more  eloquently  than  the  grandest 
sermon  could  of  the  deep  and  lasting  love  for  the 
deceased,  whose  memory  will  ever  be  cherished 
and  revered." 


HON.  JAMES  G.  ELWOOD,  postmaster  of 
Joliet  and  one  of  the  city's  most  influential 
citizens,  was  brought  to  this  place  by  his  par- 
ents in  1843,  when  four  years  of  age.  He  was 
born  in  Lockport,  this  county,  and  received  his 


education  in  public  and  private  schools  primarily, 
after  which  he  attended  the  Collegiate  and  Com- 
mercial Military  School  in  New  Haven,  Conn., 
remaining  there  until  thecompletionofthecour.se 
in  1857.  While  there  he  served  as  first  sergeant 
for  three  months  and  later  held  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain. The  choice  of  a  university  course  at  Yale 
or  study  abroad  was  given  him,  and  he  chose  the 
latter,  going  to  Geneva,  Switzerland,  where  he 
was  under  a  tutor  for  a  year.  Next  he  matricu- 
lated in  Frederick  William  University  at  Berlin, 
where  he  completed  the  first  year's  studies. 
While  there  his  only  living  brother  passed  away 
and  left  him  the  sole  survivor  of  six  sons.  For 
this  reason  his  parents  deemed  it  best  for  him  to 
return  to  them,  and  the  following  year  he  spent 
in  his  father's  office.  After  completing  the  course 
in  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College  he  re- 
turned to  the  office  of  Parks  &  Elwood,  aud  con- 
tinued there  until  his  mother  gave  her  consent 
for  his  enlistment  in  the  volunteer  army  in  July, 
1862. 

Organizing  Company  B,  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Illinois  Infantry,  he  was  commissioned  its  cap- 
tain by  Governor  Yates,  and  went  at  once  to  the 
front.  After  the  battle  of  Perryville  he  accom- 
panied General  Rosecrans  and  took  part  in  the  five 
days'  fight  at  Murfreesboro.  During  that  battle 
he  was  honored  by  being  made  acting  assistant 
adjutant-general  of  the  First  Brigade,  First  Divi- 
sion, Twenty-first  Corps,  being  appointed  on  the 
field  by  Gen.  George  T.  Buell.  His  brigade, 
which  was  in  Wood's  division,  received  an  order 
to  move  by  the  left  flank  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  It  obeyed  the  order  with  fourteen  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  and  lost  six  hundred  and  for- 
ty-eight men  in  its  heroic  effort  to  hold  its  posi- 
tion. While  in  Chattanooga,  Mrs.  Elwood  wrote 
so  strong  an  appeal  for  her  son's  return  home 
that  General  Rosecrans  decided  her  request 
should  be  granted.  The  young  officer  therefore 
resigned  in  November,  1863,  and  returned  home. 

In  1866  Mr.  Elwood  became  a  broker  on  the 
Chicago  board  of  trade.  Soon  afterward  he  en- 
tered the  milling  business  at  Matteson,  111.,  but 
in  1870  returned  to  Joliet,  where  he  has  since 
carried  on  a  real-estate  business.  With  ex- Mayor 


230 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Paige,  in  1SS0,  he  built  the  Telephone  Exchange, 
the  first  telephone  in  Joliet,  and  this  the  two  con- 
ducted for  three  years,  and  then  sold  out  to  the 
Chicago  Telephone  Company,  Mr.  Elwood  re- 
maining as  manager  for  four  more  years.  His 
next  business  enterprise  was  as  treasurer,  general 
manager  and  a  director  of  the  water  works  com- 
pany, with  which  he  continued  for  four  years, 
until  the  plant  was  purchased  by  the  city.  From 
1S8S  to  1896  he  was  manager  of  the  Joliet  Gas 
Company,  with  which  he  was  connected  from 
1 86 1  and  of  which  he  was  secretary  for  twenty 
years.  With  Judge  Parks,  in  1S77,  ne  erected 
the  First  National  Bank  building.  He  is  a  direc- 
tor in  the  Will  County  National  Bank  and  has  an 
interest  in  many  other  local  enterprises  of  impor- 
tance. In  1862  he  was  made  a  director  of  Oak- 
wood  cemetery,  of  which  he  has  been  superinten- 
dent since  1871. 

When  Mr.  Elwood  entered  the  army  he  was  a 
Douglas  Democrat,  but  soon  after  the  war  he  be- 
came a  Republican  and  has  been  stanch  in  his  al- 
legiance to  this  part)-  ever  since.  From  1872  to 
1S74  he  was  alderman  from  his  ward.  In  1S77 
he  was  elected  mayor,  being  the  first  to  hold  the 
office  under  the  present  charter.  As  chairman  of 
the  board  of  county  supervisors  for  two  years  he 
proved  an  efficient  worker  for  the  benefit  of  the 
paople,  not  only  devoting  his  salary  to  the  bene- 
fit of  the  public  work,  but  making  personal  con- 
tributions besides.  From  1892  to  1S94  he  was 
superintendent  of  the  poor,  this  being  the  time  of 
the  panic,  when  work  was  scarce  and  many 
worth}-  people  were  in  direst  straits.  During 
that  time  he  had  charge  of  feeding. and  helping 
forty-four  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  and  much 
of  his  time  was  given  to  this  work.  July  11, 
1S98,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Joliet, 
and  has  since  served  with  efficiency  in  the  office. 

In  Chicago,  in  1868,  Mr.  Elwood  married  Miss 
Margaret  Pearce,  who  was  born  in  Seneca  Coun- 
ty, N.  Y.  Her  father,  William  L.  Pearce,  came 
to  Chicago  in  1852  and  opened  the  Matteson 
house,  corner  of  Randolph  and  Dearborn  streets. 
He  died  in  Chicago.  His  brother  is  now  propri- 
etor of  the  Sherman  house  in  that  city.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.   Klwood  are  the  parents  of  four  children. 


Ward  Pearce  Elwood,  the  oldest,  was  educated  in 
Faribault,  Minn.,  and  Chicago  Manual  Training 
school,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  plumbing 
business  in  Joliet.  William  Nelson  Elwood  is 
treasurer  and  secretary  of  the  Nashville  Chair 
and  Carriage  Company,  of  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  this 
company  both  father  and  son  helped  to  organize 
and  it  has  the  most  complete  and  modern  plant  of 
its  kind  in  the  United  States.  The  older  daugh- 
ter, Louise  Mayuette,  was  educated  in  Lasell  Sem- 
inary at  Auburudale,  Mass.,  and  the  younger, 
Elsie  Parks,  graduated  with  honors  from  the 
Joliet  high  and  training  schools.  The  family 
spend  the  winters  in  Joliet  and  during  the  summer 
occupy  their  country  home,  "Elwood  Terrace," 
on  the  St.  Clair  River,  in  Michigan. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Elwood  is  connected  with  Mat- 
teson Lodge,"  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Joliet  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M.,  in  which  he  is  past  high  priest;  Joliet 
Council;  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T. ,  in 
which  he  has  been  commander  five  terms;  and 
in  1884  he  was  grand  commander  of  the  Grand 
Commandery  of  Illinois.  For  twelve  years  he 
was  the  representative  of  the  grand  comman- 
dery of  New  York  in  the  commandery  of  this 
state.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Comman- 
dery of  Loyal  Legion  and  Bartleson  Post  No.  6, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Joliet.  For  man)-  years  he  wTas  a 
vestryman  and  warden  in  Christ's  Episcopal 
Church  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  finances  of  the  church,  also 
aided  actively  in  the  erection  of  the  church 
building-. 


REY.  SAMUEL  HEWES.  Far  and  near  this 
gentleman  is  known  for  his  successful  and 
self-sacrificing  labors  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
Early  entering  the  ministry,  his  entire  active  life 
was  devoted  to  the  winning  of  souls  for  Christ 
and  the  uplifting  of  humanity.  Under  his  labors, 
both  in  regular  pastorates  and  in  evangelistic 
meetings,  thousands  have  been  converted,  and 
these  sixty  years  have  been  very  fruitful  of  re- 
sults.    Even  now,  though   with  him  life's  brief 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


day  has  reached  its  serene  twilight,  he  still  labors 
as  his  strength  permits,  preaching  occasionall}' 
and  in  other  ways  promoting  the  welfare  of  the 
church. 

The  record  of  the  Hewes  family  is  presented 
in  the  sketch  of  our  subject's  brother,  Daniel  S., 
also  of  Crete.  Samuel  was  born  in  Shaftsbury, 
Vt.,  August  iS,  1814,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of 
twelve  children.  When  he  was  quite  young  the 
family  removed  to  Chittenden  County,  Vt.  He 
was  a  mere  boy  when  he. began  to  work,  giving 
his  wages  to  his  father  to  assist  in  the  support  of 
the  family.  When  the  family  started  west  in 
1835  he  had  just  been  converted,  and,  feeling  a 
call  to  the  ministry,  he  desired  a  better  education 
than  he  could  secure  in  Illinois.  Hence  he  re- 
solved to  remain  in  Vermont.  Working  during 
vacations  he  obtained  the  means  to  pursue 
academic  studies  in  Bennington.  Later  he  stud- 
ied and  also  was  a  teacher  for  two  years  in  West 
Poultney  Seminary.  While  teaching  in  Chitten- 
den County  in  1839  he  received  a  license  to 
preach  and  filled  the  pulpit  on  the  night  the 
license  was  given  him.  For  two  years  he  taught 
week  days  and  preached  on  Sundays.  During 
that  time  he  held  a  very  successful  revival.  After 
his  marriage  he  joiued  the  conference.  In  1857 
he  moved  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  which  at  that  time  was 
noted  for  its  wickedness.  During  the  two  years 
he  remained  in  that  city  he  had  more  than  three 
hundred  converts.  Before  this  he  made  two  hun- 
dred conversions  in  the  suburbs  and  preached  at 
three  different  places  each  Sunday. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  was  offered  the  lead- 
ing church  in  Troy  if  he  would  remain  there, 
Mr.  Hewes  determined  to  come  to  Illinois,  where 
he  had  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  govern- 
ment land  in  1846  and  where  his  relatives  resided. 
In  1859  he  settled  in  Will  County.  Immediately 
joining  the  western  conference,  he  was  appointed 
pastor  of  the  Crete  congregation.  Besides  preach- 
ing here,  on  alternate  Sundays  he  preached  at 
Mouee,  seven  miles  from  Crete,  and  Thornton,  ten 
miles  distant, where  he  held  Sunday  afternoon  ser- 
vices and  also  had  three  appointments  during  the 
week.  For  two  years  he  continued  in  that  man- 
ner,  after  which  he  was  stationed  at  Arlington 


Heights,  Palatine  and  other  places  for  two  years, 
at  Wheatou  for  a  year  and  at  Frankfort  Station 
for  two  years,  at  the  same  time  supplying  other  pul- 
pits. Failing  health  then  obliged  him  to  tempo- 
rarily give  up  his  ministerial  work.  He  bought 
the  old  homestead  from  his  mother,  and  this, 
with  his  own  land,  made  him  owner  of  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Crete  Township.  Six 
years  of  outdoor  exercise  and  farm  work  restored 
his  health  and  he  resumed  his  ministerial  work. 
His  next  appointments  were  as  follows:  McHen- 
ry,  111.,  two  years;  Crystal  Lake  Crossing  one 
year;  Downer's  Grove,  two  years;  Courtlaud, 
two  years;  Kaneville,  three  years;  and  Erie,  one 
year.  On  reaching  the  age  of  seventy  years  he 
retired  from  regular  pastoral  work,  although  he 
was  offered  by  the  Erie  congregation  a  large  sal- 
ary if  he  would  remain.  On  retiring  he  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Crete  Village,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  estimate  the  good 
accomplished  by  such  a  life  as  that  of  Mr.  Hewes, 
for  kind  deeds  and  Christian  service  cannot  be 
tabulated  in  statistics.  But,  though  unchronicled 
on  earth,  He  who  said,  "Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it 
unto  the  least  of  these,  my  brethren,  ye  did  it 
unto  me,"  will  not  pass  them  by  unrewarded. 
Now  as  he  looks  back  over  his  eighty-six  years 
he  can  do  so  without  regret  or  remorse,  and  can 
look  forward  to  the  future  with  the  Christian's 
bright  hope  of  eternal  happiness. 

At  Grand  Island,  Vt.,  December  24,  1840,  Mr. 
Hewes  married  Miss  Phoebe  Phelps,  who  was 
born  in  Vermont  and  is  still  living,  at  eighty-two 
years.  She  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the 
church  and  a  faithful,  efficient  helpmate  to  her 
husband,  whose  devoted  wife  she  has  been  for 
sixty  years.  Of  their  nine  children  two  daugh- 
ters alone  survive.  The  eldest  of  these  is  a  noted 
evangelist,  having  inherited  her  father's  gift  of 
preaching.  She  has  been  in  evangelistic  work 
for  twenty  years,  mainly  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Wis- 
consin and  Indiana,  and  also  spent  four  years  in 
Ireland,  where  she  gained  more  converts  to  the 
church  than  any  evangelist  had  secured  for  years. 
Besides  this,  she  is  an  excellent  writer  on  re- 
ligious subjects.     She  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Joseph 


232 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Caldwell,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Frankfort,  this  county.  The  second 
daughter,  Mary  H.,  deceased,  married  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Earngey,  who  has  held  pastorates  at  Dixon, 
Plainfield,  Elgin,  Morris,  Aurora  and  other 
places,  and  is  now  one  of  the  well-known  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  ministers  of  Chicago.  The  third 
daughter,  Helen  H. ,  is  the  wife  of  G.  W.  Willard, 
M.  D.,  of  Chicago;  and  the  youngest  daughter, 
Franc,  now  deceased,  married  Charles  Blim, 
M.  D.,  of  Crete. 


Gl  LBERT  T.  RANDALL,  supervisor  of  Ckan- 
|  I  nahou  Township  and  a  well-known  merchant 
|  1  of  Channahon,  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  June  7,  1837,  a  son  of  John  T.  and 
Beulah  S.  (Russell)  Randall.  He  was  one  of  a 
family  of  six,  four  now  living,  those  besides  him- 
self being  Gersham  A.,  who  is  with  the  Brewster 
Manufacturing  Company  in  Beatrice,  Neb. ;  Lau- 
ra A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Wilburn,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Blackford,  Kans.;  and  Mary,  who 
married  Charles  A.  Warren,  an  attorney  of  Chi- 
cago. His  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Orleans 
County,  Vt.,  born  August  2,  1815,  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  when  he 
was  ten  years  of  age,  and  there  he  grew  to  man- 
hood. His  school  advantages  were  very  limited, 
but  later,  through  broad  reading,  he  became  a 
well-informed  man.  In  early  manhood  he  went 
to  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  on 
his  uncle's  farm.  There  he  met  and  married 
Miss  Russell.  After  the  birth  of  two  children  he 
and  his  wife  removed  to  Orleans  County,  N.  Y., 
and  there  resided  until  1849. 

During  the  latter  year  John  T.  Randall  brought 
his  family  to  Illinois.  After  a  few  months  in 
Joliet  he  settled  in  Troy  Township,  on  the  Du 
Page  River,  where  he  purchased  two  hundred 
and  five  acres  of  canal  land.  Some  years  were 
spent  on  that  place.  However,  in  1855,  on  ac- 
count of  the  poor  school  facilities  in  that  locality, 
he  disposed  of  his  farm  and  removed  to  the  village 
of  Cliannahon.      Four  years  later  he  settled  on  a 


farm  two  miles  east  of  town  and  there  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  November  30,  1882.  In 
early  life  he  was  an  ardent  Democrat,  but  later 
became  independent  in  politics.  During  the 
years  1863,  1864  and  1865  he  represented  Chan- 
nahon Township  on  the  board  of  supervisors,  and 
in  1853  and  1854  ne  represented  Troy  Township 
on  the  board.  He  also  served  as  assessor  of 
Channahon  Township  a  number  of  times  and 
held  the  office  of  highway  commissioner.  He 
was  one  of  the  county's  most  highly  esteemed 
men. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Nehemiah 
Randall,  was  born  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  in 
17S4.  When  a  young  man  he  moved  to  Vermont 
and  there  married.  In  1825  he  removed  to  Or- 
leans County,  N.  Y.,  and  there  made  his  home 
for  twenty  years,  going  in  1845  to  Lorain  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  he  died  one  year  later.  He  was 
a  type  of  the  industrious  pioneer  farmers,  to  whom 
the  present  generation  owes  so  large  a  debt  of 
gratitude.  His  father,  Gersham  Randall,  was  a 
native  of  Scituate,  Mass.,  and  served  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary War;  one  of  his  brothers  was  killed  at 
Braddock's  defeat  during  the  French  and  Indian 
war  in  1755.  The  first  of  the  Randall  family  in 
America  came  from  England  about  1640  and  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Scituate.  The  wife  of  Nehemiah 
Randall  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sally  St.  Clair; 
her  father,  James  St.  Clair,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the  war  of 
1812. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Miriam  (Morgan)  Russell,  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  Two  of  the  Morgan  family 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  one  being  in 
the  navy,  the  other  in  the  army.  Joseph  Russell 
was  a  teamster  in  the  war  of  18 12  and  his  father 
rendered  patriotic  service  to  the  colonial  cause 
during  the  first  struggle  with  England.  The 
Russells  descended  from  English  forefathers,  who 
emigrated  to  America  between  1640  and   1660. 

When  a  young  man  of  twenty  years  our  sub- 
ject went  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  for  a 
time  with  an  uncle  on  a  farm,  returning  to  Will 
County  in  the  latter  part  of  1858.  In  March, 
1859,    he  joined  a  party  of  Argonauts  seeking 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


233 


gold  in  the  Pike's  Peak  region,  and,  arriving  in 
Colorado,  devoted  some  time  to  searching  for 
gold.  While  he  was  there  the  Civil  war  broke 
out.  September  9,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
H,  First  Colorado  Infantry,  which  was  made  a 
cavalry  regiment  in  November,  1862.  He  re- 
mained with  it  until  his  honorable  discharge, 
December  14,  1865.  Enlisting  as  a  private  he 
was  soon  made  a  corporal  and  later  a  sergeant. 
The  important  engagements  in  which  he  partici- 
pated were  those  at  Apache  Canon,  Pigeon  ranch, 
Peralto,  Cedar  Canon  and  Sand  Creek. 

After  being  mustered  out  from  the  service  Mr. 
Randall  returned  to  Illinois  and  resumed  farm 
work.  During  the  summers  of  1866  and  1867  he 
went  to  St.  Joe,  Mo. ,  and  worked  in  a  packing 
house.  From  1859  to  186 1  he  engaged  in  farm 
work  in  Will  County,  after  which  he  spent  three 
years  as  salesman  in  a  store  in  Wilmington.  On 
his  return  to  Channahon  he  took  charge  of  the 
old  homestead,  which  he  farmed  until  1882.  He 
then  became  a  partner  in  a  mercantile  establish- 
ment in  Channahon,  but  sold  out  the  next  year 
and  returned  to  the  homestead,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1890.  During  that  year  he  removed 
to  the  village,  and  here  for  three  years  he  was 
connected  with  a  mercantile  store.  In  1893  he 
established  his  present  business,  which  he  has 
successfully  and  efficiently  conducted. 

During  Mr.  Randall's  service  in  the  army  he 
was  a  member  of  a  party  sent  across  the  plains  as 
escort  to  a  band  of  chiefs  in  February,  1863,  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  treaty  between  the  In- 
dians and  the  government.  His  company  and 
Company  D  comprised  the  escort.  He  remained 
in  camp  at  St.  Joe,  Mo.,  while  the  Indians  went 
on  to  Washington,  D.  C.  It  was  while  at  St.  Joe 
that  he  was  married,  April  30,  1863,  to  Miss 
Anna  Tollard,  daughter  of  James  and  Rachael 
(Emery)  Tollard,  natives  of  England.  She  was 
born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  shortly  after  her  parents 
arrived  in  America.  Later  they  removed  to  Co- 
lumbiana County,  Wis.,  and  from  that  state  to 
St.  Joe,  Mo.,  where  they  died.  Three  children 
were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randall, 
namely:  Maud  B.,  wife  of  Fred  Weese,  of  Minoo- 
ka,  Grundy  County,  111. ;  John  T. ,  who  is  with 


the  Chicago  Telephone  Company;  and  Laura  A., 
wife  of  Charles  B.  Chase,  a  machinist  and  brick 
manufacturer  in  Channahon. 

In  1870  Mr.  Randall  was  collector  for  Channa- 
hon Township.  Since  1876  he  has  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  In  1884  he  was  elected 
assessor  and  continued  in  the  office  for  eight 
years.  In  April,  1899,  he  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  board  of  supervisors,  which  position  he  now 
ably  fills.  In  politics  he  is  of  the  Republican 
faith.  He  is  connected  with  Channahon  Lodge 
262,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Kalon  Camp  No.  4282, 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America;  and  Burden  Post 
No.  494,  G.  A.  R. 


'HOMAS  TAIT,  who  was  long  identified 
with  the  farm  interests  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, though  now  passed  from  earth,  yet 
lives  in  the  hearts  and  memories  of  his  friends 
and  neighbors.  His  character  as  a  man  is  well 
known,  but  a  brief  recital  of  the  incidents  of  his 
life  may  still  more  firmly  establish  the  record  of 
his  honorable  and  useful  career.  He  was  born 
on  the  Shetland  Islands,  September  23,  1830,  a 
sou  of  Michael  and  Margaret  (Leisk)  Tait,  of 
whose  five  children  only  two  are  living.  The 
older  son,  John,  is  a  farmer  in  Lane  County, 
Ore.,  and  the  younger,  Magnus,  is  living  retired 
in  Santa  Clara  County,  Cal. 

During  the  time  of  the  religious  persecutions  in 
Scotland,  the  Leisk  and  Tait  families  fled  from 
that  country  and  took  refuge  in  the  Shetland  Is- 
lands, where  Michael  Tait  was  born  October  21, 
1805,  and  Margaret  Leisk  January  16,  1803. 
Four  of  their  children  were  born  on  the  same  is- 
lands. May  14,  1838,  they  started  across  the 
ocean  to  America,  arriving  at  New  York  on  the 
28th  of  June,  and  on  the  19th  of  July  they 
reached  Chicago.  Ten  years  were  spent  in  that 
then  insignificant  village.  March  28,  1848,  they 
arrived  at  Joliet.  They  settled  on  one  hundred 
and   twenty  acres   of  land   in   Joliet  Township, 


'34 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


three  miles  south  of  town.  Mr.  Tait  was  very 
fond  of  flowers  and  had  so  many  plants  on  his 
place  that  it  became  known  as  Flower  Hill.  Sep- 
tember 2S,  1848,  he  took  out  a  patent  for  the 
land.  September  27,  185 1,  he  made  his  final 
payment  for  the  property,  the  purchase  price  for 
the  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  being  $477. 
By  trade  he  was  a  stone  mason,  but  his  prefer- 
ence was  for  farm  pursuits.  On  first  settling  in 
Chicago  he  spent  a  short  time  with  a  brother 
there,  and  later  became  connected  wTith  a  Mr. 
Barnett  in  stone  contracting.  For  some  years  af- 
terward he  engaged  in  the  building  of  the  locks 
on  the  canal  at  Wellington,  Canada,  and  the 
locks  on  this  canal.  After  completing  that  wTork 
he  settled  down  on  the  farm  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  October  6,  1S7S.  His  wife  spent 
the  last  eighteen  mouths  of  her  life  with  our  sub- 
ject and  died  in  his  home  March  28,  1882.  She 
and  her  husband  were  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Joliet  and  were  active  Christian 
workers. 

When  a  boy  our  subject  had  no  extended  op- 
portunities for  acquiring  an  education,  but  he 
lost  no  chance  to  gain  the  knowledge  he  felt 
would  be  necessary  to  him  in  life.  Farming 
duties  early  and  late  engrossed  much  of  his  time; 
hours  of  work  were  long  and  the  labor  often 
wearying,  but  books  or  newspapers  that  came  in 
his  way  were  eagerly  read  in  order  to  gain  the 
varied  information  and  news  from  the  outside 
world.  Being  a  young  man  of  frugal  habits,  he 
soon  was  in  a  position  to  buy  a  farm.  He  pur- 
chased eighty-five  acres  in  Jackson  Township 
from  a  Miss  Cook,  who  later  became  the  wife  of 
Elder  Solomon  Knapp.  Here  he  devoted  himself 
to  his  chosen  occupation,  beginning  in  his  new 
home  the  life  that  brought  him  happiness,  honor 
and  success.  The  laud  upou  which  he  settled 
was  almost  unbroken  prairie,  but  his  energetic 
management  soon  yielded  him  good  crops;  and 
the  improvements  upon  it  were  a  monument  to 
his  skillful  labor.  Upon  this  place  he  made  his 
home  until  his  life  work  ended,  May  3,  1896. 
During  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  he  suffered 
from  the  effects  of  a  sunstroke.  On  account  of 
his  poor  health  he  and  his  wife  spent  much  time 


in  travel,  and  in  1895  extended  their  travels  as 
far  as  Alaska,  visiting  Sitka,  Juneau  and  other 
points  of  interest.  For  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  his  district,  and  his  efforts 
proved  helpful  in  promoting  the  condition  of  the 
school.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  connected 
himself  with  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Joliet, 
with  which  he  was  afterward  identified,  and  his 
wife  has  been  a  member  of  the  same  church  for 
thirty  years  or  more.  In  politics  he  was  a  Re- 
publican. He  served  as  supervisor  and  collector 
of  Jackson  Township  one  term. 

October  12,  185S,  Mr.  Tait  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Shutts,  a  native  of  Columbia  County,  N.Y., 
born  September  19,  1S40,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Cole)  Shutts.  She  was  one  of  a 
family  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
the  following  besides  herself  now  survive:  Henry, 
an  attorney  of  Oregon  City,  Mo.:  Samuel,  of  Jo- 
liet; John,  who  lives  in  Chicago;  Cassius,  a  grocer 
in  St.  Joe,  Mo.;  Peter,  an  attorney  in  Joliet;  and 
Frank,  a  farmer  in  Rooks  County,  Kans.  Mr. 
Shutts  came  to  Joliet  September  13,  1S55.  He 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Swedish  orphans'  home,  and  there 
he  resided  up  to  a  few  months  before  his  death. 
His  last  days  were  spent  in  the  home  of  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Tait,  where  he  died  September 6, 
1899.  His  wife  had  passed  away  December  21, 
1878.  Both  were  earnest  members  of  the  Central 
Presbyterian  Church.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  served  as  supervisor  of  Joliet  Township.  He 
was  a  man  of  considerable  local  prominence  and 
was  recognized  as  one  of  Will  County's  represent- 
ative citizens. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tait  six  sons 
and  three  daughters  were  born,  all  but  one  of 
whom  are  still  living.  John  and  Magnus  are  en- 
gaged in  the  fruit  business  and  in  cattle  ranching 
at  Phoenix,  Ariz. :  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Oscar 
Lara  way,  a  farmer  of  Joliet  Township;  Thomas 
is  engaged  in  farming  on  Puget  Sound,  in  Wash- 
ington; Fred  is  a  partner  of  Magnus  in  cattle- 
raising:  Cassius  is  on  the  home  farm  in  Jackson 
Township;  Sarah  and  Robert  reside  with  their 
mother.  Since  November,  189S,  the  family  home 
has  been  at  No.  706  Richards  street,  Joliet. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


237 


JOHN  THEILER. 


(JOHN  THEILER,  who  was  engaged  inbusi- 
I  ness  in  Joliet  since  1857,  was  born  in  Canton 
G)  Luzerne,  Hassle  Amt  Entlebueh,  Switzer- 
land, December  8,  1829,  a  son  of  John  and  Bar- 
bara ( Wicke)  Theiler,  also  natives  of  that  can- 
ton. In  1847  his  father  brought  the  family  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Chicago,  where  he 
died  seven  years  later,  at  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
His  wife  also  died  in  that  city.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  nine  of 
whom  came  to  America  and  four  are  now  living. 
Two  of  the  sons,  John  and  Joseph,  make  their 
home  in  Joliet,  and  another  son,  Anthony,  is  a 
farmer  near  Troy,  this  state.  An  uncle  ( Anthony) 
is  still  living  in  Switzerland,  and  is  now  eighty- 
five  years  of  age.  The  grandfather,  John 
Theiler,  was  a  farmer  in  Canton  Luzerne,  where 
preceding  generations  also  lived.  So  far  as 
known,  all  members  of  the  family  have  been 
Roman  Catholics. 

While  still  a  mere  boy,  our  subject  began  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  His  first  occu- 
pation was  as  a  farm  hand.  In  1847  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Boston," 
from  Havre  to  New  York,  landing  after  a  voyage 
of  thirty-five  days.  From  New  York  he  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Hudson  to  Albany,  thence  by 
canal  to  Buffalo,  and  from  there  by  boat  to  Chi- 
cago. Going  out  on  the  prairie,  he  helped  to 
put  up  hay.  Later  he  worked  in  a  packing- 
house, then  in  a  lime-kiln.  The  fall  of  1850 
found  him  in  Joliet,  and  during  the  winter  he 
worked  in  George  Woodruff's  distillery  at  Three 
Points.     In  the  spring  he  went  back  to  Chicago, 


then  returned  to  Joliet  in  the  fall.  In  1853  he 
settled  permanently  in  this  county,  buying 
a  farm  on  North  Broadway,  which  later  be- 
came Saengerbund  park.  For  three  years  he 
made  his  home  on  that  place,  meantime  improv- 
ing and  cultivating  its  fifty  acres.  He  then  sold, 
and  opened  the  store  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted. Until  1S62  his  location  was  on  North 
Hickory  street,  but  he  then  bought  a  store  at 
No.  no  South  Bluff  street,  and  later  built  on 
adjoining  ground,  so  that  now  he  has  a  frontage 
of  seventy-five  feet  and  a  depth  of  eighty  feet, 
with  four  floors.  This  large  business  has  been 
built  up  through  his  energy,  perseverance  and 
determination. 

In  1892  Mr.  Theiler  assisted  in  incorporating 
the  E.  Porter  Brewing  Company,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  a  stockholder  and  director.  He  has  a 
number  of  valuable  real-estate  interests,  among 
these  being  fifteen  acres  of  his  old  farm  on  North 
Broadway,  now  known  as  Theiler  park.  He  also 
owns  twenty-two  acres  adjoining  City  park,  and 
easy  of  access  via  the  West  park  street  cars  and 
the  Rock  Island  Railroad.  This  property  he 
expects  to  plat  and  sell  in  lots.  Until  1896  he 
adhered  to  the  regular  Democratic  organization, 
but  its  adoption  of  a  silver  plank  caused  him  to 
join  the  ranks  of  the  gold-standard  Democrats. 
For  two  terms  he  served  as  alderman  from  the 
old  Twenty-third  (now  the  Third)  ward.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Saenger- 
bund. At  onetime  he  served  as  president  of  the 
Sharpshooters'  Association,  and  he  has  taken  a 
number  of  prizes  for    his   skill   as  a  marksman. 


238 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


His  membership  is  in  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  but  he  also  attends  and  supports  St. 
Patrick's. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Theiler,  in  Joliet,  united 
him  with  Miss  Lizzie  Fender,  who  was  born  on 
the  Rhine  in  Alsace,  and  in  1846  came  to  Joliet 
in  company  with  her  father,  Michael  Fender, 
who  was  a  gardener  here.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Theiler 
had  five  children  who  attained  mature  years.  Of 
these,  John,  who  was  a  prominent  business  man 
of  Joliet,  died  in  Februarj',  1899,  and  Joseph  is 
now  a  merchant  of  this  city.  The  daughters 
are  Mrs.  Mary  Scheit,  Mrs.  Louisa  Wenner,  and 
Lizzie,  also  of  this  city. 


(TAMES  G.  HEGGIE,  a  well-known  business 
I  man  of  Joliet,  where  he  has  resided  since 
Q)  1S75,  was  born  in  Scone,  Perthshire,  Scot- 
land, October  18,  1853.  His  birthplace  was  the 
estate  of  Scone,  now  owned  by  the  Earl  of  Mans- 
field, and  renowned  in  history  as  the  place  where 
all  the  kings  of  Scotland  were  crowned.  His 
father  was  born  in  the  county  of  Fife,  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Earl  of  Mansfield  when  a 
young  man.  He  was  engaged  in  contracting, 
taking  charge  of  the  improvements  on  the  place. 
As  leases  on  the  estate  were  always  made  for  a 
term  of  nineteen  years,  at  their  renewal  consider- 
able work  was  necessary.  In  religion  he  was 
connected  with  the  Free  Presbyterian  Church. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  eight}-- one  years 
of  age. 

The  wife  of  John  Heggie  was  Margaret  Smith, 
a  devout  woman,  of  great  energy  and  firmness  of 
character,  who  died  at  eighty-four  years  of  age. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Sergeant  Henry  Smith,  of 
the  English  army,  and  was  born  on  the  Island  of 
Sicily  (her  father  having  been  on  military  duty 
there  at  the  time  of  her  birth).  Her  brothers 
were  also  military  men.  One,  John  Smith,  took 
part  in  the  Crimean  war,  and  another,  Henry, 
died  while  on  duty  in  India.  The  children  of 
John  and  Margaret  Heggie  were  named,  as  fol- 


lows: Jessie,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  Simpson, 
of  Chicago;  John,  our  subject's  business  partner; 
Mary,  deceased;  Isabelle,  Mrs.  Dixon,  of  Scot- 
land; and  James  G.  The  last-named  was  edu- 
cated in  schools  connected  with  the  free  church 
in  Scotland,  supplemented  by  attendance  at  an 
academy.  For  four  years  he  worked  in  a  lawyer's 
office.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  entered 
the  office  of  the  surveyor  of  taxes,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year,  and  until  he  came  to  America. 

In  1873  Mr.  Heggie  crossed  the  ocean,  going 
to  Dekalb  County,  111.,  where  he  worked  on  a 
farm.  From  there  he  came  to  Joliet,  and,  having 
a  taste  for  mechanics,  he  secured  employment 
with  the  Joliet  Steel  Company.  After  two  years 
in  the  boiler  shop  he  was  made  foreman  of  that 
department.  He  remained  with  the  company  for 
seventeen  years,  during  which  time  he  retained 
the  fullest  confidence  of  his  employers. 

Forming  a  partnership  with  his  brother  in 
1892  Mr.  Heggie  opened  a  business  of  his  own, 
having  the  largest  boiler-manufacturing  plant 
in  the  city.  In  1899  they  erected  a  still  larger 
plant,  located  on  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern 
Railroad;  this  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  ap- 
pointed plants  of  its  kind  in  the  entire  state. 
The  success  with  which  it  has  been  conducted  re- 
flects the  greatest  credit  upon  its  owners  and 
speaks  volumes  for  their  ability  and  perseverance. 
The  brothers  have  done  a  large  amount  of  work 
for  the  contractors  on  the  drainage  canal,  as  well 
as  the  officers  of  the  sanitary  district,  and  their 
relations  with   all  have  been  the  most  agreeable. 

In  national  affairs  Mr.  Heggie  is  a  Republican. 
He  has  never  sought  political  preferment  nor 
been  active  in  politics.  For  three  terms  he 
served  as  alderman  from  the  first  ward,  to  which 
he  was  twice  elected  on  the  Republican  and  once 
on  the  Democratic  ticket.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.; 
in  this  he  has  held  all  the  offices  except  that  of 
master.  He  is  interested  in  some  gold  property 
near  Deadwood  and  is  vice-president  of  the  Her- 
cules Gold  Mining  Company.  His  residence  at 
No.  906  Irving  street  was  erected  in  1SS1.  and  is 
modern  in  all  of  its  appointments.  The  residence 
adjoining  was  built  by  him  at  the  same  time.    He 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


239 


owns  several  houses,  most  of  which  he  built. 
For  six  years  he  was  director  of  the  People's 
Homestead  &  Loan  Association. 

December  31,  1878,  in  Chicago,  Mr.  Heggie 
married  Kate,  daughter  of  William  Fraser,  a  na- 
tive of  Inverness-shire,  Scotland;  she  was  born  in 
Hamilton,  Ontario,  but  came  to  the  States  at 
an  early  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heggie  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  John  Fraser, 
who  is  in  his  father's  shop;  Thomas  Melbrun. 
who  has  a  taste  for  mechanical  engineering  and  is 
directing  his  studies  toward  that  occupation; 
James  Moir,  who  is  in  the  shop;  William  Ross, 
Robert  Bruce,  Fred,  Jeannette  Marguerite  and 
Gordon  Alexander. 


(JOSEPH  LABO  is  engaged  in  the  florist's 
I  business  in  Joliet.  In  the  spring  of  1898  he 
Q)  bought  two  acres  of  land  at  Ray  nor  and 
Mason  avenues  and  built  a  greenhouse.  Since 
then  he  has  built  up  a  large  business  in  cut 
flowers,  nursery  and  decorative  plants.  His 
greenhouses  contain  twelve  thousand  square  feet 
of  glass  and  are  stocked  with  the  choicest  vari- 
eties of  plants.  In  addition  to  his  regular  work 
as  a  florist  he  has  had  considerable  demand  for 
his  services  as  a  landscape  gardener,  and  has  dis- 
played taste  and  talent  in  this  line  of  business. 
Desiring  to  equip  his  greenhouses  with  the  latest 
improvements,  he  has  bought  a  gasoline  engine, 
and  uses  steam  and  hot  water  for  heating  purposes. 
Born  in  Cologne,  Germany,  May  21,  1S68,  our 
subject  is  a  son  of  Theodore  and  Sophia  (Mauch) 
Labo,  natives  of  the  same  city,  where  the  pater- 
nal grandfather  was  a  stone  mason  and  the 
maternal  grandfather,  Dominicus  Mauch,  an  ex- 
pert mechanic  and  manufacturer  of  scientific 
instruments.  The  father,  who  was  a  talented 
pianist,  organist  and  violinist,  played  the  grand 
organ  in  the  Colonge  Cathedral  for  years  and 
also  taught  private  pupils.  He  died  in  his  native 
city  when  seventy-one  years  of  age.  His  wife  is 
still  living  in  that   place.     They    had  only   two 


children,  of  whom  the  daughter  still  remains  in 
Cologne.  The  son,  our  subject,  spent  six  years 
in  the  Cologne  Gymnasium,  where  he  studied 
German,  English,  French  and  Latin.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of 
florist  and  landscape  gardener  in  his  native  town, 
and  after  two  years  he  began  travel  as  a  journey- 
man, working  in  various  German  towns.  In 
1887  he  entered  the  Seventh  Artillery  of  Cologne 
Battery  No.  8,  in  which  he  served  for  one  year. 
His  knowledge  of  foreign  languages  led  to  his 
promotion  from  the  ranks  to  an  official  position. 
After  retiring  from  the  army  he  went  to  England 
and  worked  at  his  trade  there,  later  was  similar- 
ly engaged  in  France  and  Ghent,  Belgium. 

Coming  to  America  in  1892,  Mr.  Labo  was 
employed  in  a  large  nursery  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
In  the  spring  of  1893  he  went  to  Chicago,  and 
for  eighteen  months  worked  in  Lincoln  Park 
under  Superintendent  Pettigrew,  who  recommend- 
ed him  to  Warden  Allen  at  Joliet.  In  this  way 
he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  florist  at  the 
state  penitentiary.  He  continued  there  until 
February  1,  1899,  when  he  resigned  in  order  to 
devote  his  entire  attention  to  private  business 
affairs.  While  at  the  penitentiary  he  laid  out  the 
front  lawn  and  made  the  lily  pond,  transforming 
the  grounds  from  their  unattractive  condition  to 
a  beautiful  spot.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  American  Florists  and  takes  a  warm  interest 
in  everything  pertaining  to  his  occupation.  In 
religion  he  is  identified  with  St.  John's  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet 
Saengerbuud.  By  his  marriage  in  New  York 
City  to  Miss  Margaret  Fisher,  a  native  of 
Cologne,  he  has  one  son,  Theodore. 


f- RANK  L.  BO  WEN,  president  of  the  Star 
Ty  Publishing  Company  of  Joliet,  and  editor  of 
I  '  Joliet  Sunday  Star,  is  one  of  the  well-known 
newspaper  men  of  his  city.  In  connection  with 
George  L.  Erhard,  in  November,  1897,  he  estab- 
lished the  Joliet  Sunday  Star,  the  only  Sunday 
paper  published  in  the  city.     From  the  first  the 


240 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


enterprise  was  popular  and  met  with  success. 
The  paper  takes  a  strong  stand  for  the  enforce- 
ment of  law  and  order  and  for  the  election  of  men 
who  will  enforce  the  laws.  In  fact,  the  first  shot 
that  was  fired  in  the  campaign  against  the  lawless 
element  in  the  city  was  fired  by  the  Star,  and, 
while  the  paper  has  always  been  strictly  non- 
partisan, its  independent  and  brave  stand  for  the 
right  have  caused  both  parties  to  seek  to  nomi- 
nate only  men  with  clean  records.  The  circula- 
tion is  large  and  is  not  limited  to  the  city.  In 
size  the  Star  is  a  seven-column,  eight-page  paper, 
containing  forcible  editorials  as  well  as  local  and 
general  news  of  interest.  The  publication  is 
managed  by  a  company,  of  which  Mr.  Bowen  is 
president,  and  treasurer  and  manager.  He  also 
acts  as  agent  for  the  Burnell  Commercial  Agency 
of  Marskalltown,  Iowa,  and  publishes  their  daily 
report  for  Will  County. 

Mr.  Bowen  was  born  in  Greenwich,  Huron 
County,  Ohio,  January  16,  1870.  When  he  was 
a  child  his  parents  moved  to  Michigan.  He  was 
educated  in  the  high  school  and  college  at  Hills- 
dale, Mich.,  and  the  Grand  Rapids  high  school, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1891.  In  the  fall  of 
the  latter  year  he  entered  the  department  of  law, 
University  of  Michigan,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1893  with  the  degree  ofLL-B.  During  his 
university  course  he  was  a  member  of  the  Jeffer- 
souiau  Society,  and  at  the  same  time  he  took 
special  studies  in  the  department  of  literature, 
science  and  arts.  In  1893  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  Michigan.  He  continued  special  study 
at  the  university,  taking  the  post-graduate  course 
in  law,  and  the  next  year  was  given  the  degree 


ofLL.M.  Going  to  Chicago  in  1894  he  spent  a 
year  in  the  office  of  Col.  Robert  Rae,  a  prominent 
practitioner  at  the  federal  bar  in  that  citj-.  From 
the  time  he  was  seventeen  he  had  been  interested 
in  literary  work,  and  in  this  way  he  had  paid  his 
expenses  while  in  college. 

In  1S95  Mr.  Bowen  accepted  a  position  with 
the  Joliet  Morning  Post.  After  three  months  he 
was  made  city  editor  of  the  paper,  and  continued 
in  that  capacity  until  the  paper  was  discontinued 
in  1896.  From  that  time  until  the  spring  of 
1897  he  was  connected  with  the  Daily  Republican 
on  the  reportorial  staff.  He  was  then  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  re- 
ceiving a  good  majority  although  the  township 
was  Republican.  He  took  the  oath  of  office  in 
May,  1897,  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  has 
since  served  with  efficiency  and  satisfaction  to  all. 
Until  the  national  "convention  of  1896  he  was  a 
Republican,  but,  being  a  believer  in  the  free  coin- 
age of  silver,  he  could  not  follow  his  party  in  its 
gold  standard  platform,  hence  he  joined  the 
Democratic  ranks.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to 
the  city  and  county  conventions  of  his  party  and 
in  1898  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention 
at  Springfield,  where  he  was  assigned  to  com- 
mittee work.  He  was  also  secretary  of  the  con- 
gressional committee.  He  is  identified  with  the 
University  of  Michigan  Alumni  Association,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  North 
American  Union.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  be- 
liever in  Christian  Science.  His  marriage,  which 
took  place  in  Chicago  in  1895,  united  him  with 
Miss  Grace  Bursmith,  of  that  city,  by  whom  he 
has  one  sou,  Frank  L.,  Jr. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


243 


JOHN  THEILER,  Jr. 


(JOHN  THEILER,  Jr.  In  every  life  there  is 
I  some  trait  of  character  that  individualizes 
Q)  its  possessor.  In  Mr.  Theiler  this  was  found 
in  his  passionate  devotion  to  music.  With  a 
natural  talent  for  the  art,  added  to  and  increased 
by  study  under  the  best  teachers,  he  became  him- 
self a  musician  of  rare  ability  and  was  said  to  be 
the  finest  pianist  in  Illinois.  Music  was  his  soul, 
and  in  its  study  he  passed  the  happiest  hours  of 
his  life.  For  years  he  was  organist  at  St.  Mary's 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  after  which  for  a  time 
he  held  a  similar  position  at  St.  John's.  When 
only  seventeen  he  was  able  to  direct  a  saenger- 
bund  satisfactorily,  and  for  twenty-five  years  he 
held  the  position  of  director  of  the  Joliet  Saenger- 
bund,  but,  on  account  of  failing  eyesight,  re- 
signed the  year  before  he  died,  although  he  still 
continued  to  be  a  prominent  member.  By  the 
members  of  the  organization  he  was  loved  as  a 
friend,  and  his  services,  given  without  expecta- 
tion of  financial  returns,  were  deeply  appreciated. 
He  was  director  of  the  saengerfests  held  in  Joliet 
iu  1884  and  1893,  which  were  the  most  success- 
ful affairs  of  the  kind  ever  held  in  the  city,  and 
were  participated  in  by  members  of  singing  so- 
cieties from  every  part  of  the  state.  In  each  of 
these  organizations  he  served  as  state  director. 
He  also  took  a  prominent  part  in  saengerfests 
held  in  other  states. 

A  son  of  John  Theiler,  Sr. ,  our  subject  was 
born  in  this  city  August  3,  1858.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Teutopolis  (111.)  College  and  St.  Vin- 
cent's in  Pennsylvania.  When  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  began  to  learn  the  business  in  which  his 
father  engaged,  and  about  18S4  he  was  made  a 
partner,  the  firm   name  being  John    Theiler  & 


Son.  In  1892  his  father  retired  and  the  name 
was  changed  to  Theiler  Brothers.  In  1897  John 
sold  to  his  brother  and  started  for  himself,  on 
the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Chicago  streets, 
where  he  built  up  a  large  trade.  He  was  a 
prominent  official  in  the  Benevolent  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  for  many  years  was  chief 
ranger  in  the  order  of  Foresters.  From  1879 
until  his  death  he  was  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  At  different  times  he 
served  as  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Sharp- 
shooters Association,  in  which  he  won  many 
medals  for  fine  marksmanship.  A  man  of  public 
spirit,  he  aided  local  enterprises.  Politically  he 
was  a  gold  Democrat.  When  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  was  elected  assistant  supervisor,  which 
office  he  held  for  four  years.  In  religion  he  was 
identified  with  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  after  his  death,  which  occurred 
February  28,  1899,  of  la  grippe,  his  body  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  of  this  church. 

May  9,  1892,  in  Joliet,  Mr.  Theiler  married 
Miss  Theresa  Flick,  who  was  born  in  this  city,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Seiter)  Flick, 
natives  respectively  of  Alsace,  Germany,  and 
Lancaster,  Pa.  Her  father  was  two  years  old 
when  his  mother  died  and  eight  at  the  time  of 
the  death  of  his  father,  Xavier  Flick,  M.  D. 
Three  years  later  he  came  alone  to  the  United 
States,  settling  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
learned  the  wagon-maker's  trade.  For  a  period 
of  four  years  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  the  navy 
yards  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Then  going  to  Sid- 
ney, Ohio,  he  started  a  wagon  shop  of  his  own. 
His  next  location  was  Freyburg,  Allen  (now 
Auglaize)  County,  where  he  carried  on   a  shop 


244 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


until  his  removal  to  Joliet,  in  1857.  I'1  this  city 
he  started  a  boarding  house.  After  a  time  he 
bought  property,  built  on  it,  and  continued  here 
until  his  death,  in  March,  1872,  at  fifty-four 
years. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Flick,  in  Freyburg,  Ohio, 
in  1840,  united  him  with  Elizabeth  Seiter,  who 
was  born  at  Millerstown,  Lancaster  County,  Pa., 
September  30,  1821.  Her  father,  Jarvis  Seiter, 
a  native  of  Baden,  German}-,  was  a  weaver  of 
woolens  and  linens  in  Millerstown,  whence  in 
1831  he  removed  to  Freyburg,  Ohio,  and  settled 
on  land  that  he  converted  into  a  valuable  farm. 
He  died  there  when  fifty-two  years  of  age.  His 
wife,  Mary  (Wise)  Seiter,  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  and  came  with  her  father  to  this  coun- 
try, settling  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Flick  was  one  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  three  daughters  survive,  she  being  the 
oldest  and  the  only  one  in  Joliet.  From  ten 
years  of  age  she  was  reared  in  Ohio.  While  she 
lacked  educational  advantages  she  became  a 
good  business  woman,  and  successfully  conducted 
a  boarding  house  in  Joliet  until  1S9S.  She  is 
still  interested  in  property  in  Freyburg,  Ohio, 
where  she  and  her  husband  bought  land  and 
platted  an  addition.  She  was  the  mother  of  five 
children:  Joseph,  deceased;  Mrs.  Mary  Adler; 
Helen,  wife  of  Louis  Bellay;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Lux, 
and  Mrs.  Theresa  Theiler.  Joseph  G.  Flick  was 
the  only  son.  He  was  educated  in  Freyburg, 
Ohio.  He  came  to  Joliet  with  his  parents  and 
resided  here  until  his  death.  He  married  Cath- 
arine Shey,  now  of  Chicago.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children  now  living:  Theresa,  and 
Pius  P.  Flick,  who  is  a  businessman  of  Chicago, 
and  manager  of  the  Granada  Hotel  in  that  city. 
A  notable  fact  in  the  history  of  the  Flick  family 
is  that  for  seven  generations  only  one  son  reached 
maturity,  the  last  one  being  Pius  P.  Flick. 
Mrs.  Theresa  Theiler  was  born  at  the  family 
home,  No.  116  South  Bluff  street,  received  her 
education  in  St.  Francis'  Academy,  and  from 
early  life  was  an  active  member  of  St.  John's 
Church,  with  which  she  is  now  connected.  Her 
only  son,  John  F.,  died  at  the  age  of  one  year. 
Upon  the  death  of  her  husband   she  disposed  of 


the  business  in  which  he  had  engaged.  She  is 
a  lady  of  generous  disposition,  charitable  and 
kind-hearted,  and  willing  to  assist  philanthropic 
enterprises  and  worthy  people  in  need  of  aid. 


HENRY  A.  RATHJE,  who  is  one  of  Peo- 
tone's  most  influential  men,  was  born  in 
Monee  Township,  this  count}-,  March  28, 
1853,  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Lotta  (Narges) 
Rathje,  natives  of  Rodewald,  Hanover,  Germany. 
Of  eight  children  born  to  their  union  only  three 
are  now  living,  Henry  A.,  Louis  (president  of 
the  Chicago  City  Bank),  of  Chicago,  and  Sophia, 
Mrs.  George  A.  Weimaun,  of  Frankfort,  111. 
The  father,  who  was  born  in  1824,  grew  to  man- 
hood on  a  farm  and  in  1843  came  to  America, 
settling  twenty-five  miles  west  of  Chicago  in 
Dupage  County,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  for  about  six  years.  Next  he  came  to  Peo- 
tone  Township  and  purchased  two  hundred  acres 
of  laud  three  miles  north  of  Monee,  where  he  em- 
barked in  farm  pursuits.  Fifteen  years  later  he 
moved  to  Peotone  and  opened  a  mercantile  store, 
which  was  conducted  under  the  title  of  Schroeder 
&  Rathje  for  eleven  years.  For  six  years  he  was 
connected  with  the  firm  of  Rogers  Brothers  & 
Harkin.  On  retiring  from  business  he  managed 
a  forty-acre  farm  which  he  owned  adjoining  the 
town.  He  spent  his  last  years  in  quiet  retirement 
in  Peotone.  During  his  active  business  career  he 
and  Benjamin  M.  Lewis  bought  extensive  farm- 
ing lands,  which  they  improved  and  later  sold. 
At  the  time  of  his  death,  April  14,  1S91,  he 
owned  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  From 
the  establishment  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Peo- 
tone he  served  as  one  of  its  trustees,  and  he  was 
also  an  active  worker  in  the  Sunday-school.  Po- 
litically he  was  a  Democrat.  Several  times  he 
was  elected  town  trustee  and  school  director,  and 
while  at  Monee  he  also  served  as  road  commis- 
sioner. His  father,  Frederick,  a  farmer,  came  to 
America  in  1845  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Dupage 
County,  where  he  died  in  1884. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


245 


The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  will  long  be  re- 
membered for  her  excellent  qualities  of  head  and 
heart.  She  died  in  1864.  Some  time  afterward 
Frederick  Rathje  was  again  married,  his  second 
wife  being  Miss  Margaretha  Fink,  who  survives 
him.  By  their  union  were  born  two  children, 
now  living,  Lydia  and  Clara.  Lydia  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  E.  Jurz  and  resides  in  Frank- 
fort, 111. 

When  our  subject  was  fifteen  years  of  age  his 
father  moved  to  Peotone  and  here  he  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  mercantile  business. 
In  1874  he  married  Miss  Wilhelmina  Luhmann, 
a  native  of  Hanover.  After  his  marriage  he  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business,  acquiring  the  grist 
mill  at  Peotone,  an  old  wind  mill,  which  he  oper- 
ated for  twelve  years.  However,  the  substitution 
of  modern  methods  in  other  mills  rendered  the 
mill  unprofitable  to  its  owner  and  it  was  aban- 
doned; but  it  still  stands,  a  picturesque  reminder 
of  other  days.  For  fifteen  years  Mr.  Rathje  has 
also  engaged  in  farming.  In  1S95,  with  a  part- 
ner, he  built  an  elevator  at  Frankfort  Station, 
but  two  years  later  sold  his  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness. He  now  owns  about  four  hundred  acres  in 
and  surrounding  the  village  and  the  supervision 
of  this  property  takes  much  of  his  time.  He  is  a 
stockholder  and  director  in  the  Peotone  Electric 
Light  Company.  For  twelve  years  or  more  he 
has  served  as  school  director  and  for  two  terms 
has  been  town  trustee.  In  any  enterprise  for  the 
benefit  of  the  town  he  has  always  been  interested, 
and  his  aid  could  be  relied  upon.  He  is  particu- 
larly interested  in  the  work  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  to  which  he  belongs  and  in  which  he 
has  been  treasurer  and  a  trustee  for  several 
years.  The  Sunday-school  has  enlisted  his 
sympathies  and  he  has  aided  actively  in  its  man- 
agement. Though  not  active  in  politics,  he 
holds  firm  opinions  and  supports  the  Republican 
party. 

By  the  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Rathje  five  chil- 
dren were  born,  four  of  whom  are  living:  Ed- 
ward, Anna,  Walter  and  Herman.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  he  was  again  married, 
April  6,    18S5,    his    wife    being    Miss    Catherine 


Koehnecke,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  in  1884,  settling- in  Peo- 
tone. This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
four  children,  Emma,  Otto,  Huldah  and  Paul. 
Mrs.  Rathje  is  an  estimable  lady  and  a  member 
of  the  same  church  as  that  to  which  her  husband 
belongs. 


|ARD  P.  ELWOOD.  After  some  years  of 
practical  experience  as  an  employe  of 
others,  Mr.  Elwood  embarked  in  the 
plumbing,  heating,  steam  and  gas-fitting  business 
in  Joliet,  where  he  has  his  shop  at  No.  638  Jef- 
ferson street.  Since  he  began  in  business,  No- 
vember 15,  1897,  he  has  been  given  a  number  of 
important  contracts,  among  them  being  the  resi- 
dence of  R.  B.  Clark,  the  Ahlvin  &  Johnson 
building,  Anderson  Brothers'  block,  five  resi- 
dences for  Edward  S.  White,  and  S.  L.  Mottin- 
ger's  residence  in  Plainfield.  In  addition  to  his 
jobs  in  Joliet  he  has  had  considerable  work  in 
other  towns,  principally  in  Plainfield,  Lockport 
and  Morris,  and  wherever  he  has  gone  the  qual- 
ity of  his  work  has  been  most  satisfactory. 

Born  in  Chicago  in  1869,  Mr.  Elwood  is  a  son 
of  Capt.  James  G.  Elwood,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  was  reared  in 
Joliet  and  received  his  education  in  the  city 
schools.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  became 
a  lineman  for  the  Joliet  telephone  exchange,  con- 
tinuing in  that  capacity  for  eighteen  months. 
Afterward  he  was  employed  on  outside  work  in 
connection  with  the  Joliet  waterworks,  of  which 
his  father  was  then  engineer.  For  two  years  he 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company. 
In  1889  he  accepted  the  position  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Joliet  gas  works,  and  this  position  he 
held  until  January,  1S96,  the  plant  being  mean- 
time reconstructed  for  the  manufacture  of  water- 
gas.  On  resigning  as  superintendent  he  became 
engineer  and  pipe-fitter  for  the  Fox  Pressed- 
Steel  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he 
commenced  business  for  himself.  In  the  various 
positions  that  he  held  he  was  recognized  as  an 


246 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


intelligent  and  efficient  employe,  whose  original- 
ity of  ideas  and  quickness  of  comprehension  made 
his  services  valuable.  These  same  qualities  have 
been  of  assistance  to  "him  in  his  present  business, 
and  have  aided  him  in  establishing  a  reputation 
in  his  chosen  occupation. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Elwood  was  a  member  of 
the  Fourth  Illinois  National  Guard.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  Columbia  Knights  and  the  Uni- 
form Rank,  K.  of  P.  Without  any  desire  for 
political  prominence,  he  nevertheless  believes  it 
to  be  the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  keep  posted  con- 
cerning public  affairs  and  maintain  an  interest  in 
questions  affecting  the  welfare  of  the  people.  In 
his  political  views  he  favors  the  Republican  party. 
He  was  married  in  Joliet  to  Sylvia,  daughter  of 
George  Merrill,  an  early  settler  of  this  city.  They 
have  one  child,  a  son,  James  Merrill. 


(STEPHEN  FRANCIS  HOGAN.  There  are 
7\  few  plants  in  Joliet  more  interesting  to  the 
C*y  visitor  than  the  Scott-street  mill,  owned  by 
the  American  Steel  and  Wire  Company.  This  is 
not  only  the  largest  manufacturing  plant  of  the 
kind  in  the  world,  but  is  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful as  well,  and  its  products,  barb-wire  nails  and 
woven-wire  fence,  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
world.  The  success  of  the  work  is  in  a  large 
measure  due  to  Mr.  Hogan,  who  is  in  charge  of 
the  mill,  and  who  exercises  a  keen  and  judicious 
supervision  over  the  entire  plant.  He  is  a  man 
who  thoroughly  understands  the  wire  business  in 
its  every  detail.  Under  his  supervision  the  work 
progresses  rapidly;  yet  due  care  is  also  taken 
with  every  product,  in  order  that  the  high  stand- 
ard established  may  be  maintained.  The  hun- 
dreds of  billets  in  the  furnace  in  the  morning  are 
in  wire  nails,  packed  in  kegs,  and  ready  for  ship- 
ment by  evening. 

In  Richmond,  Yorkshire,  England,  Mr.  Hogan 


was  born  December  6,  1858,  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (McCourt)  Hogan,  natives  respectively 
of  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  and  the  Isle  of 
Man.  His  father,  who  was  the  son  of  a  farmer, 
went  to  England  in  young  manhood  and  engaged 
in  the  furniture  business  at  Richmond.  In  1873 
became  to  America,  settling  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  carrying  on  business  as  a  furniture  dealer  for 
some  years.  He  and  his  wife  died  on  the  same 
day  in  November,  1894,  and  their  bodies  were  the 
first  two  buried  in  the  new  Catholic  cemetery  at 
Cleveland.  Their  four  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  still  living,  three  of  the  sons  being  mill  men 
in  Ohio.  Our  subject,  who  was  next  to  the  old- 
est of  the  children,  was  fourteen  years  of  age  at 
the  time  the  family  crossed  the  ocean  to  the 
United  States.  Previous  to  this  he  had  attended  a 
parochial  school  in  Richmond.  In  April,  1873,  he 
arrived  in  Cleveland,  and  immediately  afterward 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Cleveland  Rolling  Mill 
Company  as  a  wire-drawer,  continuing  with  the 
company  until  1878.  He  then  went  to  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  and  was  wire-drawer  with  the  Oliver  &  Rob- 
erts Wire  Company  until  the  time  of  its  removal 
to  Illinois,  in  November,  1888.  His  first  position 
was  as  a  wire-drawer  with  Lambert  &  Bishop,  of 
Joliet,  with  whom  he  remained  as  such  for  two 
years,  and  then  became  night  superintendent  of 
the  mill.  Two  years  later  he  resigned  and  re- 
turned to  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  day  foreman 
of  the  mill  owned  by  Oliver  &  Roberts  for  two 
years.  He  then  again  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
was  with  Lambert  &  Bishop,  then  acted  as  super- 
intendent of  the  mill  of  the  Consolidated  Steel  & 
Wire  Company  until  the  formation  of  the  Amer- 
ican Steel  and  Wire  Company,  with  whom  he 
continued  in  the  same  capacity.  The  Scott-street 
mill  has  been  under  his  charge  since  1S94,  and 
he  has  superintended  its  management  in  a  man- 
ner entirely  satisfactory  to  the  owners.  He  gives 
little  attention  to  politics,  but  is  a  stanch  gold 
Democrat.  He  was  married  in  Pittsburg  in  1S82 
to  Miss  Hattie  Graham,  who  was  born  in  that 
city,  and  by  whom  he  has  a  son,  Leo. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


£?&JUMtJ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


249 


DANIEL  E.   HEWES. 


0ANIEL  E.  HEWES,  a  pioneer  of  Crete, 
has  long  been  one  of  its  best- known  men 
and  now  has  varied  interests,  as  commercial 
collector,  notary  public,  counselor,  conveyancer; 
also  in  the  adjustment  of  unsettled  claims  and  the 
drawing  up  of  contracts,  leases,  wills  and  deposi- 
tions. He  is  the  originator  and  a  prominent 
grower  of  the  Acme  seedling,  the  earliest  potato 
in  existence.  In  1S83  he  planted  the  seed  from  a 
potato  seed  ball.  From  year  to  year  he  replanted , 
until  a  large  early  potato  was  developed.  In 
1887  he  raised  fifteen  bushels,  a  part  of  which  he 
sold  and  the  others  he  planted.  The  following 
year  he  had  seventy-five  and  one-half  bushels, 
and  in  1889  one  hundred  and  twenty  bushels. 
Some  of  these  he  sold  to  seed  houses  for  $2  a 
bushel  and  he  has  received  as  much  as  $6  per 
bushel  for  some.  They  are  commonly  called 
Squire  Dan's  early  potatoes  throughout  this 
locality,  and  are  not  only  a  fine  potato,  but  much 
earlier  than  any  other  variety. 

Squire  Heweswas  born  at  Milton,  Chittenden 
County,  Vt.,  March  22,  1830.  His  father, 
Luman  Hewes,  also  a  Vermonter  by  birth,  left 
the  southern  part  of  the  state  in  1835  and  jour- 
neyed via  team  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  thence  on  the 
New  York  and  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  from  there 
on  the  lakes  to  Michigan,  and  then  across  the 
country  with  teams  to  what  is  now  known  as  Blue 
Island,  111.,  where  he  arrived  in  November.  The 
family  spent  the  winter  in  an  uncompleted  log 
cabin  they  found  on  the  land.  In  1836  he  took 
up  a  claim  in  the  same  locality,  built  a  log  cabin, 
and  spent  a  short  time  there,  but  in  the  spring  of 


1S37  came  to  Will  County  and  took  up  a  claim 
two  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Crete.  At  that 
time  there  were  only  a  few  houses  in  the  entire 
township  of  Crete.  He  put  up  a  log  house  and 
improved  his  land,  making  of  it  a  valuable  farm. 
Politically  he  was  a  believer  in  Democratic  prin- 
ciples. He  was  reared  in  the  Baptist  faith,  but 
later  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  His  death  occurred  on  his  home- 
stead in  the  fall  of  1862,  when  he  was  seventy- 
two  years  of  age. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  William 
Hewes,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and 
settled  in  Vermont  when  a  young  man.  He  was 
a  teacher  of  vocal  music,  but  earned  his  liveli- 
hood principally  as  a  farmer.  About  1847  he 
came  west  and  afterward  made  his  home  with  his 
son,  Luman  Hewes,  until  he  died  in  1855,  when 
niuety-four  years  of  age.  He  was  tenderly  cared 
for  by  his  grandson,  Daniel  E.  Hewes,  who  felt 
for  him  all  the  veneration  due  to  the  grandparent 
and  the  soldier  hero  of  Revolutionary  fame. 
When  a  mere  boy  he  enlisted  in  the  colonial  army 
as  a  private  and  served  at  the  front  until  the 
Revolutionary  war  ended.  His  father  had  a 
brother,  Joseph  Hewes,  who  was  one  of  the  sign- 
ers of  the  declaration  of  independence. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Lucy  (Elwell) 
Hewes,  a  native  of  New  England.  She  survived 
her  husband,  dying  when  eighty-one  years  of 
age.  Of  her  twelve  children,  Sallie,  wife  of  John 
W.  Cole,  died  when  twenty-four  years  of  age; 
Samuel  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work; 
John  E.  died  in  June,  1 898 ;  William  died  in  1 865 ; 


12 


250 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Joseph  is  deceased,  and  Luman  died  in  1863; 
Austin  E.  died  when  young  and  Benjamin  F.  in 
1S91;  Daniel  E.  was  next  in  order  of  birth;  Nel- 
son W.  died  October  iS,  1894;  Celesta  L-  mar- 
ried George  Dewey,  a  distant  relative  of  Admiral 
Dewey,  and  she  is  now  living  at  Grant  Park,  111. ; 
Emily  S.  is  the  widow  of  J.  F.  Campbell,  and 
lives  in  Grant  Park. 

From  an  early  age  our  subject  has  lived  in  this 
county.  He  attended  country  schools  and  for 
two  terms  the  Joliet  schools,  after  which  he 
taught  a  four-months'  term  in  Tro}^  Township. 
He  then  came  to  Crete  and  worked  on  a  farm 
near  the  village  during  the  summer.  His  next 
employment  was  as  clerk  in  a  store.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  bought  an  ox-team  and  broke  prairie 
land  for  one  season,  also  operated  a  threshing 
machine  for  one  season.  In  1S53,  with  his 
brother  Benjamin  F.  as  a  partner,  he  bought  a 
store.  This  they  carried  on  until  1879,  meantime 
buying  stock  and  grain  and  also  manufacturing 
brick.  On  account  of  the  Chicago  fire  he  had  a 
heavy  loss.  In  1867  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  which  office  he  held  until  1S93,  and  after- 
ward continued  in  the  collecting  business,  the 
making  of  abstracts,  etc.  At  one  time  he  and 
his  brother  were  among  the  leading  business 
men  of  this  part  of  the  county,  doing  a  business 
that  amounted  to  between  $50,000  and  $100,000 
per  year;  but  reverses  overtook  them  and  they 
lost  everything  they  had. 

October  9,  1862,  Squire  Hewes married  Fidelia 
L-,  daughter  of  Willard  Wood,  the  founder  of 
Crete  village.  She  was  born  in  a  house  occupy- 
ing the  present  site  of  Wood's  hotel,  the  date  of 
her  birth  being  January  1 1 ,  1838.  Here  she  was 
reared  and  educated  and  has  always  made  her 
home.  Of  her  three  daughters,  theeldest,  Minnie 
E.,  is  the  widow  of  George  F.  Baker,  who  was  a 
graduate  of  Knox  College  and  Lombard  Univer- 
sity, and  a  successful  raiser  of  farm  products  and 
Hereford  cattle.  Mr.  Baker  died  April  io,  1891, 
leaving  two  children,  George  Willard  and  Alice 
Jeanette.  Since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Baker 
has  had  entire  charge  of  the  farm  he  left  her. 
The  second  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hewes  is 
Alice  D.,  wife  of  William  C.  Northrop,  a  farmer 


and  stockman  of  Newtown,  Conn.  The  young- 
est daughter,  Eva  L.,  is  at  home  with  her 
parents. 

In  politics  Squire  Hewes  is  a  Democrat.  When 
a  young  man  he  was  chosen  township  clerk.  In 
1874  he  was  nominated  for  the  legislature,  but, 
on  account  of  his  temperance  views,  was  defeated. 
Four  years  later  he  was  nominated  for  the  state 
senate  and  carried  his  township  and  the  eastern 
part  of  the  count}'  by  a  large  majority,  which  was 
remarkable,  as  this  district  was  Republican. 
Doubless  he  would  have  been  elected  if  he  had 
consented  to  buy  votes  or  associate  with  those 
who  did,  but  he  has  always  been  strictly  temper- 
ate as  well  as  unwaveringly  honest.  In  1893  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Crete,  but  a  short 
time  afterward,  owing  to  illness,  he  was  obliged 
to  resign  the  office. 


pGJlLLARD  WOOD,  founder  of  Crete,  was 
\Al  k°rn  'n  Randolph,  Yt.,  August  28,  1808, 
V  V  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Ruby  (Newland) 
Wood,  and  a  grandson  of  Thomas  Wood,  Sr. ,  a 
native  of  Vermont  and  of  English  descent.  His 
father  served  through  the  war  of  18 12  and  at  its 
close,  while  at  the  barracks  in  Colchester,  Vt., 
he  contracted  a  fever  from  which  he  died.  He 
was  then  forty-three  years  of  age.  Some  time 
after  his  death  his  widow  became  the  wife  of 
John  Moxley,  and  they  settled  at  Morristown, 
Vt.,  where  Mr.  Moxley  followed  the  tailor's 
trade  until  his  death  at  sixty-seven  years.  After- 
ward Mrs.  Moxley  came  to  Illinois  and  made  her 
home  with  her  son  Charles  in  Will  County  until 
her  death,  when  more  than  seventy  years  of  age. 
At  Morristown,  Vt. ,  May  4,  1835,  'Squire 
Wood  (for  by  this  title  our  subject  was  always 
best  known)  married  Dyantha  S.  Boardman,  who 
was  in  girlhood  a  pupil  in  a  school  taught  by 
Mr.  Wood.  In  the  summer  of  1S36  they  came 
to  Will  County,  where  he  secured  the  southeast 
eighty  acres  on  section  8  and  the  southwest 
eighty  on  section  9,  Crete  Township,  now  in- 
cluded in  the  limits  of  the  village  of  Crete.  He 
encouraged  people  to  settle  here  by  free  dona- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


251 


tions  to  private  parties  and  to  church  organiza- 
tions. He  assisted  in  building  the  first  school- 
house  in  the  towuship  and  in  1838  taught  the 
first  school  here.  From  1838  until  some  time  in 
the  '50s  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  On 
the  incorporation  of  the  town  in  1884  he  was 
mads  a  police  justice,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
for  some  years.  While  in  Vermont  he  read  law, 
and  after  coming  to  this  county  he  gave  consid- 
erable attention  to  practice,  being  consulted  by 
many  of  the  people  in  his  township  in  all  matters 
of  a  legal  character.  Through  the  influence  of 
"Long"  John  Wentworth  he  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Crete,  an  office  that  he  held  for  some 
time.  In  1848  he  built  the  Crete  hotel,  which 
was  the  first  frame  building  of  its  kind  in  the 
town  and  the  first  public  house  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  Within  it  was  a  hall  in  which,  at  the 
opening  of  the  house,  were  entertained  Henry  B. 
Clark  and  Colonel  Fake,  of  Chicago;  Dr.  Allen 
and  Robert  Duncan,  of  Joliet;  and  many  other 
well-known  pioneers.  The  original  hotel  was 
replaced  by  a  more  modern  structure,  and  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  years  the  hotel  was  con- 
ducted by  'Squire  Wood  until  his  death.  When 
he  first  came  here  he  experienced  all  the  hard- 
ships that  fall  to  the  lot  of  pioneers.  As  he  was 
without  means  he  borrowed  money  with  which 
to  buy  land,  and  was  obliged  to  pay  thirty-three 
and  one-third  per  cent,  interest  per  annum  for 
three  years.  In  spite  of  hardships  and  difficul- 
ties, however,  he  steadily  prospered  and  in  time 
became  well-to-do. 

The  'Squire's  first  wife  died  in  1865,  leaving 
seven  children  who  attained  maturity.  Oneofthe 
sons,  William  Irwyn,  succeeded  his  father  as  pro- 
prietor of  the  Wood  hotel  in  Crete.  The  'Squire's 
second  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1869,  was  Mrs. 
Eliza  (Selleck)  Northrup,  a  native  of  Connecticut. 
She  died  in  Crete  when  about  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  The  'Squire  was  spared  to  a  good  old 
age,  and  in  his  declining  years  was  surrounded 
by  the  comforts  his  early  toil  had  made  possible. 
He  passed  away  November  27,  1899,  al)d  was 
followed  to  his  last  resting  place  by  a  large  con- 
course of  friends  who  had  long  known  and  hon- 
ored him. 


The  children  of  Mr.  Wood  were  born  of  his  first 
marriage.  Of  these,  Sabina  D.  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  B.  Miller,  a  farmer  of  Crete  Township; 
Fidelia  L.  married  Daniel  E.  Hewes;  Lydia  M. 
is  the  wife  of  Hon.  Charles  A.  Hill,  of  Joliet; 
Marian  married  A.  H.  Smith,  a  farmer  of  Crete 
Township;  Willard  S.  married  Molly  Moore,  and 
is  a  fruit  grower  in  California;  William  Irwyn  is 
the  present  proprietor  of  the  Wood  hotel;  and 
Marcus  M.,  now  deceased,  was  connected  with  a 
manufacturing  company  in  Chicago. 


U)ILS  L.  DAHLBERG,  who  has  made  his 
j7  home  in  Joliet  since  1882,  is  a  member  of 
1/^  an  old  family  of  Skane,  Sweden.  His 
father,  Lars  Pearson,  and  his  grandfather,  Per 
Larson,  were  natives  of  that  part  of  the  old  coun- 
try, and  both  engaged  in  farming  there,  the 
former  dying  when  sixty-three  years  of  age.  By 
the  marriage  of  Lars  Pearson  to  Nella  Olson, 
who  still  lives  in  Sweden,  four  children  were 
born,  of  whom  one  sister  remains  at  the  old  home, 
and  two  sons  and  the  other  sister  crossed  the  ocean 
to  America.  One  of  the  sons  was  accidentally 
killed  in  1890  in  the  blast  furnace  of  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company  when  No.  2  collapsed.  The  old- 
est of  the  family,  Nils  L.,  was  born  in  Broby, 
Christianstad,  Skane,  December  7,  1856,  and 
received  his  education  in  local  schools.  When 
a  boy  he  entered  a  flour  mill  and  learned  the  mill- 
er's trade.  After  a  time  he  was  made  foreman 
of  the  mill  in  his  native  town. 

In  1876  our  subject  enlisted  in  the  Swedish 
army  under  the  name  of  Nils  Dahlberg,  by  which 
he  has  since  been  known.  He  was  assigned  to 
the  Royal  Vendes  artillery  company  in  1877,  and 
two  years  later  was  made  a  corporal,  which  rank 
he  held  until  he  was  mustered  out  in  1882.  His 
term  of  service  was  entirely  in  his  native  land,  and 
during  that  time  he  was  a  student  in  the  military 
school  for  four  years.  He  was  recognized  as  a 
faithful  soldier,  who  was  always  to  be  found  at  his 
postofduty.  After  resigning  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Joliet.  However,  in  a  very 
short  time  he  went  to  Republic,  in  the  Lake  Su- 


252 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


perior  iron  mining  region  of  Michigan,  where  he 
remained  until  1885.  He  then  returned  to  Joliet 
aud  secured  employment  in  the  blast  furnace  of 
the  Illinois  Steel  Company,  continuing  there 
about  eight  years.  In  1S93  Mayor  Stossen  ap- 
pointed him  patrolman,  which  position  he  has 
held  ever  since.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political 
views,  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  local 
matters,  supporting  measures  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people  and  the  advancement  of  the  city.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  the  North  Star  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

While  in  Republic,  Mich.,  in  1884,  Mr.  Dahl- 
berg  married  Miss  Cecelia  Benson,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  province  as  himself,  and  came  to  Joliet 
in  18S1.  She  is  a  sister  of  Nils  Benson,  of  this 
city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dahlberg  have  one  child 
living,  Amy  L.  They  are  faithful  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  to  the  maintenance  of 
which  he  has  been  a  regular  contributor.  In  1898 
he  rebuilt  the  residence  at  No.  910  Clay  street, 
corner  of  Youngs  avenue,  and  here  his  family 
have  a  comfortable  home. 


cJl'STAY  Y.  JOHNSON.  The  remark  is 
_  sometimes  made  that  one  of  the  most  notice 
^  able  features  of  life  in  Joliet  is  the  number 
of  Swedish-American  citizens  who  are  success- 
fully engaged  in  business  in  this  city.  They 
form  an  element  of  the  citizenship  that  is  recog- 
nized as  valuable,  their  integrity,  intelligence 
aud  energy  bringing  to  them  the  esteem  of  asso- 
ciates. In  this  class  belongs  Mr.  Johnson,  who, 
since  June  1,  1895,  has  been  engaged  in  the  meat, 
produce  and  green  grocery'  business  at  No.  419 
Collius  street,  meantime  building  up  a  large  trade 
in  his  section  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Jonkbping,  Sweden,  November  1 1,  1872,  a  son  of 
John  Peter  and  Eva  (Pearson)  Jonason,  who  were 
born  in  the  same  vicinity.  His  father,  a  large 
stock-raiser,  owned  an  estate  ("Soiegarn"), 
where  much  of  his  life  was  passed.  In  1889  he 
was  accidentally  drowned  while  out  on  a  pleasure 
excursion.     He  was  then  sixty-four  years  of  age. 


His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Jonas  Pearson, 
is  now  living  in  Joliet.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  namely:  Sarah  Eliza,  wife  of 
John  Anderson;  Emma  Christine,  Mrs.  Charles 
Anderson;  Anna  Louise;  Hilda  Marie;  Joseph 
August,  a  contracting  mason:  GustavY.;  Isaac 
M . ,  who  is  engaged  in  business  with  Joseph ; 
Claus  J.,  who  is  with  his  brother  Gustav;  and 
Ida  L.     All  of  the  children  reside  in  Joliet. 

When  fourteen  years  of  age  our  subject  accom- 
panied his  brother,  Joseph  A.,  to  America,  set- 
tling in  Joliet,  where  he  secured  a  clerkship  with 
Anderson  Brothers.  Desiring  to  acquire  an  Eng- 
lish education,  he  attended  night  school  for  three 
winters.  In  1S91  he  resigned  his  position  with 
Anderson  Brothers  and  entered  the  employ  of 
L.  D.  Garlick.  June  20,  1892,  he  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Johnson,  Peterson  &  Co., 
engaging  in  business  at  No.  909  Collins  street. 
After  a  year  the  title  of  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Johnson  &  Peterson,  aud  as  such  continues  to  the 
present.  The  store  is  fitted  up  with  the  latest 
improvements,  including  steam-power  for  the 
manufacture  of  sausage,  etc. 

County  conventions  of  the  Republican  party, 
the  county  central  committee,  and  the  Swedish 
Republican  Club,  in  which  Mr.  Johnson  has  been 
actively  interested,  attest  his  warm  adherence  to 
the  doctrines  of  this  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  North  Star  Association.  Always  active  in 
religious  work,  he  is  identified  with  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  a  trus- 
tee. He  was  married  in  this  city  to  Miss  Hattie 
Yahu,  who  was  born  here,  of  German  descent. 
They  are  the  parents  of  one  sou,  Russell  V. 


EHARLES  SUNDSTROM.  In  the  responsi- 
ble position  which  he  holds  as  assistant 
chief  engineer  of  the  Illinois  state  peniten- 
tiary, Mr.  Sundstrom  has  been  proved  to  be 
reliable  aud  efficient,  and  is  recognized  as  a  man 
thoroughly  qualified  for  his  work.  With  con- 
siderable mechanical  ability,  combined  with 
practical  ideas,  he  unites  common  sense  and  wise 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


253 


judgment.  He  is  particularly  well  versed  in  the 
line  of  plumbing  and  heating,  of  which  he  has 
the  supervison  in  the  penitentiary. 

In  a  family  of  twelve  children  (eight  now 
living)  Mr.  Sundstrom  was  third  in  order 
of  birth,  and  is  the  only  one  in  America. 
He  was  born  in  Norrland,  Sweden,  December  15, 
1S63,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Clara  (Ruth)  Sund- 
strom, the  former  a  blacksmith  still  living  in 
Norrland,  where  the  latter  died  some  years  ago. 
In  his  native  province  our  subject  learned  the 
trade  of  a  mason  and  brick-layer.  The  year 
1883  found  him  in  the  United  States,  where  his 
first  location  was  Sioux  Falls,  S.  Dak.  In  that 
town  he  became  familiar  with  the  plumbing  and 
heating  business,  after  which  he  traveled  through 
different  parts  of  the  country,  having  charge  of 
the  setting  up  of  heaters  of  various  kinds.  In 
1 S93  he  settled  in  Kewanee,  111.,  after  which  he 
traveled  for  the  Kewanee  Boiler  Company,  also 
represented  the  American  Boiler  Company  of 
Chicago,  traveling  in  various  states.  Later  he 
represented  the  Davenport  Steam  Heating  Com- 
pany in  Iowa  for  some  years.  In  1898  he  ac- 
cepted his  present  position,  which  brought  him 
to  Joliet. 

During  his  residence  in  Sioux  Falls  Mr.  Sund- 
strom married  Miss  Emma  Freiburg,  who  was 
born  in  Skaraborg,  West  Gothland,  Sweden, 
and  died  in  Kewanee,  111.,  leaving  a  daughter, 
Alvina  Theresa.  His  second  marriage  took 
place  in  Joliet,  and  united  with  him  Mrs.  Emily 
Olesou,  who  was  born  in  Henry  Count}',  111. ,  and 
by  whom  he  has  a  daughter,  Grace.  Politically 
Mr.  Sundstrom  is  a  stanch  believer  in  Republi- 
can principles  and  always  votes  that  ticket,  also 
takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  Swedish  Republican 
Club,  of  which  he  is  a  member. 


(TOHN  KLINT,  who  is  engaged  in  the  mer- 
I  chant  tailoring  business  at  No.  604  Collins 
(2/  street,  Joliet,  was  born  in  Klinta,  Upsala 
Preslijeld,  Westeras,  Sweden,  May  5,  1851,  be- 
ing a  son  of  Erik  and  Brigitta  (Bjorsel)  Klint, 
natives  of  the  same  province.     His  father,  who 


was  born  in  1821,  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm 
owned  by  the  grandfather,  Erik  Anderson,  and, 
in  accordance  with  the  usual  national  custom, 
entered  the  Swedish  army  in  early  manhood. 
However,  his  service  was  not  limited  to  the  usual 
two  years,  but  continued  from  the  time  he  was 
nineteen  until  he  was  fifty,  when  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge.  On  account  of  the  fact 
that  his  life  as  a  soldier  was  spent  in  Klinta,  he 
took  the  family  name  of  Klint.  He  continued 
to  make  his  home  in  Westmanland  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1895.  His  wife,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Andres  Bjorsel,  a  soldier  in 
the  Swedish  arm}-,  died  in  the  same  laen  in  1898. 
Both  were  supporters  of  the  Lutheran  religion. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  all  but 
one  of  whom  are  living,  John  being  the  next  to 
the  oldest,  and  the  only  member  of  the  family  in 
the  United  States.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
Klinta,  wherein  early  boyhood  he  studied  in  the 
public  school.  When  he  was  eleven  years  of  age 
he  was  bound  to  the  tailor's  trade,  and  in  the  en- 
suing years  gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
occupation  in  all  of  its  details.  After  his  appren- 
ticeship ended  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  in 
Upsala.  After  a  time  he  started  in  business  for 
himself  in  Heby,  continuing  in  the  same  place 
until  his  departure  for  America,  where  he  be- 
lieved greater  success  was  possible  than  his  na- 
tive country  offered. 

In  1882  Mr.  Klint  went  to  Liverpool,  England, 
and  from  there  came  across  the  ocean  in  the 
steamer  "City  of  Paris."  Landing  in  New 
York,  he  proceeded  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  two  years.  In  December,  1S84, 
he  arrived  in  Joliet,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  For  three  years  he  worked  at  his  trade 
in  the  employ  of  others,  when,  having  gained  a 
knowledge  of  the  city  and  a  familiarity  with 
American  institutions,  he  determined  to  engage 
in  business  for  himself.  Accordingly,  in  1887,  he 
bought  the  property  at  No.  604  Collins  street, 
and  embarked  in  business  independently.  Hav- 
ing already  made  a  number  of  friends,  as  well  as 
a  reputation  as  an  expert  cutter,  from  the  first  he 
had  a  fair  trade,  and  this  he  has  since  increased. 
He  is  known  as  a  first-class  tailor,  whose  atten- 


254 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion  to  business  and  efforts  to  do  satisfactory  work, 
combined  with  his  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
trade,  have  brought  him  a  profitable  patronage. 
Though  not  active  in  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Swedish 
Free  Mission  Church,  which  he  has  assisted  in 
building,  and  in  which  he  has  served  efficiently 
as  president  of  the  board  of  trustees.  At  this 
writing  he  is  superintendent  of  four  Sunday- 
schools  of  the  Swedish  Free  Mission  Church  in 
this  city.  While  still  living  in  Sweden  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Maria  Tilmau,  who  was  born  in 
Uplaen.  They  have  four  sons,  John,  in  Chicago; 
Peter  and  Henry,  and  Joseph,  in  Joliet. 


QjlCTOR  AHLVIN.  Since  coming  to  Joliet 
\  /  in  1SS4  Mr.  Ahlvin  has  been  identified  with 
V  the  building  interests  of  this  city,  and  he 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  Swedish- 
American  residents  of  the  place.  He  was  born 
near  Boras,  in  Elfsborg,  Sweden,  March  27, 
1864,  and  was  second  in  a  family  consisting  of 
four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are 
living  but  one  daughter.  Of. the  sons,  John  is 
connected  with  Victor  in  business,  and  Amandus 
also  assists  them  in  their  contracts,  while  Franz 
remains  on  the  old  homestead.  The  father, 
Efraem  Ahlvin,  was  born  on  the  family  place, 
"Aplakulla,"  on  which  his  father  had  also  lived. 
He  still  makes  his  home  there,  and  is  about  sixty 
years  of  age.  He  married  Christine,  daughter  of 
John  Johnson,  a  farmer,  and,  like  himself,  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

In  attendance  upon  common  schools  and  in  work 
upon  the  home  farm  our  subject  passed  his  boyhood 
years.  In  February,  1884,  he  crossed  the  ocean, 
being  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America. 
At  once  he  proceeded  to  Joliet,  where  for  almost 
two  years  he  was  employed  in  a  quarry.  In  the 
fall  of  1885  he  began  to  work  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  with  C.  Hacker,  and  worked  at  the  trade 
until  the  fall  of  1887,  when  he  bought  a  lot  and 
built  a  house.  This  he  sold,  using  the  money  in 
the  purchase  of  another  lot  and  the  building  of 
another  house.    In  this  way  he  became  interested 


in  the  building  business.  Since  then  he  has  built 
many  residences  and  business  blocks,  among 
them  the  Anderson  &  Flint  block,  and  he 
also  had  the  contract  for  the  erection  of  the 
Swedish  Baptist  Church  in  this  city.  He  erected 
the  Ahlvin  &  Johnson  block,  a  brick  structure, 
45x100,  on  the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Collins 
streets,  in  which  he  still  owns  one-half  interest. 
Besides  his  contracts  in  Joliet  he  has  had  many 
in  this  and  other  counties.  He  also  built  the 
residence  that  he  occupies,  at  No.  1005  Irving 
street. 

In  political  belief  Mr.  Ahlvin  is  a  true-blue 
Republican,  and  an  active  worker  in  the  Swedish 
Republican  Club.  For  two  years,  under  Mayor 
Lagger,  he  served  as  city  oil  inspector  of  Joliet. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Joliet  Building  Associa- 
tion, and  is  interested  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
his  business.  Reared  in  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
faith,  he  has  always  adhered  to  that  church  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
congregation  of  Joliet.  He  was  married  in  this 
city  to  Miss  Hilda  Johnson,  who  was  born  in 
Smaland,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Sweden. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Martin, 
Ebba,  Robert  and  Reno. 


(JOHN  E.  BACKSTROM,  superintendent  of 
I  the  quarries  of  E.  Porter  &  Son's  Stone 
(*/  Company,  and  a  resident  of  Joliet  since  1881, 
was  born  in  Dalarne,  Kopparberg,  Sweden,  No- 
vember 22,  1848,  a  son  of  E.  and  Christina  C. 
(Nelson)  Backstrom,  natives  respectively  of 
Bysoken  and  Husby.  His  father,  who  was  the 
son  of  a  blacksmith,  learned  that  trade  in  his 
youth  and  for  some  time  was  employed  with  a 
large  company  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
iron,  holding  a  position  of  responsibility  as  fore- 
man of  a  department.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  their  native  land.  Their  four 
daughters  and  one  son  are  still  living,  John  E. 
being  the  youngest  and  the  only  one  in  America. 
He  resided  in  Dalarne  until  he  was  fourteen,  and 
afterward  clerked  in  a  store  at  Helsingland,  re- 
maining there  for  nine  years. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


255 


Taking  passage  at  Gothenburg  in  187 1  Mr. 
Backstrorn  journeyed  via  Hull  and  Liverpool  to 
New  York  City-,  thence  proceeded  to  Chicago, 
and  from  there  went  to  Bishop  Hill,  in  Henry 
County,  111.  For  a  short  time  he  clerked  in  a 
dry-goods  store  in  Galva,  after  which  he  was  em- 
ployed on  a  farm  during  one  season.  Next  he 
became  bookkeeper  and  clerk  in  a  store  at 
Kewanee,  Henry  County,  where  he  remained  for 
nine  years.  In  1881  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
was  clerk  in  the  grocery  of  George  Munroe  & 
Son,  and  later  was  with  Riley  Brothers,  returning 
finally  to  the  Munroe  store,  where  he  was  given 
charge  of  the  shipping  department  in  the  whole- 
sale house.  When  the  business  was  sold  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  bill  clerk  with  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  Company,  remaining  in  the 
position  for  two  and  one-half  years.  Later  he 
was  with  the  Joliet  &  Chicago  Stone  Company 
for  five  and  one-half  years,  resigning  to  accept 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the  brewery  owned 
by  E.  Porter,  by  whom,  in  1899,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the 
quarries. 

In  religion  Mr.  Backstrorn  adheres  to  the  re- 
ligious belief  of  Luther,  in  which  he  was  reared. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  While  in  Ke- 
wanee, 111.,  he  married  Christine  Larson,  who 
was  born  in  Norway  and  came  to  America  in 
1872.  They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
now  living:  Walter,  Gertrude,  Norman,  Carl, 
Ernest,  Ro}r  and  Ina. 


(JOHN  E.  CHALSTROM.  A  goodly  number 
I  of  the  Swedish-American  citizens  of  Joliet 
G/  have  successfully  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building,  and  in  this  number  is  Mr.  Chal- 
strom,  who  has  followed  his  chosen  occupation 
for  some  years  in  this  city  and  has  become  known 
as  a  reliable,  honest  and  efficient  workman. 
Among  the  people  of  his. own  nationality  he  is 
well  known,  being  a  leader  in  movements  for 
their  benefit.  Since  the  organization  of  the  First 
Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  he  has 
served  as  president  of  its  board  of  trustees.  When 


a  house  of  worship  was  built  he  had  charge  of 
the  work  as  chairman  of  the  building  committee, 
and  when  that  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  he 
rebuilt  on  the  same  site.  For  many  years  he 
was  a  class-leader  and  at  this  writing  he  is  re- 
cording secretary  of  the  church.  In  the  Swedish 
Republican  Club  he  has  been  an  energetic 
worker,  being  a  stanch  believer  in  Republican 
principles.  He  was  the  first  agent  in  Joliet  for 
the  Minnesota  Scandinavian  Relief  Association 
of  Red  Wing  and  still  represents  that  company. 
In  the  North  Star  Benefit  Association,  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  he  holds  office  as  a  deputy. 

In  the  laen  of  Kalmar,  Sweden,  Mr.  Chalstrom 
was  born  March  21,  1864,  a  sou  of  Charles  and 
Johanna  Gustava  (Nelson)  Johnson,  natives  of 
the  province  of  Smaland.  His  father,  a  son  of 
Jonas  Johnson,  became  the  owner  of  a  farm  at 
Bronthult,  and  there  spent  his  entire  active  life. 
When  he  was  sixty  years  of  age  he  was  killed 
one  day  by  a  drunken  man  while  returning  home 
from  a  fair.  His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Nels  Peter  Sweuseu,  a  farmer,  died  at  forty  years 
of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, ten  of  whom  are  living,  of  these,  two  (John 
and  Charles)  being  in  America.  John,  who  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1884  and  spent  two  months  in  a  car- 
penter shop  in  Chicago,  after  which  he  located 
in  Lockport.  For  five  years  he  was  employed 
on  Harmon  Frazier's  farm  in  Homer  Township, 
and  meantime  he  acquired  a  good  knowledge  of 
the  English  language. 

Upon  coming  to  Joliet  in  1889,  Mr.  Chalstrom 
began  to  deal  in  real  estate  in  this  city.  He  also 
bought  lots  in  Chicago,  but  these  he  soon  sold 
and  invested  in  Joliet  property.  In  1890  he  be- 
gan to  build  on  his  lots  and  has  erected  six  resi- 
dences for  sale,  the  larger  number  of  which  have 
been  sold.  After  working  for  a  time  upon  his 
own  buildings  he  began  to  take  contracts  for 
others,  and  has  since  been  kept  busy  in  carrying 
out  his  contracts.  He  built  the  residence  that  he 
occupies  at  No.  1410  Jackson  street.  In  all  of 
his  contracts  it  has  been  his  aim  to  live  up  to 
both  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  the  agreement, 
and  his  work  has  been  universally  recognized  as 


256 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


permanent  in  value.  He  is  a  man  of  honor, 
whose  life  is  above  reproach  and  in  whom  every 
confidence  is  placed.  Since  coming  to  Joliet  he 
has  established  domestic  ties,  his  wife  being  Ida 
M.  Nelson,  a  native  of  Sweden.  They  have 
three  children  living,  Florence  Amelia,  Alice  D. 
and  Myrtle  Cornelia,  and  lost  their  only  son, 
Walter  A.,  when  he  was  fifteen  months  old. 


GJ1  NDREW  OLIN  is  one  of  the  well-known 
/l  Swedish-American  citizens  of  Joliet.  As 
/  1  vice-president  of  the  Swedish-American  Re- 
publican Club  he  is  prominently  connected  with 
one  of  the  most  popular  political  organizations  in 
the  city.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  State 
League  of  Republican  Clubs,  and  in  189S  and 
1899  served  as  delegate  to  the  conventions  of  the 
league.  He  holds  the  office  of  vice-president  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Svethiod  and  is  identi- 
fied actively  with  the  Knights  of  the  Globe. 

The  birthplace  of  Mr.  Olin  was  the  ancient  city 
of  Lund,  Sweden,  a  town  that  is  especially  noted 
for  its  university,  founded  in  1479,  and  containing 
a  library  of  one  hundred  thousand  volumes  and 
valuable  MSS.  His  father,  Christian  Olin,  a 
native  of  the  same  town,  was  the  son  of  a  farmer 
and  became  a  carpenter  and  builder,  later  taking 
contracts  for  buildings.  He  died  at  sixty-four 
years.  His  wife,  Bessie  (or  Bengta)  Oleson, 
whose  father  served  in  the  Swedish  army  for 
thirty  years,  is  still  living  in  Lund,  and  is  now 
(1899)  seventy-six  years  of  age.  Of  her  eight 
children  three  sons  and  three  daughters  are  liv- 
ing, the  only  ones  in  America  being  Charles  and 
Andrew,  both  of  Joliet.  Andrew  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1863,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Lund.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  steel  turner's  trade  in  a 
machine  shop,  where  he  continued  for  four  years. 

July  26,  1885,  was  the  date  of  Mr.  Olin's  ar- 
rival in  Joliet.  He  soon  secured  work  with  the 
Joliet  (now  the  Illinois)  Steel  Company,  being 
given  a  low  position  in  the  finishing  department. 
By  degrees  he  worked  his  way  to  a  position  of 
importance,  being  made  help  driller,  then  driller 


and  afterward  rail  inspector.  In  1891  he  was 
promoted  to  be  foreman  of  the  finishing  depart- 
ment, a  responsible  position,  and  one  that  he  has 
since  filled  with  intelligence  and  fidelity.  In 
Manhattan,  111.,  September  24,  1887,  he  married 
Miss  Bessie  Hanson,  who  was  born  in  Malmohus, 
Sweden,  and  at  thirteen  years  of  age,  in  188 1, 
accompanied  her  mother  to  America,  settling  in 
Jackson  Township,  this  county,  where  she  grew 
to  womanhood.  She  was  the  only  child  born  to 
the  union  of  Peter  Hanson  and  Carrie  Pearson, 
natives  of  Malmoslaen.  Her  father,  who  was  a 
builder,  died  in  his  native  laen  when  fifty  years 
of  age.  Afterward  her  mother  was  married  to 
Peter  Swanson,  of  Jackson  Township,  and  by 
that  marriage  two  children  were  born,  one  now 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olin  are  the  parents  of 
five  children:  Walter  Leonard,  Esther  Henrietta, 
Ethel  Linea,  Clarence  Henning  and  Harlow 
Howard.  The  family  are  connected  with  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  Joliet. 


~  RNEST  JOHNSON,  late  of  Company  G, 
'#)  Twenty-third  United  States  Infantry,  ren- 
m^  dered  good  service  in  the  Spanish-American 
war.  Stirred  by  patriotism  and  a  desire  to  serve 
his  adopted  country  he  enlisted,  May  12,  1898,  in 
Company  G,  Twelfth  United  States  Infantry,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Joliet.  How- 
ever, he  was  soon  transferred  to  the  Twenty -third 
and  sent  to  Fort  McPherson.  Two  weeks  later 
his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Camp  Merritt,  San 
Francisco.  June  27  of  the  same  year  they  em- 
barked for  the  Philippines  on  the  transport 
"Indiana,"  which  cast  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
Manila  July  31.  On  the  evening  of  that  day  the 
Spanish  tried  to  capture  the  American  lines  and 
the  regiment  was  given  its  initiation  into  active 
warfare.  They  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Manila 
and  its  final  capture  August  13,  after  which  they 
were  assigned  to  guard  duty  at  Fort  Santiago. 
They  participated  in  the  battle  of  Caloocan  Feb- 
ruary 10  and  the  riot  of  Manila,  February  22-23, 
when  Aguinaldo  attempted  to  burn  the  city.  A 
party  of  Americans,  among  them  Mr.  Johnson, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


257 


burned  the  Philippian  stronghold,  Tondo,  Feb- 
ruary 23.  In  this  raid  one  of  his  comrades,  Ed- 
ward Reever,  of  Joliet,  was  killed.  At  the  battle 
of  Marqiena  two  of  the  regiment's  men  were 
killed.  A  number  of  skirmishes  followed  that 
engagement.  May  17,  1899,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Jollo  to  do  garrison  duty,  relieving  the 
Spanish  garrison  until  June  30.  The  raising  of 
the  American  flag  after  the  Spanish  was  hauled 
down  was  one  of  the  noblest  spectacles  of  the  war; 
the  Spanish  warship  "  Leon  XIII  "  saluted  both 
flags.  Mr.  Johnson  was  mustered  out  June  30  at 
Jollo  and  honorably  discharged  by  reason  of 
general  order  No.  40.  He  returned  to  the  United 
States  via  Manila  and  Japan  with  the  California 
troops  on  the  "Sherman,"  coming  from  San 
Francisco  to  Joliet,  where  he  arrived  September 
17.  Since  his  return  from  the  war  he  has  been 
engaged  in  business  at  No.  606  Cass  street,  where, 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Johnson  &  Larson,  he 
has  acted  as  agent  for  Norton's  flour,  and  has 
sold  hard  and  soft  coal  of  all  kinds,  also  feed,  hay 
and  straw. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Ostrejutland,  Sweden, 
December  28,  1875,  a  son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Sagerberg)  Nelson,  natives  respectively  of 
Ostrejutland  and  Westrejutland.  He  was  one  of 
the  youngest  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  eight 
are  living,  all  in  Joliet.  Augusta,  Mrs.  Carlson, 
was  the  first  member  of  the  family  to  come  to 
America,  crossing  the  ocean  in  1883;  John  and 
Charles,  the  oldest  sons,  are  employed  in  the  wire 
mill;  Mathilda,  Mrs.  Peterson,  was  the  second 
member  of  the  family  to  leave  Sweden  for 
America;  Anna,  who  came  later,  is  the  wife  of 
Oscar  Larson,  our  subject's  partner,  who  came 
to  this  city  in  1S87.  The  others  are  Ernest, 
Mrs.  Amanda  Johnson  and  Dinah  Christina.  In 
1890  the  parents  planned  to  come  to  this  country, 
but  the  father  died  before  they  had  started,  and 
afterward  the  mother  came  with  some  of  the 
children. 

Since  September,  1890,  our  subject  has  made 
Joliet  his  home.  He  attended  school  here  in 
1890-91.  Afterward  he  learned  the  baker's 
trade,  being  under  John  Ryan,  Edward  Cary  and 
John  Hedman   successively.     He  is  well  known 


among  the  Swedish- American  residents  of  Joliet, 
and  is  regarded  among  his  countrymen  as  arising 
young  man.  In  religious  faith  he  is  of  the 
Lutheran  belief  and  politically  votes  with  the  Re- 
publicans. He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Svethiod.  His  record  both  in  the  army  and  in 
business  life  is  that  of  a  faithful,  energetic  and 
intelligent  man,  who  may  be  relied  upon  in  every 
circumstance  to  act  honorably  and  honestly  in  his 
relations  with  his  fellow-men. 


EHARLES  OLSON,  proprietor  of  the  Sunrise 
Dairy,  established  a  milk  route  in  Joliet  in 
1 89 1  and  soon  built  up  a  good  business  in 
his  line.  After  five  years  he  started  the  Sunrise 
Dairy,  renting  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  near  the  city,  where  he  keeps  twenty-five 
milch  cows  of  a  fine  grade  and  has  his  land 
divided  into  pastures  of  convenient  size  and  fields 
for  the  raising  of  grain.  In  1899  he  sold  the 
milk  route  and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  the 
wholesale  milk  business.  He  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent judgment  and  has  been  quite  successful  in 
his  chosen  occupation. 

The  next  to  the  youngest  among  six  children, 
three  of  whom  are  in  the  United  States,  Mr. 
Olson  was  born  in  Orebro,  Sweden,  March  16, 
1873,  a  son  of  Olas  Gustav  and  Johanna  Ander- 
son, the  former  a  large  farmer  now  living  retired; 
the  mother  died  there  in  1898.  Both  early  united 
with  the  Lutheran  Church  and  afterward  lived 
faithful  to  its  teachings.  When  fifteen  years  of 
age,  March  19,  1888,  Mr.  Olson  came  to  the 
United  States,  at  once  settling  in  this  county, 
where  for  a  year  he  was  employed  on  a  dairy 
farm  near  Mokena.  In  this  way  he  obtained  his 
primary  knowledge  of  the  business  in  which  he 
has  since  successfully  engaged.  Later  he  spent 
two  years  as  an  employe  on  a  dairy  farm  in  New 
Lenox  Township,  after  which  he  embarked  in 
the  business  for  himself.  He  is  an  enterprising 
young  man,  full  of  energy  and  enthusiasm,  and 
withal  a  tireless  worker  and  a  man  of  sound 
judgment.  In  addition  to  his  dairy  interests,  for 
one  year  he  was  interested  in  a  grocery  and  meat 


258 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


business  on  the  corner  of  Jackson  street  and  Park 
avenue,  but  sold  out  in  order  to  give  his  atten- 
tion wholly  to  dairying. 

In  common  with  many  of  his  countrymen  in 
Joliet,  Mr.  Olson  holds  membership  in  the  Swedish 
Republican  Club.  He  is  connected  with  the 
North  Star  Association,  the  Fraternal  Alliance 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Svethiod.  He  con- 
tributes to  the  maintenance  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  belongs.  He  was 
married  in  this  city  to  Emma,  daughter  of  Philip 
Drion,  a  native  of  France  and  an  early  settler  of 
Joliet,  wheie  she  was  born.  One  son  blesses 
their  union,  Clarence  Philip  Sylvester. 


KEV.  GUSTAV  HOLMBERG.  The  reli- 
gious life  of  Joliet  has  been  fostered  by  the 
efforts  of  Mr.  Holmberg,  who  is  not  only 
the  oldest  Swedish  minister  in  the  city,  but  one 
of  the  most  successful  as  well.  In  1891  he  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Swedish  Baptist 
Church,  whose  membership  was  at  that  timeless 
than  seventy  and  whose  work  was  therefore 
limited  in  scope  and  results.  In  this  field  of 
labor  he  has  since  given  his  earnest,  faithful  ef- 
forts to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his 
parishioners  and  bring  into  active  Christian 
service  those  hitherto  indifferent.  The  suc- 
cess of  his  work  in  shown  in  the  increased  mem- 
bership, which  is  now  almost  three  times  as 
large  as  then.  Through  his  efforts  an  interest 
was  aroused  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship, 
and  in  1898  the  building  on  Jackson  and  Herki- 
mer streets  (the  largest  Swedish  church  in  the 
city)  was  erected.  In  addition  to  the  regular 
church  work,  a  mission  Sunday-school  and  mis- 
sionary service  are  conducted  on  South  Richards 
street. 

The  only  child  of  Peter  and  Maria  (Pollock) 
Holmberg,  the  subject  of  this  article  was  born 
in  Philipstad,  Wermland,  Sweden,  July  23,  1856. 
His  father,  who  was  a  contractor  and  builder, 
also  a  merchant,  died  in  that  country  at  sixty- 
two  years.  Our  subject  was  reared  at  the  home- 
stead, and  when  fourteen  years  of  age  began  to 


work  in  the  iron  mines  near  Philipstad,  continu- 
ing there  for  some  time  and  later  serving  the  al- 
lotted drill  time  in  the  Swedish  army.  In  the 
spring  of  1881  he  arrived  in  Chicago,  where  he 
worked  in  a  foundry,  but  soon  went  to  Menominee 
County,  Mich.,  and  worked  in  the  iron  mines. 
From  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was  a  student  of  the 
classics  and  theology,  and  when  he  was  twenty- 
one  he  preached  his  first  sermon.  After  coming 
to  this  county  he  continued  to  preach,  although 
at  first  he  did  not  devote  his  entire  time  to  the 
work.  In  1882  he  was  ordained  a  minister  in 
the  Swedish  Baptist  Church,  and  the  following 
year  organized  a  church  in  Manistique,  Mich., 
where  he  remained  as  pastor  until  1886.  The 
next  year  was  spent  in  a  Swedish  Baptist  College, 
in  Nebraska,  after  which  he  continued  his  theo- 
logical studies  in  Morgan  Park  and  at  the  same 
time  was  pastor  of  the  Second  Swedish  Baptist 
Church  of  Chicago.  Later  he  was  engaged  in 
missionary  work  in  and  near  Chicago,  continu- 
ing to  be  occupied  in  that  manner  until  he  came 
to  Joliet  to  take  charge  of  a  church  that  had  been 
organized  ten  years  before.  In  addition  to  his 
ministerial  work  he  has  served  efficiently  as  presi- 
dent and  secretary  of  the  Swedish  Baptist  Minis- 
terial Association  of  Illinois.  In  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Holmberg,  which  took 
place  in  Sweden,  united  him  with  Miss  Maria 
Christine  Nystrom,  whose  father,  Olaf,  came  to 
America  in  1S81  and  afterward  died  at  the  home 
of  his  daughter  in  Joliet.  The  two  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmberg  are  David  and  Ellen. 


(7)  WAN  ANDERSON,  who  is  one  of  Joliet's 
2\  reliable  and  experienced  stone  mason  con- 
Q)  tractors,  was  born  in  Alingsaes,  Elfsborg, 
Sweden,  July  27,  1859.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Nels  Swenson ,  who  was  a  native  of  Bre- 
veskagen,  bought  the  homestead  "Kjartare," 
and  there  successfully  followed  farm  pursuits. 
In  his  family  were  five  daughters  and  three  sons, 
the  youngest  being  a  successful  cabinet-maker  in 
Gottenburg.     On  the  estate. ' '  Kjartare ' '  Andres 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


259 


Nelson,  our  subject's  father,  passed  the  years  of 
youth,  and  from  there  after  retiring  from  life'sbusy 
cares  he  came  to  America  in  May,  1887,  joining 
his  children  in  Joliet,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  married  Johanna,  daughter  of  Peter  Johnson, 
who  was  a  skilled  cabinet-maker  and  resided  at 
Holsberg;  he  died  in  Sweden  in  1874,  when 
seventy-one  years  of  age.  Of  his  seven  children 
all  but  one  are  still  living,  the  eldest  son  being 
Swente,  or  Swan,  as  he  is  commonly  called. 
August,  the  second  son,  is  employed  as  a 
shipping  clerk  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  and  Gus- 
tav  R.  is  a  cabinet-maker  in  Little  Falls,  Minn. 
Of  the  daughters,  Anna  S.  is  the  wife  of  P.  John- 
son, of  Joliet,  and  Ada  M.  married  O.  Anderson, 
also  of  this  city.  Alma,  who  received  a  good 
education  and  was  granted  a  teacher's  certificate 
in  Will  County,  afterward  was  employed  in  the 
county  treasurer's  office  in  Minneapolis.  She 
graduated  from  the  Minneapolis  Training  School 
for  Nurses  and  is  now  in  charge  of  a  hospital  at 
Seattle,  Wash. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  seek  a  home  in  the 
United  States  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
After  having  served  for  three  years  as  an  ap- 
prentice to  the  stone-mason's  trade,  in  March, 
1S80,  he  went  from  Gottenburgto  Liverpool  and 
from  there  crossed  to  New  York,  which  he 
reached  after  a  voyage  of  twenty  days.  Two 
days  later  he  arrived  in  Chicago  and  on  the  5th 
of  April  landed  in  Joliet.  On  the  6th  he  secured 
employment  and  began  to  work  in  the  quarry  of 
the  Joliet  Stone  Company.  After  one  month  he 
began  to  work  on  a  farm  in  Wilton  Township, 
where  he  remained  for  ten  months.  Returning 
to  Joliet  in  March,  1881,  he  was  employed  as  a 
mason  until  18S5,  since  which  time  he  has  taken 
contracts  in  brick  and  stone.  Among  his  con- 
tracts were  those  for  the  old  street  car  buildings 
on  Second  avenue  and  the  present  street  car 
buildings  on  St.  Louis  street,  the  Burke  livery 
stable  on  South  Bluff  street,  etc.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Joliet  Builders'  Association. 

In  April,  1892,  he  was  elected  assistant  super- 
visor on  the  Democratic  ticket  and  served  for  two 
years,  meantime  being  a  member  of  several  com- 
mittees.    At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  refused 


the  renomination.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  Since  coming  to 
Joliet  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Nelson,  who  was 
born  in  Houf,  near  Engelholm,  Skane,  Sweden, 
where  her  parents  still  make  their  home.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  have  seven  children,  Anna 
C,  Ida  C,  Julia  M.,  Gustav  Henry,  Elmer 
Swente,  Hilda  F.  and  Ellen  E. 


EHARLES  JACOB  JOHNSON.  The  large 
trade  which  Mr.  Johnson  has  built  up  in  his 
chosen  business  proves  him  to  be  possessed 
of  excellent  judgment  and  determination  of  char- 
acter. When  he  came  to  the  United  States  he 
had  limited  means  and  was  unfamiliar  with  the 
customs  and  usages  of  our  country;  but,  begin- 
ning with  a  determination  to  succeed,  he  soon 
gained  the  confidence  of  his  associates  and  the 
esteem  of  the  general  public.  June  10,  1S82, 
found  him  in  Joliet,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Of  recent  years  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business,  occupying  a  store  on  the 
corner  of  Jackson  and  Collins  streets,  where,  in 
the  spring  of  1898,  he  built  a  two-story  and  base- 
ment stone  structure,  known  as  the  Johnson  and 
Ahlvin  block. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Westerbotten,  Sweden,  April  22,  1861,  a  son  of 
John  and  Mary  Johnson,  the  former  of  whom 
inherited  and  occupied  the  ancestral  farm, 
"Server."  He  is  still  living  in  his  native  land 
and  is  now  (1899)  more  than  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  His  wife  died  many  years  ago,  when  our 
subject  was  five  years  of  age.  Of  seven  children 
comprising  the  family  four  remain  in  Sweden, 
Ned  is  a  farmer  in  Minnesota,  Erik  and  Charles 
Jacob  are  in  Joliet.  The  last-named  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  emigration.  His  brother,  Erik,  who 
crossed  the  ocean  in  1880,  settled  in  Burlington, 
Iowa,  but  in  a  very  short  time  came  to  Joliet; 
two  years  later,  in  1882,  Ned  and  Charles  Jacob 
joined  him  in  thiscountry,  crossing  on  a  steamer 
from  Hull  and  Liverpool  to  New  York,  thence  to 
Joliet,  where  our  subject  worked  in  a  quarry  for 


26o 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


James  Bruce.  Three  years  later  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company,  and  for  five 
years  was  in  their  converting  department.  His 
next  enterprise  was  embarking  in  the  grocery 
business  on  the  corner  of  Jackson  street  and  Park 
avenue,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Peterson  & 
Johnson.  Two  years  later  he  bought  his  part- 
ner's interest,  continuing  the  business  in  the  same 
location  until  he  erected  his  business  block  in 
1898. 

In  the  building  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  Mr.  Johnson  took  an  active  part  and  he 
has  served  as  a  trustee  for  a  number  of  years. 
The  Republican  party  has  had  his  allegiance  ever 
since  he  became  an  American  citizen,  and  he  has 
been  a  delegate  to  conventions  at  different  times. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Swedish  Republican 
Club.  Since  coming  to  Joliet  he  married  Miss 
Jennie  Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Skane,  Swe- 
den. They  and  their  children,  Carl  Elmer, 
Ethel  Ingeborg  and  Clarence  Siegfried,  have  a 
neat  and  pleasant  home  at  No.  1005  Ohio  street. 


r^ETER  G.  RULIEN,  M.  D.,  who  has  been 
Lf  engaged  in  practice  in  Joliet  since  1890,  was 
t^  born  in  Vermland,  Sweden,  November  4, 
i860,  a  son  of  P.  M.  and  Stina  (Damelson) 
Rulien,  natives  of  the  same  place.  His  father 
who  was  the  son  of  a  Swedish  soldier,  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  and  followed  that  occupation  in  his 
native  land  for  some  years.  In  1868  he  brought 
his  family  to  America  and  settled  near  New 
Richmond,  St.  Croix  County,  Wis.,  where  he  has 
since  engaged  in  fanning.  Of  his  eight  children 
all  but  one  are  living,  the  doctor  being  third  in 
order  of  birth;  one  of  the  sons,  Frank,  is  a  physi- 
cian atWinthrop,  Minn. 

At  the  time  the  family  settled  in  Wisconsin 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  boy  of  eight 
years.  His  primary  education  was  obtained  in 
district  schools.  Later  he  took  a  special  course 
of  three  years  in  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal 
School,  where  he  studied  English  and  classics. 
Having  selected  medicine  for  his  life  occupation, 
he  entered  the  Chicago  Medical   College,  which 


was  the  medical  department  of  the  Northwestern 
University,  and  from  this  institution  he  graduated 
in  the  spring  of  1890,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
Coming  at  once  to  Joliet,  he  has  since  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has  his  office 
at  No.  1014  Cass  street.  Under  Mayor  E.  C. 
Akins  he  received  the  appointment  of  health 
commissioner,  which  he  also  held  under  Mayor 
Lagger,  but  resigned  in  1897.  For  four  years  he 
was  physician  for  the  town  of  Joliet,  but  resigned 
upon  being  made  health  commissioner.  He  is 
connected  with  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion and  the  Will  County  Medical  Society,  and 
has  served  the  latter  as  president,  a  responsible 
office  that  he  filled  with  ability.  He  is  connected 
with  Matteson  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also 
with  the  Union  Club.  In  religion  he  is  of  the 
Lutheran  faith,  while  his  wife  is  an  Episcopalian. 
In  Chicago  Dr.  Rulien  married  Miss  May  B. 
Stevens,  by  whom  he  has  four  children  living, 
Minerva,  Jessie,  Elmer  and  Norman.  The  sec- 
ond son,  Gordon,  died  in  Joliet  at  the  age  of  one 
year.  Mrs.  Rulien  was  born  in  Topeka,  Kaus., 
the  only  child  of  E.  B.  and  H.  V.  (Norton) 
Stevens,  natives  respectively  of  Lake  County,  111., 
and  New  York  City.  He  father,  who  was  a  sol- 
dier in  an  Illinois  regiment  during  the  Civil  war, 
spent  some  years  in  Topeka,  Kans.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  real-estate  business  and  also  served 
as  a  deputy  count}'  official.  In  1872  he  returned 
to  Chicago,  where  he  died.  His  wife,  who  was 
a  daughter  of  Richard  Norton,  of  New  York, 
died  in  Joliet. 


REV.  JOHN  VIBELIUS,  A.  B.,  pastor  of 
the  Bethlehem  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of 
Joliet,  is  one  of  the  earnest  and  efficient 
ministers  of  his  denomination.  While  he  has 
not  been  long  connected  with  his  present  charge 
(having  accepted  the  call  in  December,  1897), 
he  has  already  made  many  valuable  improve- 
ments in  the  church,  and  has  greatly  promoted 
the  welfare  of  the  congregation.  This  church 
was   organized  in  1882,  and  now  numbers  three 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


261 


hundred  and  seventy-five  members,  being  the 
largest  Swedish  congregation  in  the  city.  Under 
his  supervision  the  church  on  Benton  street  has 
been  remodeled,  and  a  lot  was  bought  and  a  par- 
sonage built  on  the  corner  of  Benton  street  and 
CassidajT  avenue.  In  connection  with  the  church 
are  various  societies,  including  three  ladies'  sew- 
ing societies,  and  a  young  people's  organization. 
During  the  two  summer  months,  when  the  pub- 
lic schools  are  not  in  session,  a  parochial  school 
is  conducted,  at  which  there  is  an  average  attend- 
ance of  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  children. 
Besides  his  other  duties  he  is  secretary  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Swedish  orphan  home 
and  industrial  school  at  Joliet,  conducted  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Illinois  conference  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Augustana  synod,  and  in- 
corporated March  14,  189 1.  This  school  has 
fifty  pupils,  and  the  three-story  building  is 
equipped  with  modern  improvements.  The  work 
that  is  accomplished  is  of  a  most  beneficial  na- 
ture, the  children  being  fitted  for  responsible 
positions  in  life. 

In  the  town  of  Hedemora,  Sweden,  Mr.  Vibel- 
ius  was  born  February  1,  1856,  the  oldest  child 
of  Andrew  and  Christine  (Garell)  Vibelius.  His 
father,  who  was  a  farmer  on  the  family  home- 
stead, was  a  son  of  John  Vibelius,  also  a  farmer; 
while  the  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Lars  Garell, 
who  was  born  in  1796,  and  for  years  was  super- 
intendent of  steel  works  in  his  native  land.  All 
of  the  family  were  of  good  old  Lutheran  stock. 
Our  subject  is  one  of  three  children,  of  whom 
himself  and  a  sister  are  in  the  United  States, 
while  his  brother  remains  in  Swedeu.  He  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  after  his  confirm- 
ation, at  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  entered  Falun 
College,  where  he  remained  until  his  graduation 
in  1880,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  Next  he  en- 
tered the  University  of  Upsala, in  Upsala, forty-five 
miles  northwest  of  Stockholm.  This  institution, 
which  was  founded  in  1473, had  seventeen  hundred 
students  at  the  time  he  was  there,  and  it  has 
since  maintained  its  high  place  among  old  world 
universities.  With  its  library  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  volumes,  it  numerous  ancient 
manuscripts,  its  botanic  garden,  observatory  and 


museums,  it  offers  exceptional  advantages  to  its 
students,  and  the  year's  stud}- in  philosophy  and 
theology  which  Mr.  Vibelius  had  there  proved 
of  the  greatest  intellectual  aid  to  him. 

After  a  year  as  tutor  in  a  private  family,  in 
1882,  Mr.  Vibelius  came  to  the  United  States 
and  entered  Augustana  Theological  Seminary,  at 
Rock  Island,  111.,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1884.  He  was  ordained  a  few  days  after  exam- 
ination, June  24,  1884,  in  Andover,  Henry 
County,  111.,  and  was  appointed  pastor  of  Bethany 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  South  Chicago, 
111.,  where  he  remained  in  charge  until  1887. 
During  the  latter  year  he  resigned  to  accept  a 
position  as  editor  of  the  Vort  Land  and  Folk 
(Our  Country  and  People),  a  weekly  paper  pub- 
lished in  Chicago.  At  the  same  time  he  had 
charge  of  Bethlehem  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
in  Englewood.  In  1888  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  South  Bend,  and 
in  that  pastorate  he  continued  until  the  latter 
part  of  1897,  when  he  resigned  in  order  to  come 
to  Joliet.  Several  times  he  has  been  chosen  sec- 
retary of  the  Chicago  district  of  the  Illinois  con- 
ference, in  which  capacity  his  work  has  been 
commented  upon  with  praise.  He  is  also  the 
editor  of  Budbararen  (The  Messenger),  a  Swedish 
monthly,  which  he  has  made  a  success.  In  na- 
tional politics  he  favors  Republican  principles. 

In  South  Chicago,  in  1885,  Mr.  Vibelius  mar- 
ried Miss  Hulda  Nordlund,  whose  father  was  a 
sea  captain  and  a  member  of  a  prominent  old 
family  in  the  city  of  Gefle,  on  the  Baltic,  in  Swe- 
den. The  three  children  born  of  their  union  are 
Emanuel,  Lillie  and  Sigfreid. 


KEV.  JAMES  J.  McGOVERN,  D.  D.,  pas- 
tor of  St.  Dennis  Roman  Catholic  Church  at 
Lockport,  was  born  March  25,  1839,  in  Chi- 
cago in  a  log  house  standing  near  where  the  court 
house  now  stands.  His  father,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, was  a  large  contractor  on  the  canal  and  had 
the  contract  for  the  Chicago  water  works.  He 
was  at  the  head  of  a  large  immigration  company 
organized  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  Irish  peo- 


262 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


pie  to  this  country  and  giving  them  a  good  start. 
For  about  thirty-five  years  he  was  the  principal 
confidante  and  helper  of  the  bishops  in  Chicago, 
and  he  always  held  a  very  prominent  place  among 
Roman  Catholics  there.  He  died  in  that  city 
when  eighty-two  years  of  age,  having  made  his 
home  there  from  1836  until  his  death.  His  wife 
was  also  a  native  of  Ireland  and  died  in  1899, 
when  eighty-four  years  old.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  daughters  and  four  sons,  who, 
under  their  teaching,  were  reared  for  positions  of 
usefulness  and  honor  and  were  early  devoted  to 
the  service  of  the  church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  the  first 
pupils  in  the  public  schools  of  Chicago.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1844,  he  entered  the  old  Mortimer  school, 
opposite  McVicker's  theatre  on  Madison  street, 
and  occupying  the  first  school  building  put  up  in 
the  city.  In  1849  a  Catholic  school  was  estab- 
lished in  the  city,  which  he  attended.  For  two 
years  he  was  also  a  student  at  St.  Mary's  of  the 
Lake.  In  August,  1853,  he  was  sent  to  the 
Propaganda  College,  Rome,  to  spend  ten  years 
in  preparation  for  holy  orders.  He  was  ordained 
June  14,  1862,  and  afterward  remained  in  Rome 
a  short  time  as  priest  and  acting  private  secretary 
to  Cardinal  Barnabo,  Prefect  of  the  Propaganda. 
On  returning  to  the  United  States  in  1863  he  was 
made  vice-president  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake  and 
rector  of  the  collegiate  seminary,  which  position 
he  held  for  five  years.  He  then  bought  and  im- 
proved church  property  in  the  parishes  of  Fulton, 
Rockland,  Bloouiington  and  Lake  Forest,  111. 
In  1880  he  cametoLockport,  where  he  completed 
the  large  church  building,  established  the  schools 
and  built  the  parsonage.  This  parish  was  founded 
in  1849  by  Father  Dennis  Ryan,  who  served  it 
until  his  death,  October  21,  1853.  In  1877  the 
present  large  church  building  was  started,  which 
was  completed  by  Father  McGovern,  its  total 
cost  being  about  $40,000.  It  has  a  membership 
of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  families. 

In  addition  to  his  pastoral  work,  Father  Mc- 
Govern has  also  done  considerable  literary  work. 
For  several  years  he  was  co-editor  of  a  Roman 
Catholic  paper,  the  Catholic  Home,  and  for  a  year 
was  its  editor-in-chief.     In    1S65   he   published 


The  Monthly,  a  Catholic  periodical,  the  first  in  the 
west.  He  published,  as  the  author,  the  "Life 
of  Bishop  John  McMullen,"  of  Davenport,  Iowa, 
and  a  work  entitled  "The  Souvenir  of  Archbish- 
'  op  P.  A.  Feehau's  Silver  Jubilee,"  in  which  he 
gave  the  only  church  history  of  the  Catholic 
Church  in  Chicago  and  the  state  of  Illinois.  Up 
to  the  time  of  its  publication  he  was  a  co-author 
of  the  "Royal  Scroll,"  an  illustrated  history  of 
the  Bible,  with  a  biblical  catechism,  and  a  most 
extensive  history  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the 
state  of  Illinois  published  in  the  new  world  A.  D. 
1900.  In  recognition  of  his  successful  course  of 
his  theological  studies,  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was 
conferred  upon  him  before  he  returned  to  this 
countrv. 


3 AMES  K.  McNEILL,  president  of  the  Steel 
Works  Club,  the  largest  labor  organization 
in  Joliet,  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the 
board  of  aldermen.  He  was  elected  an  alder- 
man in  the  spring  of  1899,  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  receiving  a  majority  of  nine  votes  overthe 
two  other  candidates.  Since  he  began  the  duties 
of  his  office  he  has  been  appointed  chairman  of 
the  police  committee  and  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittees on  water,  claims,  east  side  streets  and 
license.  His  work  as  a  councilman  is  proving 
satisfactory,  not  only  to  the  members  of  his  own 
party,  to  whom  his  election  was  due,  but  to  the 
general  public  as  well. 

AtBallymeua,  near  Belfast,  in  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  Mr.  McNeill  was  born  August  25,  1851, 
a  son  of  Hugh  and  Sarah  (Kennedy)  McNeill. 
His  grandfather,  George  McNeill,  a  Scotchman, 
settled  in  Ireland,  where  he  died  at  eighty-two 
years;  and  the  maternal  grandfather,  James  Ken- 
nedy, though  of  Irish  birth,  was  also  of  Scotch 
descent.  After  an  honorable  discharge  from  the 
British  army,  in  which  he  had  served  for  some 
years  (mostly  as  anon-commissioned  officer  with 
the  Royal  Artillery  in  Woolwich,  England), Hugh 
McNeill  accompanied  a  surveying  corps  to  the 
province  of  Ulster,  which  he  assisted  in  survey- 
ing. He  then  became  a  freight  agent  for  the 
railroad    at    Ballymena.      In     1S60    he  came  to 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


263 


America,  whither  a  brother,  John,  had  preceded 
him.  He  settled  in  Jackson  Township,  this 
county,  but  soon  removed  to  Kendall  County, 
and  while  there,  in  1863,  his  family  joined  him. 
In  1868  he  returned  to  Jackson  Township,  where 
his  wife  died  the  following  year.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Round  Grove  Township,  Livingston 
County,  where  he  resided  from  the  spring  of 
1870  until  1881.  From  there  he  went  to  Val- 
paraiso, Neb. ,  where  he  bought  and  improved  a 
farm,  and  died  July  16,  1893,  aged  sixty -six 
years.  In  politics  he  voted  with  the  Republicans, 
and  in  religion  was  of  the  Presbyterian  belief. 
Of  his  six  children  four  are  living,  James  being 
the  oldest  and  the  only  one  now  in  Will  County. 

On  the  25th  day  of  August,  1863,  our  subject 
landed  in  New  York  City  after  a  voyage  of  seven 
weeks  and  two  days  from  Liverpool  on  the  sail- 
ing vessel  "  Benjamin  Adams. "  With  the  other 
members  of  the  family  he  came  west  to  join  his 
father  in  Illinois.  He  accompanied  his  father  in 
his  various  removals.  While  at  Grand  Prairie 
he  began  to  farm  independently,  remaining  there 
until  1884,  when  he  was  appointed  keeper  at  the 
Illinois  state  penitentiary.  The  latter  position 
he  held  until  December  1,  1893,  when  a  change 
of  administration  caused  him  to  resign.  Next 
he  became  foreman  for  the  Illinois  Steel  Com- 
pany, and  in  1897  was  Dv  them  appointed  gen- 
eral yardmaster  of  the  entire  steel  plant,  which 
position  he  has  since  filled.  He  is  now  president 
of  the  Steel  Works  Club,  which  has  a  member- 
ship of  twelve  hundred.  For  seven  years  he  was 
secretary  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  Council  in  Joliet, 
and  is  still  a  member.  He  is  past  chancellor  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  has  been  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  local  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge. 

The  home  of  Mr.  McNeill  stands  at  No.  1003 
Irving  street.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  M.  Kim- 
ble, who  was  born  in  Kendall  County,  111.,  and 
died  in  Joliet  February  19,  1894.  Her  father, 
Henry,  son  of  James  Kimble,  was  born  in  Bed- 
ford, England,  in  1800,  and  from  fourteen  to 
twenty-one  years  of  age  served  at  the  mason's 
trade.  In  1823  he  went  to  the  island  of  Ascen- 
sion, off  the  coast  of  Africa,  where  he  superin- 
tended the  building  of  forts.     Returning  to  Eng- 


land in  1830,  he  soon  went  to  Prince  Ed- 
ward's Island,  where  he  spent  fifteen  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Kendall  County,  111.  In 
1849  he  joined  the  gold-seekers  in  the  westward 
journey  and  engaged  in  mining  in  California. 
After  a  time  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  took  a 
contract  for  building  a  part  oftheOquawka  Rail- 
road to  Peoria.  He  then  returned  to  his  Kendall 
County  farm.  His  last  days  were  spent  in  South 
Dakota,  where  he  died  at  ninety-one  years.  By 
his  first  marriage  Mr.  McNeill  had  four  children, 
viz.:  Harry  James,  who  is  with  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company;  Sadie  Laura,  a  teacher  in  the 
Kendall  County  schools;  Hattie  May  and  Mary 
Priscilla.  In  Joliet  June  5,  1896,  Mr.  McNeill 
married  Mrs.  Grace  (Webb)  Thomas,  who  was 
born  in  Cook  County,  111.,  and  by  whom  he  has 
two  daughters,  Grace  Vivian  and  Muriel  Una. 
Mrs.  McNeill's  father,  George  Webb,  was  born 
in  England  and  came  with  his  parents  to  New 
York,  thence  removed  west,  settling  in  Cook 
County  and  engaging  in  the  mercantile  business 
at  Mattison.  Later  he  moved  to  Springfield, 
this  state,  where  he  died,  and  where  his  widow 
is  still  living. 


30SEPH  A.  JOHNSON  is  one  of  the  large 
number  of  business  men  who  came  to  Joliet 
from  Sweden,  and  have  since  become  an  in- 
tegral part  of  the  citizenship,  joining  in  move- 
ments for  the  benefit  of  the  city  and  aiding  in 
the  development  of  local  commercial  interests. 
He  was  born  in  Rauqvella,  Jonkoping,  Sweden, 
December  6,  1867,  a  sou  of  John  Peter  and  Eva 
Johnson,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the  same 
province,  where  the  father  engaged  in  farming. 
Further  mention  of  the  family  appears  elsewhere, 
in  the  sketch  of  Gustav  V.  Johnson. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm,  the  educational  ad- 
vantages received  by  our  subject  were  such  as  the 
local  schools  afforded.  As  he  studied  in  school 
the  geography  of  the  world,  he  formed  a  resolu- 
tion to  seek  a  home  in  the  land  across  the  seas, 
believing  that  the  new  world  presented  greater 
opportunities  for  a  young  man  than  the  old.  In 
1886  he   came    to   the  United  States    with  his 


264 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


brother,  Gustav  V.,  and  settled  in  Joliet,  where 
he  followed  any  occupation  whereby  he  could 
earn  a  livelihood.  After  three  years,  however, 
he  began  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  bricklayer's 
trade,  which  he  learned  in  the  works  of  the  Illi- 
nois Steel  Company.  He  followed  this  occupa- 
tion until  1896  in  the  employ  of  others,  but 
during  that  year  he  embarked  in  the  stone  and 
brickmason's  business  for  himself,  and  has  since 
taken  contracts  for  work  of  this  kind. 

Since  taking  out  his  naturalization  papers  Mr. 
Johnson  has  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  North  Star  Association  and  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  A  man  of  energy 
and  industry,  he  is  working  his  way  to  a  position 
of  influence  among  the  people  of  his  own  race  in 
Joliet,  and  has  also  won  the  confidence  of  people 
of  other  nationalities  by  his  upright  course  in 
life  and  the  energy  which  he  has  shown  in  his 
business.  He  was  married,  in  this  city,  in  1897, 
to  Miss  Amanda  Abrahamson,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden,  and  by  whom  he  has  a  daughter,  Sylvia 
Benhat  Margaret.  The  family  residence  is  at 
No.  309  Landau  avenue. 


HENRY  W.  MORGAN,  proprietor  of  a  pat- 
tern shop  at  No.  108  South  Desplaines 
street,  Joliet,  is  one  of  the  expert  mechanics 
and  pattern-makers  in  the  city,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  since  187 1.  He  was  born  in  Tal- 
garth, Breconshire,  Wales,  June  11,  1844,  a  son 
of  William  and  Mary  Morgan,  natives  of  the 
same  shire.  His  father,  who  was  a  son  of  Henry 
Morgan,  a  farmer,  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  in  his  native  country,  where  he  died  in 
1 88 1.  In  his  family  there  were  four  children, 
viz.:  Mrs.  Jane  Price,  who  died  in  Wales;  Henry 
W. ;  William,  who  is  proprietor  of  a  normal 
school  at  Hereford,  Wales;  and  Magdelene,  Mrs. 
W.  D.  Richards,  who  died  in  Joliet. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Bryn  Mawr,  Wales, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  obtained  his  education. 
When  sixteen  he  was  bound  out  to  learn  the  pat- 
tern-maker's trade  and  served  an  apprenticeship 
of  seven  years,  during  which  time  he  studied  in 
a  drawing  school,  also  spent  six  months  in  a 
foundry  and  six  in  a  machine  shop.     This  is  the 


parent  trade  of  all  in  a  mechanical  line,  and  one 
who  becomes  an  expert  in  it  has  acquired  knowl- 
edge that  proves  of  inestimable  value  to  him. 
The  seven  years  which  Mr.  Morgan  spent  as  an  . 
apprentice  were  faithfully  devoted  to  his  work, 
and  as  a  result  he  became  very  proficient  as  a 
mechanic.  At  the  expiration  of  his  time  he 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Cardiff  and  Newport. 

The  year  1869  found  Mr.  Morgan  in  the  United 
States,  a  young  man,  with  little  money,  but  pos- 
sessing an  abundance  of  energy  and  determina- 
tion. At  first  he  was  employed  as  pattern- 
maker in  the  shops  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
&  Western  Railroad  in  Scranton,  Pa.  From 
there,  in  187 1,  he  came  to  Joliet  and  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  as  pattern- 
maker. Five  years  later  he  was  promoted  to  be 
foreman,  and  as  such  he  continued  for  twenty 
years,  resigning  in  1896  in  order  to  embark  in 
business  for  himself.  During  the  twenty- five 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  company  he  won 
and  retained  the  confidence  of  the  officers  and  the 
respect  of  subordinates,  and  was  recognized 
as  an  expert  at  his  trade.  Since  entering  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  he  has  made  patterns  for 
various  mills  of  Joliet  and  other  cities  and  has 
also  turned  out  work  that  has  been  shipped  to 
Belgium  and  France. 

In  the  Welsh  Presbyterian  Church  of  Joliet 
Mr.  Morgan  is  a  trustee  and  prominent  worker. 
Politically  he  gives  his  influence  and  ballot 
toward  Republican  principles.  He  is  connected 
with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
in  which  he  is  past  senior  warden.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  to  build  in  his  section  of  the  city,  and 
owns  a  neat  home  011  Ohio  street.  Prior  to 
leaving  Wales  he  was  married,  in  Bryn  Mawr,  to 
Miss  Jane  Davies,  daughter  of  William  Davies, 
who  came  to  America,  settling  in  Pottsville,  Pa., 
thence  coming  to  Joliet;  he  was  the  second  em- 
ploye with  the  then  Joliet  Iron  and  Transportation 
Company,  with  which  he  remained  until  his 
death,  in  1S79.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Morgan  who  attained  maturity  are  named  as  fol- 
lows: Annie,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Joliet; 
John,  a  machinist  employed  in  Chicago;  Clara, 
Edith,  Walter,  Otis  and  Harry. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


/f y,  pfu-7-t^^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


267 


CAPT.  ROBERT  J.  MORRISON. 


EAPT.  ROBERT  J.  MORRISON.  For  his 
heroism  displayed  during  the  Civil  war, 
Captain  Morrison  received  the  highest  praise 
ofhiscolonel,  George  \V.  Kirk,  and  the  commen- 
dation of  all  patriotic  citizens  who  appreciate  self- 
sacrifice  in  behalf  of  our  country.  At  the  close 
of  the  war,  in  September,  1865,  he  came  to  this 
county,  bringing  with  him  a  wagon  and  also  two 
horses  that  had  been  with  him  in  the  army.  For 
a  time  he  rented  a  farm  on  the  edge  of  Kendall 
County,  after  which  he  bought  a  place  in  Plain- 
field  Township  and  later  bought  and  sold  other 
property.  Coming  to  Joliet  in  1879,  he  em- 
barked in  the  lumber  business  and  also  from  1880 
to  1883  was  call  man  in  the  fire  department,  then 
from  1883  to  1888  was  driver  of  steamer  No.  1,  be- 
ing transferred  in  1S88  to  East  Side  No.  3.  In 
1 89 1  he  resigned  and  began  to  devote  his  attention 
entirely  to  the  real-estate  business,  in  which  he 
had  previously  become  interested.  In  1S94  he 
was  appointed  deputy  city  and  township  assessor. 
The  following  year  he  was  elected  city  and  town- 
ship assessor  on  the  Republican  ticket,  by  a  ma- 
jority of  three  hundred  and  sixty  over  his  town 
opponents.  In  1896,  1897,  1898  and  1899  he  was 
re-elected,  the  last  time  without  opposition,  and 
he  now  gives  his  whole  time  to  the  duties  of  the 
office,  superintending  the  work  of  his  corps  of  as- 
sistants. 

William  Morrison,  a  Scotchman,  removed  to 
Manchester,  England,  and  years  later  settled  on 
a  farm  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  where  he  died.  His 
grandson,  Robert  Morrison,  was  born  in  Man- 
chester, England,  but  grew  to  manhood  in  Ire- 

13 


laud,  where  he  learned  the  painter's  trade.  In 
1832  he  married  Elizabeth  Bell,  who  was  born 
in  Belfast,  Ireland,  her  father,  David,  having  re- 
moved from  his  native  place,  near  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, to  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  order  to  establish  a 
shoe  factory  there.  The  year  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Morrison  brought  his  wife  to  America  and 
settled  in  New  York  City,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade.  In  1842  he  went  to  Toronto,  Canada, 
where  he  remained  until  1845,  and  then  settled 
in  Baltimore,  Md.,  afterward  went  to  Philadel- 
phia, thence  to  New  York  City,  and  in  1847  re- 
turned to  Toronto,  from  there  going  back  to  Bal- 
timore. October  26,  1856,  he  removed  his  fami- 
ly to  Carter  County,  Tenn.,  where  he  cultivated 
a  farm  and  also  worked  as  a  contracting  painter. 
A  man  of  strong  Union  sympathies,  he  had  on 
his  farm  an  underground  railroad  for  escaping 
Federal  prisoners,  and  one  of  his  sons,  William, 
was  a  pilot  for  the  refugees.  He  himself  was 
several  times  taken  prisoner  by  Confederates,  but, 
being  a  great  favorite  throughout  that  entire  re- 
gion on  account  of  his  fine  business  qualities,  his 
genial  manners  and  his  work  as  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  local  preacher,  his  life  was  spared. 
Not  so  fortunate  was  his  brother-in-law,  James 
Bell,  who,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
was  shot  twenty-six  times,  his  brains  being 
beaten  out.  Two  of  his  sons,  William  and  David, 
slept  outdoors  every  night  during  the  four  years 
of  the  war.  When  the  war  ended  the  family 
moved  to  Carroll  County,  Mo.,  where  the  father 
died  at  sixty-two  years  of  age.  His  death  was 
caused  by  an  attack  of  pneumonia  brought  on  by 


26S 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


fording  a  stream  to  keep  an  appointment  for 
preaching.  After  his  death  his  wife  went  to 
Canada,  where  she  died.  They  had  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  and  all  but  one  of  the  daugh- 
ters still  survive.  William  lives  in  Johnson  City, 
Tenn.;  John,  who  was  a  prisoner  for  eighteen 
months  during  the  Civil  war,  served  in  the  Thir- 
teenth Tennessee  Cavalry  as  orderly  sergeant  of 
Company  B,  and  is  now  living  in  Kendall  Coun- 
ty, 111. ;  David  lives  in  Nebraska,  making  his  home 
at  Wood  River;  Mrs.  Anna  Hill  lives  at  Norborne, 
Mo.;  Mrs.  Sarah  McKey  is  at  Pinkerton,  Canada; 
and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Walker  is  in  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Mrs  Mary  McDevitt  died  at  Linton,  Canada, 
April  25,  1898. 

The  second  of  the  sons,  Robert  J. ,  was  born  in 
New  York  City  May  1,  1840.  His  education 
was  received  principally  in  Canada.  With  his 
older  brother  he  learned  the  painter's  trade,  and 
afterward  was  with  an  uncle,  Dr.  David  Bell,  for 
two  years,  then  returned  to  assist  his  brother. 
April  15,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Second 
Tennessee  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  as  a 
private  at  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  Ky.  After  the 
battles  of  Wild  Cat,  Mills  Springs  and  Cumber- 
land Gap,  he  returned  through  the  rebel  lines  to 
Tennessee,  in  order  to  recruit  for  the  Union  army. 
Securing  eighty-nine  men,  he  started  back  to  the 
Union  army  in  the  fall  of  1861.  During  the  fol- 
lowing winter  he  camped  in  the  mountains  of 
Tennessee,  hiding  from  the  Confederates,  who 
were  in  search  of  him  and  his  recruits.  Their 
food  was  brought  to  them  by  his  sister,  who  would 
put  a  note  in  a  biscuit  telling  where  the  next  in- 
stallment of  provisions  would  be  hid.  Some- 
times it  would  be  impossible  to  get  food  to  the 
men,  who  would  then  be  reduced  to  the  necessity 
of  eating  crow  or  such  game  as  could  be  found. 
In  1862  they  started  to  go  through  the  rebel  lines, 
traveling  at  night,  wading  rivers,  and  enduring 
hardships  of  every  kind.  When  within  one  mile 
of  the  Kentucky  line  they  were  attacked  by  Con- 
federates and  eleven  escaped  out  of  eighty-nine. 
Afterward  these  eleven  were  in  hiding  for  four 
days  and  nights  without  anything  to  eat.  Grow- 
ing desperate  with  hunger,  several  of  the  men 
swam  across  Powell's   River,   then  crossed  the 


Cumberland  mountains,  where  their  hunger  was 
partially  appeased  by  some  huckleberries  they 
fortunately  found.  About  six  o'clock  one  even- 
ing they  came  within  sight  of  a  man  chopping 
wood  and  drew  lots  as  to  which  of  the  men  should 
speak  to  him.  The  lot  fell  on  our  subject,  who 
went  forward,  scarcely  knowing  what  fate  might 
befall  him.  However,  the  mountaineer  was  a 
Union  man  and  called  to  him,  "Come  on."  The 
meal  they  had  of  mush  and  milk  and  honey 
seemed  to  them  the  best  they  had  ever  eaten. 
They  had  been  for  four  days  and  nights  without 
food  and  water,  and  were  almost  starved.  A 
little  later  they  found  five  of  their  comrades, 
which  made  their  company  number  eleven,  and 
two  others  got  through  three  weeks  later,  but  the 
other  seventy-six  were  killed  or  lost. 

Returning  to  his  old  regiment,  our  subject 
fought  at  Deep  Creek  Gap.  From  Kentucky  he 
went  to  Ohio  and  took  part  in  several  battles  with 
Gen.  John  H.  Morgan;  later  marched  into  West 
Virginia.  After  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  he 
assisted  in  the  taking  of  Rogersville,  where  after- 
ward all  of  his  regiment  but  seventy-five  men 
were  captured.  He  was  one  of  the  number  that 
escaped.  At  the  end  of  three  years  he  was  mus- 
tered out  and  came  to  Illinois,  spending  a  short 
time  at  Canton,  Fulton  County,  and  then  return- 
ing to  Tennessee,  where  he  helped  to  mount 
Gilham's  brigade  of  cavalry,  the  Eighth,  Ninth 
and  Thirteenth  Tennessee.  Next  he  went  to 
Kuoxville  and  organized  Company  C,  Third 
North  Carolina  Mounted  Infantry,  of  which  he 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  in  September, 
1864,  and  which  engaged  in  scouting.  He  led 
his  men  three  hundred  miles  into  North  Carolina, 
where  he  captured  three  hundred  and  twenty-five 
prisoners.  In  February,  1865,  he  organized 
Company  I,  of  the  same  regiment,  and  was  com- 
missioned its  captain,  serving  under  General 
George  Stoneman,  being  detached  to  command 
twenty-five  scouts.  He  took  part  in  many  des- 
perate cavalry  dashes,  where  death  seemed  immi- 
nent at  any  moment,  but  he  seemed  to  bear  a 
charmed  life;  and  in  all  his  service  was  only 
wounded  once,  and  that  was  a  mere  flesh  wound. 
He  was  constansly   on  the  move.     At  one  time 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


269 


he  was  in  the  saddle  for  eighteen  days  and  nights, 
never  making  a  stop  longer  than  three  hours. 
More  than  once  his  friends  were  in  doubt  as  to 
his  fate,  and  once  his  family  were  told  that  he 
was  dead.  Nor  did  they  know  the  report  was 
false  until  he  appeared  before  them  in  person, 
when  a  scene  of  rejoicing  followed  that  could  be 
imagined,  but  not  described.  During  an  engage- 
ment at  Morristown,  Tenn.,  he  captured  one  of  his 
old  schoolmates,  who  is  now  an  attorney  in  that 
state.  After  the  war  closed  he  was  mustered  out 
at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  August  8,  1865,  and  re- 
turned to  his  old  home,  but  a  month  later  came 
to  Illinois,  and  has  since  made  Will  County  his 
home. 

In  politics  Captain  Morrison  has  always  affili- 
ated with  the  Republicans.  For  many  years  he 
has  been  chaplain  of  Bartleson  Post  No.  6, 
G.  A.  R.,  also  of  Mount  Joliet  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows.  With  his  wife,  he  belongs 
to  the  Eastern  Star  and  the  Ottawa  Street  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church.  His  marriage  took  place 
in  Elizabethtown,  Carter  County,  Tenn.,  January 
22,  1862,  and  united  him  with  Miss  Hester  Sni- 
der, daughter  of  William  Snider,  a  native  of  Sul- 
livan County,  that  state,  and  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith. Several  times  during  the  war  he  was 
taken  a  prisoner.  In  February,  1865,  he  moved 
to  Troy  Township,  Will  County,  111.,  where  he 
died  at  seventy-eight  years.  His  father,  William, 
Sr.,  who  was  born  near  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  served 
in  the  war  of  18 12  and  afterward  became  the 
owner  of  large  tracts  of  land  in  Tennessee.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Morrison  was  Mary,  daughter  of 
William  Jones,  an  early  settler  of  Tennessee  and 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12.  She  died  in  1874. 
Of  her  eleven  children  eight  attained  mature 
years.  A  half-brother  of  Mrs.  Morrison,  Joseph 
Snider,  was  with  our  subject  and  made  his  way 
through  the  lines  to  Cumberland  Gap;  her  own 
brother  was  taken  a  prisoner  at  one  time  during 
the  war.  Captain  and  Mrs.  Morrison  became  the 
parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Lizzie,  who  has 
charge  of  the  millinery  department  of  the  Joliet 
Dry  Goods  Company;  Mary,  who  died  in  1888; 
Minnie  H.,  deceased;  William  R.,  a  graduate  of 


the  University  of  Illinois,  and  now  superinten- 
dent at  Wichita,  Kans.,  of  the  city  street  rail- 
road; and  John  H.,  who  graduated  from  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  Northwestern  University 
in  1898,  and  is  now  engaged  in  practice  at  Plain- 
field,  this  county.  He  married  Catherine  E. 
Downey  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Martha 
Hester. 


Gl  NDREW  MURDIE,  a  well-known  farmer  of 
I_l  Wilton  Township,  was  born  in  Melrose, 
/  I  Roxburyshire,  Scotland,  in  November,  1838, 
a  son  of  Andrew  and  Helen  (Culbertson)  Murdie. 
He  was  one  of  three  children,  his  brother  and  sis- 
ter being  William,  of  Alloa,  Scotland,  and  Jean- 
nette,  Mrs.  Adam  Fleming,  of  Galashiels,  Scot- 
land. His  father  died  when  in  middle  age,  and 
afterward  the  mother  was  married  to  William 
Wright,  a  tailor,  by  whom  she  had  three  children, 
Robert,  James  and  Isabella.  She  is  still  living 
in  Scotland,  and  is  now  more  than  eighty  years 
of  age. 

When  a  very  small  child  our  subject  began  to 
work,  in  order  to  assist  in  supporting  himself. 
At  ten  years  of  age  he  secured  work  in  herding 
cows  and  doing  chores,  for  which  he  was  paid 
one  pound  for  six  months.  As  he  grew  older 
and  stronger  his  wages  were  increased,  until  he 
was  earning  twelve  poundsayear.  June  5,  1857, 
he  and  a  cousin  embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel  at 
Liverpool,  and  after  a  rough  voyage  of  forty-two 
days  they  landed  in  New  York  City,  July  18. 
Thence  they  went  up  the  Hudson  to  Albany.  It 
was  their  intention  to  join  an  uncle  at  Chatham, 
Canada,  but  the  New  York  farmers,  being  great- 
ly in  need  of  help,  they  were  induced  to  stop  with 
a  farmer  thirteen  miles  from  Albany.  With  him 
they  remained  for  six  weeks,  and  then  resumed 
their  journey.  Reaching  Chatham,  our  subject 
worked  for  a  Mr.  Smith  on  a  farm  for  one  year. 
Next  he  worked  for  two  months  at  railroad  con- 
structing on  the  Great  Western  Railroad.  On 
his  return  to  Chatham  he  resumed  work  with  Mr. 
Smith.     In  the  spring  of  1861  he  came  to  Illinois 


270 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  secured  work  with  Henry  Aiken  at  Lock- 
port,  his  special  work  being  the  running  of  a 
ditching  machine.  The  next  year  he  bought  a 
corn-sheller,  and,  in  company  with  a  partner  who 
owned  horses,  he  began  shelling  corn  for  the 
farmers.  His  was  the  first  corn-sheller  operated 
in  this  section,  and  he  had  the  shelling  of  all  the 
corn  between  Spencer  and  Peotone. 

In  1865  Mr.  Murdie  married  Elizabeth  Scott, 
who  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Harriet  (Gluver)  Scott.  Her 
father  dying  when  she  was  a  child,  she  was  taken 
into  the  home  of  Robert  Holmes,  whose  family 
she  accompanied  to  America  in  1856,  settling 
with  them  in  Lockport.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Murdie  settled  just  east  of  his  present  home,  he 
and  Mr.  Holmes  having  bought  one  hundred  and 
twelve  acres  of  land  in  partnership  here.  With 
the  exception  of  ten  years  spent  in  Greengarden 
Township,  where  he  owned  eighty  acres  of  land, 
he  has  since  made  his  home  in  Wilton  Township, 
and  is  counted  among  the  most  energetic  and 
capable  farmers  of  this  township.  From  his 
original  farm  he  moved  to  the  farm  of  Mr.  Holmes, 
and  by  subsequent  purchase  increased  it  to  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres.  He  is  the  oldest 
surviving  settler  at  this  end  of  Twelve- Mile 
Grove.  Among  the  people  of  this  locality  he 
bears  the  reputation  of  an  efficient  farmer  and  an 
honorable  man,  one  whose  aim  has  been  to  live 
uprightly  and  carry  out  in  his  actions  the  princi- 
ples of  the  golden  rule. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murdie  comprises 
six  living  children,  namely:  Robert  S.,  a  farmer 
of  Wilton  Township;  A.  Janet,  at  home;  Emma 
J.,  wife  of  Brooks  Broadrick,  of  Forsman,  Ind. ; 
Alfred  C;  James  G.  and  Walter  G. ,  at  home. 

For  twenty-five  years  or  more. Mr.  Murdie  has 
been  a  member  of  the  district  school  board. 
Among  his  other  offices  were  those  of  town  clerk, 
which  he  held  for  several  years;  assessor  of  Wil- 
ton Township,  which  he  held  for  a  year;  and  su- 
pervisor for  two  years.  At  this  writing  he  is 
president  of  the  Horse  Protective  Association,  an 
organization  that  has  proved  very  helpful  to  the 
farmers  here.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Man- 
hattan Co-operative  Creamery  Company.    While 


he  is  not  connected  with  any  denomination,  he 
attends  the  Baptist  Church  and  is  a  contributor 
to  its  support.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
Wilton  Lodge  No.  640,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he 
has  filled  all  of  the  chairs,  and  for  many  years 
was  its  treasurer.  In  political  views  he  is  a 
stanch  Republican. 


REV.  POLYCARP  RHODE  is  superior  of 
the  Franciscan  Fathers  and  pastor  of  St. 
John's  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Joliet, 
which  positions  he  has  held  since  January  12, 
1899.  The  church  of  which  he  is  the  head  was 
organized  in  1852  and  has  a  membership  of  about 
six  hundred  families,  being  next  to  the  oldest 
and  next  to  the  largest  church  of  the  denomina- 
tion in  the  city.  From  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion until  1876  the  church  was  under  the  super- 
vision of  secular  priests,  but  in  the  latter  year  it 
was  taken  in  charge  by  the  Franciscan  Fathers, 
who  have  since  been  responsible  for  its  success. 
To  the  congregation  belong:  a  very  large  stone 
church,  on  the  corner  of  North  Hickory  and  Di- 
vision streets;  a  commodious  stone  structure  used 
as  a  monastery;  St.  John's  school,  which  stands 
opposite  the  church  and  has  an  attendance  of  al- 
most five  hundred;  and  a  large  society  hall,  used 
for  meetings  of  church  and  school  organizations. 
In  the  church  are  the  various  organizations  for 
the  progress  of  the  work  and  the  uplifting  of  the 
members,  including  sodalities  for  young  ladies, 
for  boys  and  for  men,  also  a  ladies'  society,  St. 
John's  and  St.  Aloysius'  Society  for  men,  and 
the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  To  assist  the 
pastor  in  his  many  duties  and  great  responsibil- 
ities there  are  three  priests,  Fathers  Dominic, 
Angelus  and  Cyriac.  St.  Joseph's  hospital  on 
Broadway,  now  in  charge  of  the  Franciscan  Sis- 
ters, and  St.  Francis'  Academy,  which  is  also 
superintended  by  the  sisters  and  has  a  large  en- 
rollment of  girls,  are  also  pastorated  by  the 
Franciscan  Fathers. 

In  the  province  of  Saxony,  Prussia,  where  he 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


271 


was  born,  Father  Rhode  passed  the  first  four- 
teen years  of  his  life  on  a  farm.  He  then  en- 
tered the  Seminary  of  Heiligenstadt,  where  he 
completed  the  regular  studies,  with  the  exception 
of  the  courses  in  philosophy  and  theology.  Com- 
ing to  America  to  join  the  Franciscan  Fathers,  in 
1 88 1  he  became  professor  of  languages  in  the 
college  at  Teutopolis,  111.,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years,  meantime  studying  English.  In 
1883  he  entered  the  Franciscan  Order  at  Teutop- 
olis and  after  the  novitiate  period  had  been  passed 
engaged  in  the  study  of  philosophy  at  Quincy, 
later  studied  theology  in  St.  Louis.  He  was  or- 
dained in  the  latter  city  in  1890  by  Archbishop 
Kenrick.  His  first  pastorate  was  of  St.  Mary's 
Church,  at  Green  Creek,  Effingham  County, 
111. ,  where  he  remained  for  eighteen  months,  re- 
signing to  accept  a  position  as  professor  of  lan- 
guages in  Teutopolis  College.  Eighteen  months 
were  spent  in  college  work,  and  he  then  became 
guardian  and  pastor  of  St.  Francis'  Church  at 
Teutopolis.  He  remained  there  until  he  was 
transferred  to  Joliet  in  the  early  part  of  1899. 
He  is  very  devoted  to  his  church  and  his  order 
and  would  deem  no  personal  sacrifice  too  great 
if  by  it  they  might  be  benefited  and  their  pros- 
perity enhanced. 


r~ERDINAND  MUNCH,  who  is  engaged  in 
r3  the  coal  business  at  No.  502  Jefferson  street, 
I  f  Joliet,  is  one  of  the  leading  Masons  of  the 
city.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  Mount  Joliet 
Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  1882,  and  has 
since  been  identified  with  the  same  lodge,  of 
which  he  has  been  elected  worshipful  master 
each  year  since  1891,  and  is  the  present  incum- 
bent of  the  office.  For  the  same  period  he  has 
represented  the  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  of  the 
state.  Through  his  influence  and  under  his  lead- 
ership the  lodge  has  been  maintained  in  a  pros- 
perous condition,  with  a  large  and  active  mem- 
bership. 

Mr.  Munch  was  born  in  Joliet  Township,    this 
county,  April  3,  185 1,  a  son  of  Xavier  and  Mary 


Ann  (Pflager)  Munch,  natives  of  Alsace,  then  a 
part  of  France.  The  paternal  grandfather,  who 
brought  his  family  to  America,  went  to  California 
in  1849  with  a  son,  Sebastian,  and  a  son-in-law, 
making  the  trip  across  the  plains  with  an  ox- 
team.  On  the  journey  overland  Sebastian  was 
lost.  He  started  back  east  by  ship,  but  cholera 
broke  out  on  the  vessel  and  his  relatives  never 
heard  of  him  afterward.  Without  doubt  he  per- 
ished of  the  plague.  Xavier  Munch,  who  came 
to  this  county  about  1840,  worked  on  the  Illinois 
and  Michigan  canal  in  early  life.  During  the 
Mexican  war  he  enlisted  from  Illinois,  went  to 
the  front  and  served  until  peace  was  declared, 
when  he  returned  to  his  farm.  He  has  since 
made  agriculture  his  occupation,  and  owns  a 
well-improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  acres,  adjoining  Joliet,  which  is  the  old 
homestead  of  his  father.  Since  1890  he  has 
made  his  home  in  Joliet.  His  wife,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Martin  Pflager,  an  early  settler  of 
Joliet,  died  in  this  county  many  years  ago.  Both 
were  Catholics  from  childhood.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  still 
living. 

The  next  to  the  oldest  of  the  family  was  Fer- 
dinand. He  was  educated  in  a  district  school, 
the  Joliet  night  school  and  Professor  Russell's 
school.  September  27,  1872,  he  came  to  Joliet, 
and  for  two  years  was  employed  by  J.  Q.  A.  King 
in  the  coal  business.  When  Mr.  King  failed, 
Mr.  Munch  and  two  other  employes  bought  the 
business,  forming  the  firm  of  Frey  &  Co.,  and 
continuing  the  Jefferson  street  business  for  a  year. 
Mr.  Munch  then  sold  his  interest,  in  1875  pur- 
chased from  E.  L.  Shaffner  the  building  and 
yards  at  No.  502  Jefferson  street,  where  he  keeps 
all  kinds  of  hard  and  soft  coal.  The  yards  are 
connected  by  a  siding  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad.  To  this  business  he  is  devoting  his 
attention  with  energy  and  success.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Retail  Coal  Dealers'  Association 
of  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  and  takes  a  warm  in- 
terest in  everything  pertaining  to  the  coal  busi- 
ness.    Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Munch,  in  Joliet,  united 
him  with  Miss  Jennie  Hurley,  who  was  born  in 


272 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


England.  Her  father,  William  Hurley,  settled 
in  Minooka,  Grundy  County,  111.,  where  he  was 
employed  by  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road Company.  Later  he  removed  to  Ottawa, 
but  is  now  residing  in  Moliue,  this  state,  and  is 
still  connected  with  the  Rock  Island  road.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Munch  are  the  parents  of  three  sons: 
Louis  Irving,  who  died  in  August,  1896,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years;  Fred  Elmer,  a  high  school 
graduate  in  1899;  and  Archie  Hiram,  a  member 
of  the  high  school  class  of  1902. 


EHARLES  G.  TENGDIN,  chief  engineer  at 
the  Illinois  state  penitentiary,  is  a  man  of 
remarkable  inventive  and  mechanical  ability, 
and  hence  is  admirably  qualified  for  his  position, 
which  he  has  filled  since  1897.  At  the  close  of 
his  first  year  in  the  institution  his  work  was  re- 
viewed and  inspected  by  a  state  expert,  who 
rendered  a  most  favorable  report  and  pronounced 
every  improvement  he  had  made  to  be  a  move  in 
the  right  direction.  As  chief  engineer  he  super- 
intends the  work  of  eighty-five  men,  and  has  en- 
tire charge  of  the  mechanical  and  architectural 
department  of  the  whole  plant,  which  includes  a 
combined  engine  power  corresponding  to  six 
hundred  horse-power.  He  invented  and  is  now 
applying  for  a  patent  on  a  steam  trap  that 
economizes  the  condensation  from  steam-heating 
plants;  and  other  valuable  improvements  are  the 
result  of  his  inventive  genius. 

In  Linkoping,  Ostergotland,  Sweden,  Mr. 
Tengdin  was  born  October  14,  1862,  the  young- 
est of  nine  children,  of  whom  he  alone  survives. 
His  father,  Andrew,  a  shoemaker  and  an  expert 
in  the  manufacture  of  shoe  lasts,  died  in  Oster- 
gotland at  sixty  years  of  age;  afterward  the 
mother,  Mary,  joined  our  subject  in  Joliet,  where 
she  died  in  1897,  aged  seventy-five  years.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  When 
our  subject  was  three  years  of  age  his  father  died, 
and  when  he  was  twelve  he  began  to  support 
himself  by  working  in  a  store.      A  year  later  he 


started  to  learn  the  harness-maker's  trade,  but 
three  months  at  the  work  convinced  him  it  would 
never  be  congenial,  so  he  returned  to  the  store. 
When  fifteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  machin- 
ist's trade,  which  he  followed  for  five  years,  being 
paid  an  amount  equal  to  fourteen  cents  for  twelve 
hours'  work.  On  the  completion  of  his  time  his 
wages  were  advanced  to  four  times  the  original 
sum,  and  he  continued  in  the  same  shop  until  he 
left  for  America,  being  paid  at  the  last  seventy- 
two  cents  a  day. 

During  the  spring  of  1882  Mr.  Tengdin  landed 
in  New  York,  whence  he  came  to  Joliet.  At 
first  work  was  scarce.  In  1883  he  hired  to  James 
Bruce  as  a  blacksmith  and  tool-sharpener  in  the 
quarries.  Afterward  for  two  years  he  worked  in 
the  employ  of  I.  D.  Stevens  as  foreman,  and 
through  his  employer's  recommendation  he  was 
then  given  work  as  a  machinist  with  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company,  remaining  from  1886  to  1888, 
Next,  for  a  year,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  electrical  sign  cloth  on  Jefferson  street,  in  the 
River  block.  On  leaving  the  factory  he  entered 
the  wire  mill  of  Lambert  &  Bishop  as  a  machin- 
ist. There  mouths  later  he  accepted  a  position 
as  tool-maker  for  the  bicycle  works  in  Joliet, 
where  he  remained  for  six  months.  For  the  two 
following  years  he  had  charge  of  the  machine 
shop  of  the  Joliet  Reed  &  Rattan  works,  and 
when  that  plant  was  sold  he  patented  a  wood- 
working tool  for  the  manufacture  of  head  and 
base  blocks  for  doors;  but  after  manufacturing 
the  invention  for  a  few  months  hard  times  came 
on  and  he  was  forced  to  seek  other  work.  After 
a  short  time  with  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern 
Railroad  as  machinist  and  repairer  of  engines  he 
returned  to  the  steel  mill,  and  later  was  a  machin- 
ist with  Lambert  &  Bishop.  In  1897  ^e  received 
appointment  to  the  position  which  he  has  since 
so  efficiently  filled. 

At  No.  1012  Ohio  street,  Joliet,  Mr.  Tengdin 
built  the  residence  he  now  occupies.  He  married 
Miss  Anna  Sophia  Johnson,  who  was  born  in 
Orebro,  Narke,  Sweden;  and  by  their  marriage 
the  following-named  children  were  born:  Viola, 
Carl,  Oscar,  Florence,  Hjalmer  and  Myrtle.  Mr. 
Tengdin  is  a  director  in  the   People's  Loan  and 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


273 


Homestead  Association.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Fraternal  Alliance  and  Mount  Joliet  Lodge 
No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  he  has  served  on  the  board  of 
trustees,  and  was  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee of  the  Swedish  Orphans'  Home.  In  poli- 
tics a  Republican,  he  is  connected  with  the 
Swedish-American  League  of  Republican  Clubs 
and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Swedish  Repub- 
lican Club. 


Gl  LBERT  OCHSNER,  chief  engineer  of  the 
LA  Fred  Sehring  Brewing  Company  and  agent 
I  I  for  the  Joliet  Pure  Ice  Company,  was  born 
in  Knonau,  Bezirk,  Affoltern,  Canton  Zurich, 
Switzerland,  August  5,  1861,  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabetha  (Hauenstein)  Ochsner.  The  family 
of  which  he  is  a  member  took  part  in  the  early 
Swiss  wars  and  dates  back  to  the  nobility  of  that 
country.  His  father,  a  son  of  Jacob  Ochsner, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  Riiti,  Canton  Zurich,  in  1829, 
and  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm.  Throughout 
his  active  life  he  was  engaged  in  the  silk  busi- 
ness, but  is  now  living  retired  from  the  cares 
and  anxieties  of  trade,  upon  a  large  estate  in  his 
native  canton.  His  wife  died  when  thirty-seven 
years  of  age,  leaving  two  daughters  and  four 
sons,  all  of  whom  remain  in  Switzerland  except 
Henry  and  Albert,  both  of  Joliet. 

In  December,  1879,  Albert  Ochsner  set  sail 
from  Havre  for  New  York,  and  on  reaching  this 
country  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  arrived 
in  January,  1880.  In  that  city  he  was  employed 
in  a  cheese  commission  house.  Later  he  was 
with  a  fire  brick  company  at  Cheltenham.  Going 
to  Chicago  in  1882  he  was  employed  as  burner 
with  the  Northwestern  Terra  Cotta  Company  for 
two  years.  Accepting  a  position  next  with  the 
Michael  Brand  Brewing  Company  he  was  first 
fireman,  then  assistant  engineer  and  finally  night 
engineer.  Afterward  he  was  assistant  engineer 
for  Bartholomew  &  Lights,  then  was  foreman  in 
the  manufacture  of  ice  machinery  for  James 
Salem,    and    while   in    that  position    put   in  ice 


plants  at  Green  Bay,  Sturgeon  Bay  and  Oshkosh, 
Wis.,  and  the  Union  stockyards  at  Chicago. 
Later  he  held  a  position  as  night  engineer  with 
a  brewing  companj7  in  Chicago. 

Since  1891  Mr.  Ochsner  has  been  chief  en- 
gineer for  the  Fred  Sehring  Brewing  Company 
of  Joliet.  In  this  capacity  he  has  proved  him- 
self equal  to  every  responsibility  and  has  won  the 
confidence  of  the  members  of  the  company.  He 
has  aided  in  putting  in  improvements,  including 
one  Bates  engine,  by  means  of  which  the  brew- 
ing capacity  has  been  increased.  A  bottling  de- 
partment has  also  been  established  and  an  addi- 
tion built.  The  combined  plant  now  has  six 
engines  (with  almost  five  hundred  horse-power), 
two  ice  engines  and  fourteen  pumps.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  work  as  engineer  he  has  built  up  a 
business  in  coal  and  wood,  representing  the  Joliet 
Pure  Ice  Company.  In  1898  he  built  Ochsner's 
hall,  on  the  corner  of  Nicholson  and  Douglass 
streets,  a  building  of  three  stories,  40x65,  with  a 
private  hall  and  club  room.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  the  White  Cross  Fraternity  and  the 
Engineers'  Association,  and  in  politics  is  a  Re- 
publican. Through  his  efforts  the  Alpine  Swiss 
Society  was  organized  and  he  is  now  its  president 
and  leading  member. 

In  Chicago  Mr.  Ochsner  married  Miss  Emilie 
Jordan,  who  was  born  in  that  city.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the 
oldest  daughter,  Emma,  when  ten  years  of  age, 
was  accidentally  killed  by  coming  in  contact 
with  a  guy  wire  from  a  live  wire.  The  other 
children  are,  William,  Albert,  Clara,  Lizzie, 
George  and  infant  son. 


GlLEXANDRE  DARAS,  one  of  the  enter- 
Ll  prising  business  men  of  Joliet,  was  born  in 
/  1  France  June  9,  1863,  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Eugenia  Daras,  and  one  of  three  children.  His 
father,  who  was  born  near  Paris  in  1834,  was  an 
expert  worker  in  a  plate  glass  factory  in  the  town 


274 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  St.  Jobin,  and  continued  there  until  his  death, 
in  1S71,  at  thirty-six  years  of  age.  The  lady 
whom  he  married  was  born  in  Paris  in  1840,  and 
in  girlhood  learned  the  dressmaker's  trade.  Dur- 
ing the  French  revolution  she  had  a  position  as 
forelady  in  a  large  factory  for  the  manufacturing 
of  clothing  for  charity,  the  factory  being  sup- 
ported by  a  brother  of  the  Czar  of  Russia  (the 
Czarovitch  Dermadorf),  and  in  it  were  manufac- 
tured hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of 
clothing,  the  dispensing  of  which  was  in  charge 
of  Mrs.  Daras.  Her  husband  was  an  active 
spirit  in  the  revolution  of  1871,  and  served  as  an 
officer  until  he  was  killed  in  action.  She  sur- 
vived him  only  three  years.  At  the  time  of  her 
death  her  son,  Alexandre,  wTas  onlj-  eleven  years 
of  age.  He  was  bound  out  by  friends  to  learn 
the  jeweler's  trade.  After  an  apprenticeship  of 
four  years  he  became  proficient  at  the  trade. 
For  his  skill  he  was  awarded  a  bronze  medal  in 
an  annual  exposition,  in  which  graduated  ap- 
prentices were  allowed  to  compete  with  a  sample 
of  their  work.  Later  he  secured  a  position  as 
valet  to  Comte  de  Brigot,  with  whom  he  traveled 
all  over  Europe;  but  after  eighteen  months  he  re- 
signed the  position  and  went  to  London,  where 
he  was  employed  as  valet  to  a  nobleman.  On 
his  return  to  Paris  he  secured  a  responsible  po- 
sition in  the  government  theatre.  While  there 
he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  many  persons 
prominent  throughout  the  nation  and  the  world, 
including  Prince  de  Medoff,  Baron  Hausman,  the 


Prince  of  Orange,  Alexandre  Dumas,  pere,  and 
Horteuse,  the  second  wife  of  Napoleon  III,  from 
whom  he  received  a  personal  letter,  enclosing  a 
picture  of  herself. 

After  resigning  his  position  in  the  theatre  Mr. 
Daras  went  to  Mouaca,  thence  to  Italy,  returning 
to  Bordeaux,  France,  next  going  to  London, 
and  afterward  returning  to  Paris.  He  then  de- 
termined to  come  to  America,  a  plan  which  he  at 
once  put  into  execution.  On  his  arrival  in  New 
York  his  trunk  was  stolen  from  him,  and  he  thus 
lost,  not  only  his  belongings,  but  his  Parisian 
references.  In  spite  of  this  misfortune  he  was 
successful  in  securing  a  position  with  Mr.  Fren- 
denthal,  a  wealthy  gentleman,  who  owned  a 
summer  Jiome  at  King's  Bridge,  N.  Y.  There 
he  remained  for  a  year.  He  was  then  united  in 
marriage  with  Lena  Christian,  who  was  born  in 
Switzerland  in  1862,  and  came  to  America  in 
1881.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Christian, 
who  was  a  large  landed  proprietor  and  held  a  po- 
sition as  foreman  in  a  dyeing  establishment  in 
Berne.  In  the  spring  of  1883  Mr.  Daras  came 
to  Chicago  and  thence  to  Joliet,  where  he  learned 
the  painter's  trade  with  Frank  Hebert,  and  re- 
mained with  the  same  employer  for  fourteen 
years.  He  then  opened  a  paint  and  wall-paper 
store  at  No.  122  Jefferson  street,  where  he  has 
since  built  up  a  large  business.  He  and  his  wife 
are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Henry  A.,  at 
home;  Louise,  deceased;  and  Joseph  A.,  at 
home. 


OF 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


^y  . .  &  .Qjd^L^yy 


NT- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


277 


JOSEPH  C.  SCROGGS. 


(JOSEPH  C.  SCROGGS,  who  is  recognized  as 
I  a  well-posted  fire  insurance  man,  is  now  in- 
Q)  spector  for  the  Illinois  Valley  Inspection 
Bureau,  with  headquarters  in  Joliet.  He  re- 
ceived his  appointment  from  the  Western  Insur- 
ance Union  July  1,  1S90,  and  still  remains  in 
charge. 

Mr.  Scroggs,  who  is  of  Scotch- Irish  ancestry, 
was  born  and  educated  in  western  Pennsylvania 
and  removed  to  Rock  Island,  111.,  in  185 1.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  continuously  since 
that  date — in  Rock  Island,  Macomb,  Galesburg, 
Quincy,  Chicago  and  Joliet.  He  has  been  con- 
nected with  fire  insurance  interests  continuously 
except  for  two  years  (1861-62),  when  he  was  in 
the  army.  He  was  for  some  ten  years  engaged 
in  the  local  fire  insurance  business  at  Galesburg 
and  Quincy;  was  for  some  time  special  agent  in 
Illinois  for  the  ^Etna  Insurance  Company;  was 
afterward  special  agent  for  the  Fireman's  Fund 
Insurance  Company  of  California,  and  also  for 
the  Germania  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  New 
York,  in  their  western  departments. 

Mr.  Scroggs  lost  his  wife  in  1872  and  has  re- 
mained single  since  that  date.  He  has  a  son  and 
a  daughter.  His  son,  C.  L.  Scroggs,  of  Chicago, 
is  connected  with  the  Whitebreast  Fuel  Com- 
pany, and  is  also  secretary  of  the  Coal  Operators' 
Association  of  Illinois.  Hisdaughter,  Nellie  M. 
Wilson,  with  her  husband,  resides  in  Mt.  Ver- 
non, 111. 


(DQlLLIAM    CONNOR.      In    the    subject    of 

\  A/   ^is  article  Braidwood  has  one  of  its  most 

V  V    prosperous  and  successful  men.     The  fact 

that  he  commenced  life  with  little  money  speaks 


well  for  his  subsequent  course  of  perseverance, 
industry  and  good  management.  It  is  always  a 
pleasure  to  record  the  success  of  a  man  who, 
beginning  with  but  small  means,  has  received  a 
substantial  position  as  the  owner  of  a  good  busi- 
ness, from  which  he  derives  an  assured  income. 
Mr.  Connor  is  an  excellent  manager,  as  all  who 
know  him  can  testify.  In  addition  to  being  the 
owner  of  a  large  meat  market  in  Braidwood,  he 
has  accumulated  more  than  one  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  Will  and  Kankakee  Counties  and  in  Iowa. 
Mr.  Connor  was  born  in  County  Roscommon, 
Ireland,  April  11,  1838,  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Bridget  (Waldron)  Connor,  natives  of  the  same 
county  as  himself.  Of  the  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, two  are  living,  Thomas  and  William,  both 
of  this  county.  The  father,  who  was  born  about 
1785,  was  twice  married  and  by  his  first  wife  had 
one  child,  now  deceased.  Afterward  he  married 
Miss  Waldron,  who  was  born  in  1805.  Some 
three  years  after  his  death  his  widow,  in  1845, 
became  the  wife  of  Patrick  Carroll,  a  farmer.  In 
1847  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carroll  brought  their  family 
to  America,  settling  in  Grafton  County,  N.  H. 
A  short  time  later  they  removed  to  Norwich,  Vt., 
but  soon  came  west  to  Illinois,  arriving  in  Joliet 
October  1,  1848.  Mr.  Carroll  had  a  sister,  four 
brothers  and  their  father  who  accompanied  him 
to  the  United  States  and  to  Joliet.  They  re- 
mained in  the  city  only  one  month,  and  then 
went  to  Wilmington  Township,  settling  eleven 
and  one- half  miles  south  of  Wilmington  and  buy- 
ing government  land.  Besides  improving  their 
land,  they  engaged  to  work  on  the  dam  across  the 
Kankakee  River.  In  May,  1849,  they  removed 
to  Kankakee,  and  there  Mr.  Carroll  died  in  1851. 
The  mother  removed  with  the  family  in  1853  to 


278 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Reed  Township  and  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 4,  where  she  remained  until  her  death  in  1885. 

In  their  various  removals  our  subject  accom- 
panied his  mother  and  stepfather.  He  received 
a  common  school  education  and  grew  up  familiar 
with  farm  work.  In  1869  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Callahan,  who  was  born  in  Joliet,  her  parents, 
Bernhard  and  Ann  Callahan,  having  come  here 
from  Ireland  in  early  days.  Her  father  engaged 
in  farming  in  Joliet  Township  for  some  years,  but 
finally  removed  to  Kankakee  Township.  After 
his  marriage  our  subject  remained  for  three  years 
on  the  home  farm,  after  which  he  removed  to 
Braidwood  and  gave  his  attention  to  the  meat 
business  established  by  himself  and  brother  the 
year  previous.  He  has  since  made  his  home 
in  Braidwood,  with  the  exception  of  eighteen 
months  spent  on  a  farm  at  Reddick,  Kankakee 
County,  in  the  early  '80s.  On  his  return  to 
Braidwood  he  again  engaged  in  the  meat  busi- 
ness, which  he  continues  to  the  present.  He  has 
been  very  successful  in  his  ventures,  and  is  rated 
among  the  most  prosperous  men  of  the  city.  He 
has  been  closely  associated  with  the  upbuilding 
of  Braidwood  and  has  been  a  factor  in  its  progress. 

In  political  belief  Mr.  Connor  is  a  Democrat. 
In  1870,  187 1  and  1874  he  held  the  office  of  super- 
visor of  Reed  Township.  He  has  always  been  in- 
terested in  educational  matters  and  taught  school 
for  four  winters  prior  to  his  marriage.  Later,  for 
many  years,  he  served  as  school  director  in  his 
district,  also  as  trustee  and  treasurer.  In  relig- 
ious belief  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic.  He  and  his 
wife  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  and  the 
three  sons,  Thomas,  William  and  Bernard,  assist 
their  father  in  the  meat  business.  The  daughter, 
Mary,  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Mary's  Academy  in 
Joliet. 


HON.  JOHN  O'CONNELL,  of  Joliet,  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  state  legislature  in  188 1- 
82,  is  owner  of  a  coal  and  wood  yard,  with 
office  at  No.  418  Washington  street,  and  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Joliet  Coal  Exchange. 


A  leading  Democrat,  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  city  central  committee  and  is  now  connected 
with  the  county  committee.  For  three  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Joliet  board  of  education. 
Fraternally  he  is  past  master  workman  of  Stone 
City  Lodge  No.  26,  A.  O.  U.  W. ;  ex-president 
and  ex-financial  secretary  of  Division  No.  2, 
A.  O.  H.,  and  for  several  years  served  as  state 
secretary  of  the  order  in  Illinois.  Under  Mayor 
Haley  he  was  appointed  city  weigher,  which 
office  he  still  holds,  having  been  re-appointed  by 
Mayor  Mount. 

A  descendant  of  Daniel  O'Connell,  the  great 
statesman,  our  subject  represents  the  seventh 
generation  that  was  born  in  the  same  vicinity,  in 
County  Cork,  Ireland.  His  father,  Michael,  a 
son  of  William  O'Connell,  a  magistrate,  was  a 
farmer  in  that  county  and  for  a  long'time  served 
as  supervisor  of  his  town.  He  died  when  eighty- 
seven  years  of  age.  He  married  Ellen  McCarthy, 
daughter  of  Charles  McCarthy,  who  was  owner 
of  a  farm  and  a  country  inn  in  County  Cork,  and 
whose  son  is  now  landlord  of  the  old  hotel.  Mrs. 
O'Connell  died  in  Ireland  when  her  children 
were  small.  Of  the  family,  comprising  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  the  sons  still  survive,  one, 
William,  being  a  resident  of  the  old  home  place. 
John,  who  was  born  January  24,  1836,  was  reared 
on  the  homestead  and  attended  schools  conducted 
under  the  old  system,  where  the  itinerant  school- 
master boarded  around  among  the  people  of  the 
neighborhood.  Later  he  attended  St.  Coleman's 
College,  where  he  studied  under  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Croke,  now  bishop  of  Limerick.  Soon  after 
his  graduation,  in  1859,  he  came  to  America, 
taking  passage  at  Queenstown  on  the  sailer  "City 
of  Washington,"  Captain  Hall,  and  landing  in 
New  York  after  a  voyage  of  three  weeks.  On 
the  very  next  trip  the  steamer  was  wrecked  and 
lost. 

After  a  short  stay  in  New  York  Mr.  O'Connell 
drifted  to  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  the  south. 
During  the  war  he  took  out  his  first  papers  of 
naturalization  and  afterward  entered  the  Union 
army  at  Staten  Island,  but  the  war  ended  before 
he  had  been  sent  to  the  front.  The  year  1866 
found  him  in  Chicago,  employed  in  a  north   side 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


279 


rolling  mill.  In  1868  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
in  1 87 1  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  became  one  of 
the  first  employes  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company 
in  the  old  rail  mill,  continuing  there  until  the 
mill  was  shut  down  in  1873.  As  times  were  then 
very  hard  and  the  country  suffering  from  a 
financial  depression,  he  found  it  almost  impos- 
sible to  get  work,  although  for  nine  months,  in 
different  states,  he  endeavored  to  secure  employ- 
ment. Finally  he  was  taken  into  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  Company,  where 
he  remained  until  the  mills  resumed  work.  In 
1881  he  was  elected  to  the  thirty-third  general 
assembly  on  the  Democratic,  labor  and  greenback 
tickets,  receiving  the  largest  vote  of  any  candi- 
date ever  recorded  in  Will  County.  In  the  lower 
house  he  served  on  five  committees,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  charitable  and  penal  institutions 
committee  assisted  in  securing  an  appropriation 
of  about  $170,000  for  the  state  penitentiary.  He 
was  also  helpful  in  securing  mining  legislation. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  was  not  a  candi- 
date for  re-election,  but  bought  out  a  coal  busi- 
ness, to  which  he  has  since  given  his  attention. 
He  and  his  wife,  who  was  Mary  Jennings,  a  na- 
tive of  England,  are  members  of  St.  Mary's 
Catholic  Church  and  regular  attendants  at  its 
services  and  contributors  to  its  support. 


0IMON  HAUSSER,  deceased,  was  born  in 
/\  Rheinpfalz,  Wachenheim,  Germany,  April 
\~J  13,  1819,  a  son  of  George  and  Eva  (Nied- 
hammer)  Hausser,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in 
Joliet  at  sixty-eight  years,  and  the  former,  a  con- 
tracting stonemason  and  builder,  died  in  Rhein- 
pfalz. He  was  next  to  the  oldest  of  a  family  of 
eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  seven  of  whom 
emigrated  to  the  United  States.  After  having 
learned  the  trade  of  a  mason  in  his  native  place, 
he  came  to  America  in  1847  and  spent  two  years 
at  Port  Jervis,  N.  Y.,  also  a  short  time  in  Lyons, 
that  state,  and  Batavia  and  Aurora,  111.  August 
19,  1849,  he  arrived  in  Joliet,  where  he   secured 


employment  at  his  trade.  In  a  short  time  he 
went  to  New  Orleans,  but  soon  returned  to  Joliet 
and  began  contracting.  In  the  years  that  fol- 
lowed he  was  given  many  important  contracts, 
all  of  which  he  filled  in  a  satisfactory  and  pains- 
taking manner.  He  built  the  county  jail,  the 
roundhouse  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad, 
St.  Joseph's  hospital,  St.  Francis'  convent,  Jef- 
ferson street  bridge  (which  was  a  fine  job  for  its 
day),  St.  John's  Church  and  parochial  residence, 
and  various  business  blocks  and  residences  in  the 
city.  With  his  brother,  Jacob,  he  opened  a 
quarry  on  North  Broadway,  and  this  they  oper- 
ated until  it  was  worked  out.  During  the  last 
years  of  his  life  he  was,  to  some  extent,  retired, 
although  he  continued  to  superintend  jobs  and 
take  contracts,  and  in  these  he  exhibited  the  same 
energy  and  ability  noticeable  in  his  younger 
days. 

On  the  Democratic  ticket  Mr.  Hausser  was 
several  times  elected  alderman  from  the  third 
ward  during  the  earlier  period  of  his  residence  in 
Joliet.  A  man  of  sincere  Christian  belief,  he  was 
a  devoted  Roman  Catholic,  and,  to  the  close  of 
his  life,  maintained  the  deepest  interest  in  re- 
ligious work.  He  aided  in  organizing  St.  John's 
Catholic  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee  for 
many  years  and  to  which  his  family  still  belong. 
In  the  faith  of  this  church  he  passed  into  eter- 
nity, September  22,  1897. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hausser  took  place  in 
Chicago  November  22,  1853,  a"d  united  him  with 
Miss  Frances  Horn,  a  daughter  August  and  Bal- 
bina  (Bundschu)  Horn,  natives  of  Neukirchen, 
Bavaria,  where  she  was  born.  She  was  one  of  a 
family  of  four  girls  and  two  boys,  of  whom  all 
but  one  boy  attained  maturity,  Mary,  Balbina 
and  Gertrude  being  still  in  Germany,  while 
Charles  is  in  New  York.  Mrs.  Hausser  was  born 
October  23,  1832,  and  in  1851  cameto  the  United 
States,  spending  one  year  in  Lebanon,  Pa.,  and 
in  1852  settling  in  Joliet.  She  resides  at  No. 
702  North  Broadway,  in  the  comfortable  resi- 
dence built  by  Mr.  Hausser  in  1872.  Their 
family  consists  of  ten  children,  namely:  Mary, 
widow  of  Henry  Hagen,  of  Joliet;  Mrs.  Theresa 
Steiuer;  George,  who  is  engaged  in  the  restaurant 


2SO 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


business;  Auna,  who  resides  with  her  mother; 
Charles,  who  graduated  from  St.  Joseph's  College 
iu  Teutopolis,  111.,  and  from  St.  Meinrad's  (Ind.) 
College,  and  is  now  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  of  the 
Woods,  Princeville,  111. ;  Joseph,  who  graduated 
from  St.  Joseph's  College  in  Teutopolis  and  from 
St.  Francis'  College  in  Milwaukee,  and  was  after- 
ward pastor  of  Holy  Trinity  Church  in  Chicago 
until  his  death  in  1895;  Carrie  and  Olive,  at 
home;  Simon,  a  graduate  of  St.  Francis'  C*ollege, 
and  now  a  traveling  salesman,  with  headquarters 
in  Milwaukee;  and  Henry,  who  graduated  from 
St.  Francis'  College  in  1898  and  is  now  assistant 
pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church  in  Joliet. 


Gl  UGUST  ERIKSSON.  There  is  probably  no 
LA  citizen  of  Joliet  who  has  done  more  to  pro- 
/  I  mote  the  prosperity  of  his  countrymen  in 
this  city  than  has  Mr.  Eriksson.  The  city,  too, 
has  felt  the  impetus  of  his  energy  and  individu- 
ality. As  a  contractor,  he  has  built  some  of  the 
largest  business  blocks  here.  His  success  has 
been  iu  many  respects  remarkable  and  proves 
him  to  be  a  man  of  superior  ability  and  wise  judg- 
ment. With  the  exception  of  $2,000  inherited,  he 
has  accumulated,  unaided,  all  his  possessions. 
Nor  has  he  been  successful  alone  in  a  financial 
sense,  but  in  the  larger  meaning  of  the  word,  he 
has  been  successful  in  winning  the  confidence  of 
his  fellow-men  and  in  gaining  a  reputation  for 
honor  and  probit}-. 

The  family  of  which  Mr.  Eriksson  is  a  member 
was  for  man}-  generatious  identified  with  the  his- 
tory of  that  part  of  Sweden  lying  near  Gotten- 
burg.  His  father,  Erik  Brugelson  (born  in  1823) 
and  his  grandfather,  Brugel  Peterson,  owned  suc- 
cessively the  family  estate,  "Hokhult,"  a  fine 
farm  of  almost  five  hundred  acres,  five  Swedish 
miles  from  Gottenburg.  In  addition  to  superin- 
tending that  place,  the  father  also  followed  the 
stone  mason  and  carpenter's  trade,  and  did  con- 
siderable building  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
home.     He  also  possessed  considerable  legal  in- 


formation and  was  versed  in  the  intricacies  of  com- 
mon law.  For  a  time  he  filled  a  position  similar 
to  what  in  this  country  is  township  supervisor. 
In  religion  he  was  of  the  Lutheran  belief.  He 
died  at  forty-two  years  of  age,  when  his  son, 
August,  was  ten  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  in  1822,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Maria 
Christine  and  grew  to  womanhood  on  the  family 
estate,  '  'Sjogared, ' '  a  fine  old  property.  She  died 
in  Sweden  at  sixty-four  years  of  age.  Of  her 
five  children  all  but  one  attained  maturity,  but 
August  alone  survives,  Anna  C,  Johan  F.  and 
Anton  having  died  in  Sweden. 

On  the  old  homestead  where  he  was  born  Jan- 
uary 7,  1854,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  passed 
the  first  twenty-one  years  of  life.  Being  the 
oldest  son,  he  was  early  made  responsible  for  the 
management  of  the  farm.  After  having  served 
for  a  short  time  in  the  arm}',  in  1876  he  came  to 
the  United  States.  For  two  and  one-half  years 
he  remained  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he 
worked  with  the  stone  cutters  in  the  building  of 
the  state  capitol.  October  7,  1878,  he  entered 
Augustana  College  in  Rock  Island,  111.,  where 
he  remaiued  until  May  22,  1879.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Sweden,  where  he  was  employed  for 
almost  two  years,  again  coming  to  America  April 
3,  1881,  and  settling  in  Joliet,  111.  Here  he 
bought  a  hammer  and  trowel  and  began  to  work 
at  the  mason's  trade,  his  first  employment  being 
in  the  construction  of  the  high  school  building. 
He  then  built  a  foundation  for  a  paper  mill. 
July  5,  of  the  same  year,  he  began  working  as  a 
mason  for  what  was  then  the  Joliet  Steel  Com- 
pany, but  after  one  day  was  obliged  to  quit,  as 
the  union  men  refused  to  allow  him  to  work,  he 
being  a  non-union  man.  For  this  reason  he  was 
forced  into  contracting.  He  took  a  contract  for 
the  foundation  of  John  Hallock's  residence  on 
Third  avenue  and  Sherman  street.  In  the  spring 
of  1882  he  built  the  Munroe  block  for  George  H. 
Munroe  and  the  foundation  for  the  wire  mill  owned 
by  the  then  firm  of  Lambert  &  Bishop  (now  the 
American  Steel  and  Wire  Company).  In  1883 
he  built  the  Catholic  school  at  Lemont,  and  had 
other  smaller  contracts.  The  next  year  he  built 
the  Barrett  block,  and  in  1S85  had  the  contract 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


281 


for  the  Woodland  school,  a  fine  building.  In 
1887  he  erected  the  Masonic  Temple.  Later  he 
had  the  contracts  for  the  library  and  office  of  the 
Illinois  Steel  Company,  the  Fox  steel  plant  of 
the  same  company,  the  German  Lutheran  Church 
at  Lemont,  the  Universalist  block  on  Clinton 
and  Chicago  streets,  and  the  Presbyterian  chapel 
on  Jackson  street.  In  1S93  he  built  the  Silver 
Cross  hospital,  and  in  1894  erected  the  Grover 
street  school,  Bush  block  (corner  of  Van  Buren 
and  Joliet  streets)  and  completed  the  third  ward 
school  and  the  Stephen  carriage  repository  on 
Cass  street. 

Meantime  Mr.  Eriksson  also  became  interested 
in  quarrying.  In  the  fall  of  1S81  he  started  a 
quarry  at  the  foot  of  Grover  street,  which  he  op- 
erated for  a  year.  In  the  fall  of  1883  he  bought 
four  acres  of  ground  at  the  foot  of  Bowen  avenue 
and  opened  a  quarry  which  he  operated  until  it 
worked  out  ten  years  later.  Next  he  rented  from 
M.  Lehman  a  quarry,  and  for  the  privilege  of 
taking  out  the  stone  paid  $4,300  per  acre,  or  ten 
cents  a  square  foot.  In  1897  he  bought  sixteen 
acres  which  he  proceeded  to  open  and  operate, 
putting  in  a  sixteen-hundred  foot  siding  from 
the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad,  and  is  now 
planning  to  put  in  additional  derricks,  saws,  etc. 
The  stone  shipped  from  his  quarry  is  the  finest 
in  the  state  for  cutting  and  sawing  purposes,  and 
lies  in  a  block  thirty  feet  deep,  at  the  foot  of  Lo- 
gan avenue.  In  1S98  he  built  his  residence  and 
moved  to  this  place,  where  he  has  other  buildings 
suited  to  his  needs.  In  the  fall  of  1898  he  bought 
what  is  known  as  the  Grinton  and  Voss  quarries 
on  South  Chicago  street,  comprising  thirteen 
acres  of  quarry,  with  siding  and  derricks,  and 
this  he  also  operates. 

The  lady  who  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Eriksson, 
December  6,  1881,  was  Anna  Christine  Anderson, 
who  was  born  in  Sweden  and  died  there  May  24, 
1898,  leaving  six  children,  Frank  Arthur,  David 
Alfred,  Carl  Antonus,  Esther  Sedalia,  Laef  Emil 
and  Grant  Herman. 

Mr.  Eriksson  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  in  the  building  up  of 
which  he  has  materially  assisted.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Swedish  Republican  Club, 


of  which  he  served  as  vice-president  for  some 
time.  He  has  frequently  made  trips,  for  business 
and  pleasure,  to  the  old  country,  his  second  trip 
being  in  the  winter  of  18S2-83.  In  1885  he  re- 
turned with  his  family  to  spend  Christmas  in  the 
old  home,  and  in  1896-97  he  again  crossed  the 
ocean  to  the  fatherland.  After  his  return  from 
this  trip,  his  wife  being  in  poor  health  went  to 
Sweden  in  the  hope  that  the  change  might  be 
beneficial,  but  she  grew  constantly  worse  and 
died  there  in  1898. 


'HOMAS  H.  PATTERSON  has  made  his 
home  in  this  county  since  March  of  1865. 
For  a  few  years  he  cultivated  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  which  he  had  purchased  in  Joliet 
Township  near  the  city  of  the  same  name;  but  in 
187 1  he  closed  out  his  farm  interests  and  em- 
barked in  the  lime  business.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  kilns  on  South  and  North  Bluff  streets, 
which  have  a  capacity  of  six  hundred  bushels  a 
day.  The  manufactured  product  is  of  a  fine 
quality  and  commands  therefore  a  good  price. 
The  stone  from  which  it  is  made  is  of  a  quality 
especially  suited  for  the  manufacture  of  lime.  In 
addition  to  his  large  local  trade  he  has  built  up 
an  important  shipping  trade  to  adjoining  cities. 
Besides  the  sale  of  lime,  he  does  a  good  business 
in  fire  brick,  coal  and  wood. 

Mr.  Patterson's  father,  James,  was  of  Scotch 
parentage,  descending  from  an  old  family  of  Scot- 
land. He  engaged  in  farming  in  Ireland,  and 
died  at  eighty-two  years.  By  his  marriage  to 
Jane  Howard,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  he  had  five  sons,  three  of  whom  set- 
tled in  Joliet.  Of  these  James  G.  is  now  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  fruit  and  vegetable  business  in 
this  city;  and  David  died  here.  Thomas  H.,  who 
was  the  oldest  of  the  three,  was  born  in  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  July  5,  1829.  When  seventeen 
years  of  age  he  entered  the  Agricultural  College 
in  Tyrone,  where  he  took  a  thorough  course  of 
study.     In  the  spring  of  1851  he  left  college  and 


2S2 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


came  to  America,  crossing  the  Atlantic  from  Liv- 
erpool to  New  York  on  the  sailer  "North  At- 
lantic," and  spent  four  weeks  on  the  voyage. 
His  first  location  was  Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  superintended  a  large  farm  until  he  resigned 
his  position  in  order  to  settle  in  Illinois. 

During  his  residence  in  Ireland  Mr.  Patterson 
married  Miss  Margaret  Harris,  who  was  born  in 
that  country,  of  Scotch  descent.  Eight  children 
wTere  born  of  their  union,  namely:  Matilda  A.; 
James  \V.;  Andrew  Sherman,  who  manages  the 
lime  business;  Thomas  Howard,  who  was  in 
Alaska  in  1898,  and  now  has  charge  of  the  North 
Bluff  kiln;  Harris  Adair,  who  graduated  from 
Rush  Medical  College  in  1S97  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.,  later  visited  the  gold  fields  of  Alaska, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Joliet,  having  his  office  in  the  Cutting  build- 
ing; Nellie  K.,  Mrs.  Hanson,  of  Tonica,  111.; 
and  Elizabeth  C,  principal  of  the  Ridgewood 
school. 

While  living  in  Rockland  County,  N.  Y.,  Mr. 
Patterson  was  made  a  Mason  in  Stony  Point 
Lodge  No.  313,  and  still  has  his  membership 
there.  Forty-five  years  ago  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  ever  since 
then  has  been  identified  with  the  work  of  that 
denomination  assisting  in  its  progress  and  aid- 
ing its  various  movements.  For  many  years  he 
has  been  a  ruling  elder  and  trustee  of  Central 
Presbyterian  Church,  among  whose  members  he 
is  well  known  and  highly  esteemed. 


(JOSEPH  P.  HORTON,  foreman  of  the  ma- 
I  chine  shop  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company, 
(2/  is  a  successful  skilled  machinist  who  fills  his 
responsible  position  with  credit  to  himself  and  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  company.  He  was  born 
in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  December  23,  1858,  a  son  of  John 
and  Jane  (Reid)  Horton.  His  father,  who  was 
the  sou  of  John  Horton,  Sr.,  a  machinist,  learned 
the  machinist's  trade  in  his  native  city  of  Man- 
chester, England.     At  twenty-six  years   of  age 


he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Troy,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  employed  first  as  foreman,  then  as 
master  mechanic  in  the  arsenal.  For  a  time  he 
was  in  Burden's  machine  shop  in  South  Troy. 
After  a  short  time  as  master  mechanic  in  iron 
works  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  he  returned  to  Troy, 
and  then  removed  to  Wheatland,  Pa.,  from  there 
to  Youngstown,  Ohio,  next  to  Ashtabula,  the 
same  state,  and  finally  back  to  Youngstown.  In 
each  of  these  places  he  was  employed  as  master 
mechanic.  He  died  in  Youngstown  in  1876. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
and  is  now  living  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  was  a 
daughter  of  William  Reid,  a  cabinet-maker,  who 
came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Trenton,  N.J. 
As  far  back  as  the  Reid  genealogy  can  be  traced 
the  members  of  the  family  were  strict  Presbyte- 
rians, identified  with  the  Scotch  Church. 

In  a  family  of  six  children,  all  but  one  of 
whom  are  still  living,  the  subject  of  this  article 
was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  reared 
in  the  different  cities  where  his  father  resided. 
The  year  after  his  father  died  he  accompanied 
his  mother  to  Cleveland.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  was  apprenticed  to  the  machinist's  trade, 
which  he  completed  in  the  mills  of  the  Cleveland 
Rolling  Mill  Company.  On  the  expiration  of 
his  time  he  secured  employment  at  his  trade. 
In  188 1  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  for  eighteen 
months  he  was  employed  as  a  machinist  in  the 
old  Union  plant.  Next  he  spent  a  year  with  the 
Minneapolis,  St.  Paul  &  Manitoba  Railroad  Com- 
pany. Returning  east,  he  was  for  eighteen 
months  with  the  Westinghouse  firm  in  Pittsburg. 
Next  he  resumed  work  with  the  Cleveland  Roll- 
ing Mill  Company,  and  later  was  with  the  Buck- 
eye Bridge  Company  in  Cleveland,  and  for  six 
years  held  a  position  in  the  Cleveland  City 
forge.  In  1S92  he  came  to  Joliet  as  foreman  of 
the  machine  shop  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company, 
a  position  that  he  has  held  ever  since  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  year  as  assistant  master  mechanic  of" 
the  works.  Under  him,  in  his  department,  are 
eighty-five  skilled  machinists,  whose  work  he 
superintends,  with  painstaking  care,  seeing  that 
each  does  his  duty  wisely  and  satisfactorily. 

It  has  been  impossible  for  Mr.  Horton  to  give 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


283 


much  attention  to  public  affairs  or  to  politics, 
but  he  is  a  believer  in  Republican  principles,  and 
rejoices  in  any  success  which  his  party  gains. 
He  was  married  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Emma  Breyley,  who  was  born  in  that  city,  and 
by  whom  he  has  two  children,  Daisy  and  John. 
The  family  reside  at  No.  in  Cagwin  avenue. 


30HN  G.  LONGSHORE,  a  pioneer  of  '49 
in  Wilton  Township,  was  born  in  Bucks 
County,  Pa.,  June  9,  1820,  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Jane  (Gaina)  Longshore,  of  whose  four  chil- 
dren he  alone  survives.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  twice  married,  and  had  eleven  children 
by  each  wife.  The  youngest  of  these  twenty-two 
children,  Thomas, was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  June 
21,  1794.  In  youth  he  learned  the  wagonmaker's 
trade.  After  his  marriage  he  followed  his  trade  and 
also  cultivated  a  small  farm.  In  1837  he  removed 
to  Reynoldsburg,  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  and  tilled  some  twenty-five 
acres  of  land.  With  the  exception  of  eight  years 
spent  with  our  subject  in  Illinois  he  continued  to 
reside  in  Ohio  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
February  10,  1874,  when  he  was  in  his  eighty- 
first  year.  His  wife  was  born  February  18,  1793, 
probably  in  Ireland,  but  her  parents  emigrated 
to  this  country  when  she  was  so  small  that  she 
knew  no  other  home  than  Bucks  County,  Pa. , 
and  her  childhood  years  were  passed  on  her 
father's  farm  there. 

When  seventeen  years  of  age  our  subject  was 
apprenticed  to  the  trades  of  cabinet-maker  and 
carpenter  in  Newhope,  Bucks  County,  Pa.  After 
his  four  years'  apprenticeship  he  followed  his 
parents  to  Reynoldsburg,  Ohio,  and  there  opened 
a  carpenter  and  undertaking  shop.  In  1849  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  entered  a  quarter-section 
of  land  in  Wilton  Township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. Returning  to  Ohio,  he  spent  the  winter  in 
Reynoldsburg.  In  1850  he  removed  his  family 
to  their  new  home,  making  the  trip  via  wagon. 
In  Chicago  he  saw  the  first  railroad  train  he  had 


ever  seen.  Shortly  after  reaching  Will  County 
they  decided  to  visit  some  relatives  of  Mrs.  Long- 
shore in  Piatt  County.  On  journeying  thither 
they  found  their  relatives  desired  a  residence 
built,  and  also  wished  some  one  to  superintend 
their  farm;  so  they  remained  for  three  years,  re- 
turning to  Will  County  in  June,  1852.  Here  he 
has  since  resided,  with  the  exception  of  three 
years  spent  in  Clinton,  De  Witt  County,  in  order 
to  give  his  children  the  benefit  of  the  schools  there. 
While  in  Clinton  he  worked  at  cabinet-making. 
As  a  farmer  he  has  been  very  successful ,  and  now 
owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
bearing  all  the  modern  improvements.  At  the 
same  time  he  has  also  done  considerable  building, 
and  many  of  the  houses  in  his  vicinity  were 
erected  by  him. 

In  politics  Mr.  Longshore  is  a  Republican. 
Several  times  he  has  been  elected  commissioner 
of  highways.  During  his  service  in  that  position 
he  superintended  the  building  of  the  great  arch- 
bridge  at  Wilton  Center.  For  many  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  con- 
nected with  Wilton  Lodge  No.  640,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  has  filled  all  the  offices  of  the  lodge,  which 
for  two  terms  he  represented  in  the  grand  lodge. 
His  connection  with  the  Odd  Fellows  dates  from 
July  12,  1847,  when  he  was  initiated  into  Colum- 
bus Lodge  No.  9,  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 

March  31,  1842,  Mr.  Longshore  married  Miss 
Ann  Van  Camp,  who  died  five  months  afterward. 
In  1844  he  married  Miss  Sidney  Pugh,  a  native 
of  Lancaster  County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
Michael  Pugh,  a  shoemaker.  Nine  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  but  only  three  are  living, 
viz.:  Jane,  wife  of  Henry  Houghton,  a  gardener 
in  Will  Township;  Charles,  a  farmer  at  Spirit 
Lake,  Iowa,  and  Edwin,  who  went  to  the  Pacific 
coast  some  years  ago  and  makes  his  home  in 
Washington.  Mrs.  Sidney  Longshore  died  on 
Christmas  day  of  i860,  and  our  subject  was  again 
married,  January  20,  1862,  his  wife  being  Mathil- 
da Hurting,  a  native  of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Hurting.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  went  to  Ohio  in  early 
manhood  and  settled  in  Stark  County,  where  he 
followed  the  tailor's  trade.     By  his  present  wife 


284 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Longshore  had  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Samuel,  a  blacksmith  in 
Joliet;  George,  who  married  Flora  Smith;  Ida, 
wife  of  Luke  McFarland,  a  farmer  of  Jackson 
Township,  this  county;  and  Julius.  The  two 
sons,  George  and  Julius,  cultivate  the  home 
place,  their  father  being  almost  wholly  retired 
from  farm  cares.  Samuel,  George  and  Julius  be- 
long to  Wilton  Lodge  No.  640,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  into 
which  Julius  was  initiated  on  the  twenty-first  an- 
niversary of  his  birth,  being  at  the  time  the 
youngest  member  of  the  order  in  the  state. 
George  and  Julius  are  also  connected  with  Rebeka 
Lodge  No.  106,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  Wilton  Center, 
in  which  George  has  held  the  various  chairs. 


(JOHN  HARTING  has  been  a  resident  of 
I  Joliet  since  May  17,  1876,  and  is  now  pro- 
(*/  prietor  of  a  planing  mill  on  the  corner  of 
Cass  and  Joliet  streets.  He  was  born  in  Rock- 
ville  Township,  Kankakee  County,  111.,  Decem- 
ber 26,  1855,  a  son  and  the  only  child  of  John  and 
Matilda  (Harting)  Harting,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  maternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Hart- 
ing, who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  German 
descent,  removed  west  to  Illinois,  where  he  was 
a  pioneer  farmer  of  Kankakee  County.  John 
Harting  was  also  a  farmer  of  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  died  in  early  manhood;  his  wife  now 
lives  in  Wilton  Center,  this  county. 

Until  nineteen  years  of  age  our  subject  lived  on 


a  farm,  meantime  attending  district  schools. 
Coming  to  Joliet  in  1876  he  secured  employment 
in  the  planing  mill  of  George  E.  Rockey  &  Son, 
where  he  was  first  a  teamster  and  afterward  ran 
the  engine  for  sixteen  years.  In  1892  he  bought 
the  business  from  his  employers,  and  has  since 
conducted  it  successfully.  The  mill,  a  two-story 
building,  covers  almost  the  entire  property,  con- 
sisting of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  on  Cass 
street  and  sixty  feet  on  Joliet  street.  An  engine 
of  twenty-five  horse-power  operates  the  plant. 
The  mill  is  the  oldest  of  its  kind  in  the  count}-, 
having  been  built  in  1855  in  block  5,  lot  10,  of 
the  old  town  of  Joliet.  Connected  with  the  mill 
is  a  pattern  shop,  superintended  by  a  foreman 
who  has  the  reputation  of  being  the  best  pattern 
maker  in  the  entire  state.  The  products  include 
everything  in  wood,  such  as  sash,  doors  and 
blinds,  and  mouldings  of  all  kinds. 

Reared  in  the  faith  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Association,  Mr.  Harting  has  always  been  in 
sympathy  with  the  work  of  that  denomination. 
In  politics  he  votes  with  the  Republicans.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  and  the 
West  Side  Bowling  Alley  Club.  His  family  oc- 
cupy a  residence  which  he  built,  on  the  corner  of 
Granite  and  Clement  streets.  He  was  married  in 
Joliet  to  Miss  Martha  Harting,  who  was  born  in 
Naperville,  111.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Harting,  a 
pioneer  of  Chicago  and  Naperville.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  of  their  union,  namely:  Meedie 
and  Eddie  (twins);  Archie;  and  Maudie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  fourteen  days. 


LIB 

u  divers; 


(J^(U^^744£J&t^?Z-- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


287 


JOSEPH    REICHMANN. 


30SEPH  REICHMANN,  a  retired  business 
man  of  Joliet,  was  born  in  Donaueshingen, 
Baden,  Germany,  February  13,  1836,  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Gasler)  Reichmann.  He 
was  one  of  nine  children,  three  besides  himself 
now  living,  Agatha,  Mary  and  Xavier,  all  of 
Germany.  His  father,  who  was  born  and  reared 
on  a  farm,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
throughout  all  his  active  life  and  became  well-to- 
do.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
His  wife  died  when  about  forty  years  of  age,  in 
1840.  Their  son,  our  subject,  received  a  fair 
education  and  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
butcher's  trade.  When  eighteen  he  came  to 
America,  sailing  on  the  "  Isabella  "  from  Havre 
to  New  York,  where  he  arrived  in  the  spring  of 
1854,  after  a  voyage  of  twenty-one  days.  The 
ship  on  which  he  sailed  was  the  fastest  of  its  day 
and  was  the  first  sailing  vessel  to  cross  the  ocean 
in  seventeen  days. 

From  New  York  Mr.  Reichmann  went  to  Buf- 
falo, where  he  found  work  at  his  trade.  Through 
the  persuasion  of  friends  he  was  induced  to  go 
to  Canada,  to  secure  railroad  construction  work, 
but  after  one  day's  work  he  quit.  Two  weeks 
later  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  went  to  Erie,  Pa.,  where  he 
worked  for  a  year.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  came 
to  Chicago,  where  he  was  at  once  given  work  at 
his  trade.  The  spring  of  1857  found  him  in 
Joliet,  where  he  worked  in  another  man's  em- 
ploy for  six  months,  and  then  embarked  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  opening  a  shop  on  Jefferson 
street  near  Scott,  with  Henry  Biedermann  as 
partner.     In  i860  he  sold  out  to  his  partner  and 

14 


went  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  some  months.  Late  in  the  fall  of  i860 
he  went  to  Pocahontas,  Ark.,  where  he  spent 
the  winter,  returning  to  Memphis  in  the  spring 
and  opening  a  meat  market  outside  the  city  lim- 
its, which  was  customary  at  that  time.  How- 
ever, the  outbreak  of  the  war  obliged  him  to 
discontinue  business  three  months  later.  He  was 
pressed  into  the  Confederate  home  guard  service, 
but  after  the  taking  of  Memphis  and  the  evacua- 
tion of  the  Confederate  army,  he  secured  work 
with  a  meat  contractor  who  furnished  meat  to 
the  army  at  Vicksburg.  He  followed  the  army 
as  far  as  Grenada,  Miss.,  from  which  point  he 
was  sent  back  to  Memphis  for  more  cattle  ;  but 
not  desiring  to  return  to  the  field,  he  came  north 
and  returned  to  Joliet. 

Meeting  Jacob  Adler,  the  latter  persuaded  Mr. 
Reichmann  to  go  in  business  with  him.  They 
opened  a  store  on  Joliet  street  between  Jefferson 
and  Washington.  In  1866,  two  years  later,  he 
built  on  the  corner  of  Chicago  and  Jefferson 
streets,  and  engaged  in  business  alone.  He  was 
successful  and  continued  the  business  until  1893, 
when  he  retired  from  active  business  and  leased 
his  store.  At  one  time  he  bought  and  sold  con- 
siderable real  estate.  In  1874  he  built  a  sub- 
stantial and  handsome  residence  on  South  Rich- 
ards street,  and  here  he  and  his  wife  have  a 
pleasant  home.  He  has  done  much  for  the  up- 
building of  the  city  and  is  an  excellent  citizen. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religion  a 
Roman  Catholic.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet 
Sharpshooters  and  the  Joliet  Saengerbund. 

In    1869  Mr.  Reichmann    married   Miss  Anna 


28S 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Koch,  who  was  born  in  Cologne,  Germany,  in 
1843,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Dresler) 
Koch,  her  father  being  a  wealthy  brewer  and 
distiller  in  Cologne.  She  came  to  America  in 
186S  with  a  sister,  and  after  visiting  some  friends 
in  New  York  City  proceeded  to  Joliet,  where  she 
has  since  made  her  home.  Her  sister,  Lena, 
became  the  wife  of  Hubert  Odenthal,  who  is  on 
the  staff  of  a  daily  paper  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 
Five  children  were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reichmann,  of  whom  three  are  living. 
Anthony,  the  oldest,  is  with  C.  F.  Pinneo,  in 
Joliet.  Mollie  is  the  wife  of  William  Brown, 
also  of  Joliet.  Albert,  a  student  in  the  Chicago 
College  of  Pharmacy,  has  for  four  years  been 
employed  in  the  drug  business  with  A.  W. 
Flexer,  of  Joliet. 

Mr.  Reichmann  has  been  a  successful  man  in 
the  business  world  ot  Joliet,  and  is  recognized  as 
an  honorable,  upright  citizen,  whose  life  has 
been  an  example  to  a  younger  generation. 


(TAMES  R.  ASHLEY.  The  life  of  Mr.  Ash- 
ley is  inseparably  associated  with  the  history 
Q)  of  the  wire  business  in  Joliet,  and  an  accu- 
rate history  of  the  one  could  not  be  written  with- 
out considerable  mention  of  the  other.  He  was 
the  originator  of  the  wire  business  in  Joliet,  a 
city  that  is  now  famous  throughout  the  country 
for  its  large  wire  factories.  Being  a  man  of  me- 
chanical genius,  and  having  the  ability  to  put  in- 
to form  the  inventive  ideas  of  his  mind,  he  was 
fitted  to  be  a  leader  and  pioneer  in  the  business 
with  which  he  was  identified,  and  while  later 
workers  have  made  main-  improvements,  the 
principles  which  he  embodied  in  his  work  are 
still  utilized. 

The  Ashley  family  descends  from  three  broth- 
ers who  came  from  England  and  settled  in  Ver- 
mont about  seven  generations  past.  From  one  of 
these,  Robert,  descended  Daniel,  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  18 12.  The  latter's  son,  Rev.  Riley  B. 
Ashley,  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty  and 


soon  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
preaching  at  various  points  in  New  York.  In 
1S37,  la  company  with  his  family,  his  brother 
Cyrus  and  the  latter's  family,  and  the  families  of 
Messrs.  Lane  and  Hubbard,  he  traveled  by  team 
through  Canada  to  Detroit,  thence  through 
southern  Michigan,  into  Indiana  and  to  Joliet, 
spending  thirty  days  on  the  road,  having  left 
Martinsburg,  N.  Y.,  May  10,  and  reaching  Joliet 
on  the  evening  of  June  9.  With  him  he  had  two 
teams  and  brought  bedding  and  cooking  utensils. 
He  spent  the  night  in  the  Waving  Banner  hotel, 
which  was  then  the  leading  boarding  house  in 
the  town;  it  still  stands  on  North  Chicago  street, 
but  is  now  known  as  the  Bissell  house.  On  the 
10th  of  June  he  proceeded  with  his  family  to 
Plainfield  and  bought  a  place  owned  by  the  Bap- 
tist minister,  whom  he  succeeded  as  pastor  of  the 
church.  For  those  days  he  was  well-to-do,  as  he 
had  two  teams  and  $1,500  in  money.  He  bought 
a  farm  and  later  bought  and  sold  other  farms,  but 
gave  his  time  principally  to  religious  work,  being 
appointed  home  missionary  in  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  establishing  con- 
gregations in  various  localities.  Th'e  first  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Joliet  was  organized  through  his 
influence.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  character,  ge- 
nial, kind-hearted  and  generous,  and  made  warm 
friends  in  every  locality  that  he  visited.  It  is 
said  that  he  was  one  of  the  best  judges  of 
horses  in  the  state,  and  he  early  taught  his  son 
to  be  an  expert  horseman.  He  died  in  Plain- 
field  in  August,  1SS0,  when  nearly  eighty-one 
years  of  age. 

The  first  marriage  of  Rev.  Riley  B.  Ashley 
united  him  with  Sally  Searles,  who  was  born  in 
Lewis  County,  N.  Y.,  and  died  when  her  son, 
James  R.,  was  two  years  old.  The  other  child 
born  of  their  marriage  died  in  infancy.  After- 
ward, Mr.  Ashley  married  again  and  became  the 
father  of  three  children,  viz.:  Cyrus,  and  Mrs. 
Olive  M.  Smith,  both  deceased;  and  Marian  E., 
wife  of  George  Oliver,  cashier  of  Sweet,  Demp- 
ster &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  wholesale  dealers  in  hats 
and  caps.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Martinsburg,  Lewis  County,  N.  Y. ,  February  3, 
1825,  and  was  twelve  years  of  age  when   he  first 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


289 


saw  Joliet.  He  attended  public  and  private 
schools  and  Warrenville  Seminary.  When  he 
was  sixteen  he  earned  $5  and  board  per  month 
for  his  work  in  breaking  prairie,  and  in  this  way 
after  a  time  he  saved  $150.  With  this,  and  $150 
loaned  him  by  his  father,  he  started  a  small  gro- 
cery, and  was  so  successful  that  he  soon  enlarged 
the  business  and  took  his  brother,  Cyrus  N.,  into 
partnership,  carrying  on  a  large  trade  as  a  gener- 
al merchant  successfully  until  1870,  a  period  of 
twenty  years.  During  this  time  he  was  also  in- 
terested in  buying  and  selling  farms. 

Coming  to  Joliet  in  1874,  Mr.  Ashley  became 
connected  with  A.  B.  Sharpe  &  Co.  In  January, 
1S76,  he  sold  his  interest  in  that  company,  and 
he  and  his  brother,  Cyrus  N.,  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  H.  B.  Scutt  and  William  Watkins,  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  barbed  wire.  The 
company  secured  a  patent  on  what  was  known  as 
Scutt  wire,  which  they  sold  at  sixteen  cents  a 
pound.  Mr.  Ashley  was  the  manager  of  the 
company  and  owned  almost  all  of  the  stock. 
The  venture  proved  successful,  and  Mr.  Scutt, 
who  was  $1,500  in  debt  at  the  time  the  company 
was  organized,  became  worth  $150,000.  In  1876 
the  Joliet  Wire  Fence  Company  was  organized, 
in  which  a  number  of  the  members  of  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company  were  interested  and  of  which  Mr. 
Ashley  was  general  manager,  having  charge  of 
the  making  of  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of 
fence.  The  plant  at  Adams'  dam  was  destroyed 
by  fire  August  2,  1876,  and  a  suitable  location 
could  not  be  found  elsewhere.  At  this  time  they 
made  a  contract  with  an  official  from  the  state 
penitentiary  and  carried  on  the  business  there  for 
five  years,  until  the  1st  of  January,  1882.  Pre- 
vious to  this,  through  the  purchase  of  the  interest 
of  the  otheis  by  Mr.  Scutt,  D.  Robertson  and  Mr. 
Ashley,  the  firm  of  H.  B.  Scutt  &  Co.  was 
formed  and  they  continued  together  until  Sep- 
tember, 1SS1,  when  Mr.  Ashley  disposed  of  his 
interest  to  his  partners.  Meantime,  as  early  as 
1876,  the  Washburu-Moen  Company  began  a 
suit  against  them  for  infringement,  and  the  case 
was  fought  for  two  years,  when  a  compromise  was 
effected,  and  a  royalty  of  one  and  three-eighths 
cents  per  pound  was  paid  the  company. 


With  his  brother  and  Messrs.  Scutt  and  Rob- 
ertson, our  subject  bought  out  the  Joliet  Wire 
Fence  Company  and  completed  a  reorganization, 
but  after  a  time  his  brother  retired  and  with  Mr. 
Watkins  formed  the  second  Watkins  &  Ashley 
Wire  Company,  which  later  sold  out  to  Lambert 
&  Bishop.  H.  B.  Scutt  &  Co.  continued  busi- 
ness in  the  penitentiary,  and  in  time,  through  the 
improvement  of  machinery,  they  had  a  surplus  of 
men,  but  were  obliged  to  pay  for  them  even 
though  they  did  not  need  their  services;  for  this 
reason  Mr.  Ashley  originated  a  plan  for  teaching 
the  prisoners  to  draw  wire,  and  organized  a  com- 
pany to  manufacture  drawn  wire.  There  was  no 
mill  west  of  Cleveland,  excepting  a  small  plant  in 
St.  Louis.  Organizing  the  Joliet  Wire  Company 
he  began  to  manufacture  drawn  wire,  although  he 
was  cautioned  by  many  business  men  against  the 
enterprise  and  told  it  would  be  a  failure.  In 
spite  of  such  predictions  he  made  a  complete  suc- 
cess of  it.  He  originated  the  lead  annealing  proc- 
ess for  galvanizing.  When  his  five  years'  con- 
tract at  the  penitentiary  had  expired,  in  1882  he 
bought  the  machinery  of  the  Joliet  Wire  Company 
and  sold  it  to  the  Ashley  Wire  Company.  In 
1882  he  took  a  contract  for  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men  at  the  penitentiary  for  eight 
years  and  organized  the  Ashley  Wire  Company, 
with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  This  company  man- 
ufactured barb  wire,  fence  staples,  wire  nails  and 
market  wire.  After  the  contract  of  eight  years 
had  expired,  being  unable  to  make  satisfactory 
arrangements  under  the  new  law,  he  located  on 
Railroad  street,  bought  the  old  tile  works  and  in 
1890  built  the  Ashley  mill,  which  he  started  the 
following  year  and  operated  until  1893.  At  the 
time  of  the  panic  of  1893  he  was  ill  with  nervous 
prostration,  and  it  was  necessary  for  him,  if  he 
wished  to  live,  to  give  up  all  active  business  at 
least  temporarily.  In  this  crisis,  the  mill  having 
no  strong  hand  at  its  helm,  under  pressure  of  the 
financial  depression,  went  into  the  receiver's 
hands.  Undoubtedly  had  Mr.  Ashley's  health 
been  as  good  as  in  former  years  he  could  have 
safely  steered  the  business  over  the  treacherous 
shoals  and  preserved  it  intact.  As  it  was,  how- 
ever, he  was  obliged  to  spend  some  time  in  travel 


290 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


before  his  health  was  even  partially  restored,  and 
he  has  never  since  been  as  vigorous  as  when  in 
his  prime. 

During  his  residence  in  Plainfield  Mr.  Ashley 
married  Miss  Julia  F.  Tyler,  who  was  born  in 
Bridgewater,  Mass.,  educated  in  Troy,  N.  Y., 
and  about  1S42  came  to  Plainfield.  Four  children 
were  born  of  their  marriage,  but  only  one,  Ella, 
attained  mature  years.  She  is  a  talented  young 
lady,  graduated  from  the  Joliet  high  school  and 
later  studied  music  and  German  at  Vassar  College. 
She  became  the  wife  of  George  W.  Bush,  a  hard- 
ware merchant  and  a  director  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  whose  president,  George  Woodruff, 
is  his  grandfather. 

Always  a  Republican  in  national  politics,  the 
large  business  interests  of  Mr.  Ashley  never  pre- 
vented him  from  keeping  informed  concerning 
public  affairs.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  township 
clerk  in  Plainfield,  and  at  the  same  time  he  served 
for  eight  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  notary 
public.  His  store  was  headquarters  for  promi- 
nent men  of  the  township,  who  met  there  for  the 
purpose  of  discussing  important  matters,  drawing 
up  papers,  etc.  From  1S62  to  1S70  he  was  reve- 
nue inspector  for  the  government,  and  had  charge 
of  collecting  the  duty  on  liquors  in  this  district. 
He  still  holds  membership  in  the  Plainfield  Bap- 
tist Church,  with  which  he  has  been  identified 
for  many  years,  and  in  which,  in  former  days,  he 
served  as  treasurer  and  as  chairman  of  the  build- 
ing committee. 


HON.  DWIGHT  HAVEN,  an  early  settler 
of  New  Lenox  Township,  was  born  in 
Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  in  182 1,  being 
a  sou  of  Samuel  Haven,  a  native  of  Chesterfield, 
X.  H.,  born  July  14,  1799.  The  latter,  when  a 
young  man,  settled  in  Chautauqua  County,  N.Y., 
and  from  there  in  1834  removed  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  what  is  now  New  Lenox  Township,  and 
buying  land  at  the  first  land  sale  in  1836.  Though 
a  tanner  by  trade,  his  life  in  Illinois  was  spent  as 
a  farmer.     He  was   a  believer  in  the  freedom  of 


the  slaves,  and  his  place  was  a  station  on  the 
underground  railroad  by  which  slaves  were  as- 
sisted in  their  flight  to  the  borders.  The  Con- 
gregational Church  had  in  him  one  of  its  most 
earnest  members.  He  died  March  12,  1866, 
aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  father,  Elias  Haven, 
was  the  son  of  a  Revolutionary  hero  who  fell  in 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  The  family  was 
founded  in  America  by  two  brothers,  who  came 
from  England,  one  going  south,  the  other  settling 
in  New  England.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  born  Ma}-  29,  1802,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  She  died  in  this 
county  August  11,  i860,  aged  fifty-eight  years. 
Of  her  eight  children  one  son,  D wight,  and  two 
daughters  survive.  One  daughter,  Amanda  C, 
is  the  widow  of  James  Goodspeed;  the  other, 
Helen,  is  the  wife  of  W.  P.  Kimball,  of  San 
Francisco. 

From  the  age  of  thirteen  years  our  subject  has 
made  Will  County  his  home.  When  his  educa- 
tion was  completed  he  took  up  farm  pursuits, 
which  he  followed  until  1884,  and  still  owns  his 
farm.  On  the  death  of  his  brother,  Dr.  Haven, 
of  Chicago,  he  took  charge  of  his  estate,  having 
an  office  in  the  Reaper  block  in  Chicago.  In 
18S4  he  built  a  residence  in  New  Lenox  village, 
where  he  now  lives  in  ease  and  comfort.  Con- 
tinuously since  1854  he  has  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace.  From  1S65  to  1869  he 
held  office  as  county  superintendent  of  schools. 
In  1886  he  was  elected  to  the  general  assembly 
on  the  Republican  ticket.  For  several  years  he 
served  as  supervisor  and  has  also  held  the  other 
local  offices. 

November  3,  1847,  Mr.  Haven  married  Helen 
L.  Savage,  who  died  July  2S,  1859,  leaving  four 
daughters:  Lizzie  J.,  widow  of  A.  A.  Francis; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Charles  Francis;  Helen  L., 
who  married  Thomas  D.  Ferguson,  of  Normal 
Park,  Chicago;  and  Emma  J.,  wife  of  Gilbert 
Van  Duser,  ofFredouia,  Kans.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Haven  took  place  December  26, 
1861,  and  united  him  with  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  James  Craig,  who  was  an  early  settler  of  Chi- 
cago. This  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
four   children   who   attained  mature   years,  and 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


291 


one  son,  Edward,  who  died  November  8,  1S80, 
at  the  age  of  eleven  years  and  four  months.  The 
surviving  sons  and  daughters  are  Dwight  C, 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Hill,  Haven  &  Hill, 
of  Joliet;  Samuel  R.,  of  Englewood,  111.;  Edith 
A.,  wife  of  Rev.  A.  B.  Whitcomb,  of  Jackson- 
ville, Fla. ;  and  Bertha  A.,  at  home. 


(lOHN  LARSON,  proprietor  of  the  West 
I  Side  dairy,  on  section  8,  Joliet  Township, 
C/  "'as  born  in  Sweden,  November  18,  1861, 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm  occupied  by  his  father, 
Lars,  meantime  receiving  a  public  school  educa- 
tion. Believing  that  America  offered  greater  op- 
portunities for  a  young  man  than  his  own  coun- 
try, he  decided  to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  world. 
Accordingly,  in  1883,  he  crossed  the  ocean, 
landing  in  New  York  and  thence  coming  to 
Joliet.  For  five  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  a 
dairy  farmer  in  New  Lenox  Township,  and  in 
this  way  gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
dairy  business,  to  which  he  has  since  given  his 
attention.  His  first  independent  venture  was  the 
purchase  of  a  dairy  business  in  Joliet.  A  year 
later  he  rented  forty  acres  west  of  the  city  and 
embarked  in  the  business  on  a  larger  scale.  In 
1892  he  leased  the  Reed  estate  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres,  besides  which  he  had  adjoining 
pasture-land  and  a  farm  of  his  own  in  Troy 
Township,  keeping  upon  the  latter  his  young 
stock  and  the  cows  that  were  not  used  in  his 
dairy  work.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his  five 
years'  lease  he  renewed  it  for  a  similar  period, 
and  here  he  has  since  remained,  gradually  in- 
creasing the  business  and,  in  return,  receiving 
greater  returns. 

Having  a  large  tract  of  laud,  Mr.  Larson  not 
only  conducts  a  dairy  farm ,  but  also  gives  some 
attention  to  general  farming,  and  has  two  hun- 
dred acres  under  the  plow.  However,  he  makes 
no  effort  to  sell  his  farm  products,  but  keeps 
them  for  winter  feed  for  his  stock.  Four  teams 
are  used   steadily  on   the  farm,  and  from  two  to 


four  men  are  employed  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
place.  In  the  raising  of  oats  and  corn  he  has 
been  particularly  successful,  and  has  one  hun- 
dren  and  ten  acres  in  the  latter.  On  his  place 
are  a  number  of  horses,  these  being  raised  to 
sell;  also  Poland-China  hogs  and  about  one  hun- 
dred head  of  cattle.  The  milk  he  sells  at  whole- 
sale, supplying  dealers  in  the  city,  and  he  there- 
fore is  not  under  the  necessity  of  overseeing  the 
detail  work  of  delivery. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Larson  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Turn 
Verein.  Since  becoming  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States  he  has  given  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith, 
and  has  always  been  in  hearty  sympathy  with 
the  work  of  the  church.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  June  13,  1891,  with  Miss  Beta  Sand- 
berg,  of  Chicago. 


HON.  JOHN  CORLETT.  During  the  long 
period  of  his  residence  in  this  county  Mr. 
Corlett  has  been  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Wesley  Township;  and, 
while  he  has  made  Joliet  his  home  since  1895,  he 
still  maintains  a  general  supervision  of  his  farm 
of  six  hundred  and  seventy  acres  in  the  town- 
ship named,  not  only  overseeing  the  cultivation 
of  the  land,  but  also  feeding  each  year  about  one 
hundred  head  of  cattle  and  two  hundred  head  of 
hogs.  In  addition  to  this  property  he  is  the 
owner  of  a  section  of  land  in  Hamilton  Count}', 
Kans.  While  he  has  given  close  attention  to  his 
private  business  affairs,  he  has  never  neglected 
his  duty  as  a  citizen,  but  has  kept  posted  con- 
cerning the  problems  that  confront  our  nation 
and  has  intelligently  studied  the  issues  of  the 
age.  He  is  a  firm  believer  in  Republican  prin- 
ciples and  always  supports  the  party  platform  by 
his  ballot.  Frequently  he  has  been  chosen  to 
serve  in  official  positions  of  trust,  and  in  these  he 
has  invariably  proved  himself  efficient  and  faith- 
ful. During  the  twelve  years  he  served  as  high- 
way commissioner  he  greatly  improved  the  roads 


292 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  township  and  was  instrumental  in  securing 
the  building  of  the  dry  run.  For  two  terms  he 
held  the  office  of  supervisor  and  for  some  years 
served  as  a  school  director.  His  party,  in  1890, 
nominated  him  to  represent  the  district  in  the 
state  legislature  and  he  received  a  good  majority 
at  election.  During  his  term  of  service  occurred 
the  memorable  John  M.  Palmer  battle,  when  for 
three  months  he  voted  every  day.  As  a  member 
of  the  committees  on  schools  and  live  stock  he 
was  able  to  render  able  service  to  the  state.  His 
influence  was  always  cast  in  favor  of  measures 
for  the  benefit  of  the  people  and  the  advancement 
of  those  interests  that  would  contribute  to  the 
greatest  good  of  the  greatest  number.  In  spite 
of  the  fact  that  the  house  was  Democratic  and  he 
therefore  belonged  to  the  minority  side,  his  in- 
fluence was  nevertheless  felt  for  good  among  the 
legislators,  and  his  service  was  most  satisfactory 
to  his  constituents. 

The  Corlett  family  has  been  identified  with  the 
history  of  the  Isle  of  Man  as  far  back  as  records 
can  be  traced.  Hugh  and  Jane  (Kane)  Corlett, 
lived  upon  a  farm  on  that,  their  native  island. 
Their  son,  John,  became  a  farmer  in  the  same 
place,  but  first  spent  some  years  in  the  British 
army,  serving  under  Wellington  in  the  battle  of 
Waterloo  and  other  noted  engagements.  He  re- 
mained in  the  service  from  the  age  of  fourteen 
until  twenty-three,  when,  having  lost  an  arm  in 
the  Holland  campaign,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged and  given  a  life  pension  of  sixpence  a 
day.  He  served  in  the  command  of  Colonel 
Isaac,  with  whom  he  was  a  great  favorite  and 
who,  at  his  death,  bequeathed  his  property  to  the 
surviving  members  of  the  regiment.  Mr.  Cor- 
lett was  one  of  the  three  surviving  comrades  who 
inherited  the  bequest.  He  lived  to  be  eighty- 
three  years  of  age,  and  died  in  1870.  His  wife, 
Ann  (McGregor)  Corlett,  was  born  near  Gallo- 
way, Scotland,  and  accompanied  her  mother  to 
the  Isle  of  Man  at  twelve  years  of  age.  There 
she  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life,  dying  when 
ninety-six  years  of  age.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  while  her  hus- 
band was  identified  with  the  Church  of  England. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  sons  and  two  daugh- 


ters, viz.:  Isaac,  who  was  named  for  Colonel 
Isaac  and  is  now  living  in  Leavenworth,  Kans.; 
William,  a  farmer  of  Leavenworth,  Kans. ;  John; 
Christopher,  a  farmer  in  Bates  County,  Mo. ; 
Philip,  who  is  also  living  on  "a  farm  in  Bates 
County;  Edward,  who  died  at  the  home  place 
when  twenty-one  years  of  age;  Becky,  deceased; 
and  Ann,  who  resides  in  Wilmington,  111. 

On  the  Isle  of  Man  occurred  the  birth  of  John, 
son  of  John,  Sr. ,  August  4,  1832.  When  he  was 
nine  years  of  age  he  began  to  herd  cattle,  receiv- 
ing twenty-four  cents  per  week.  Afterward  his 
wages  were  increased.  May  20,  1855,  he  left 
Liverpool  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Manhattan," 
which  after  twenty-three  days  lauded  in  New 
York  City.  He  proceeded  by  railroad  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  thence  to  Chicago  and  from  there  to 
Kankakee  and  Rockville,  111.,  having  a  brother, 
William,  in  the  latter  place.  For  some  years  he 
had  charge  of  seven  sections  of  land  owned  by 
a  widow.  After  his  marriage,  in  1859,  he  moved 
to  this  county  and  settled  on  the  farm  that  he  still 
owns.  During  the  forty  years  that  have  since 
elapsed  he  has  been  prospered  in  his  undertakings 
and  has  accumulated  a  valuable  property,  at  the 
same  time  gaining  the  respect  of  his  acquaintances. 
He  has  sometimes  been  called  upon  to  settle  es- 
tates and  his  work  has  always  been  satisfactory. 
He  has  come  to  be  known  as  a  whole-souled, 
large-hearted  man,  one  whose  character  is  irre- 
proachable and  whose  reputation  is  the  highest. 
While  living  on  the  farm  he  was  for  years  Sun- 
day-school superintendent  and  a  steward  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  there,  and  since 
coming  to  the  city  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
official  board  in  the  Ottawa  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

January  4,  1859,  Mr.  Corlett  married  Mrs. 
Betsey  (Franklin)  McGilivrey,  who  was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  and  died  in  this  county, 
July  1,  1892,  at  sixty-three  years  of  age.  Her 
father,  Samuel  Franklin,  who  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  settled  in  1830  in  what  is  now  Will 
County  and  in  1849  started  across  the  plains  to 
California,  but  died  en  route  and  was  buried  at 
Fort  Kearney.  At  her  death  Mrs.  Betsey  Cor- 
lett left  four  children,  viz.:   William,  a  farmer  in 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


293 


this  county;  Maxy,  who  married  E.  L.  McKim- 
rney  and  died  August  24,  1899;  Minnie,  wife  of 
R.  E.  Babcock,  of  Wheaton,  111.;  and  Ella,  who 
married  George  Lancaster,  of  this  county.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Corlett  married 
Mrs.  Emma  Harbaugh,  who  was  born  in  West 
Salem,  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1863  settled 
in  Will  County,  accompanying  her  parents, 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Jacobs)  Neiswender.  Her 
father,  a  native  of  Germany,  was  a  child  when  he 
crossed  the  ocean  with  his  parents,  and  he  sub- 
sequently became  a  farmer,  continuing  in  that 
occupation  until  he  died  at  sixty-five  years.  He 
was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  German 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Her  mother,  who 
was  born  in  New  York,  went  to  Ohio  in  girlhood 
and  married  there.  She  survived  her  husband, 
dying  when  seventy-six  years  of  age. 


HON.  SAMUEL  J.  DREW.  Wboever  labors 
for  the  development  of  his  country,  striving 
to  bring  out  its  latent  resources;  who  is  de- 
voted to  the  general  welfare  of  the  people;  who 
seeks  to  promote  the  cause  of  justice  and  to  ad- 
vance our  civilization,  becomes  a  public  bene- 
factor, and  is  worthy  of  mention  on  the  pages  of 
history.  Such  is  the  character  and  such  the 
record  of  Mr.  Drew,  member  of  the  forty-first 
general  assembly  of  Illinois,  and  an  honored  citi- 
zen of  Joliet.  In  the  fall  of  1898  he  was  elected 
to  represent  Will  County  in  the  lower  house  of 
the  Illinois  legislature,  the  nomination  having 
been  tendered  him,  unsolicited,  by  the  Republi- 
cans, who  regarded  him  as  a  representative  of  the 
working  men  of  the  county.  His  majority  in 
Joliet  was  almost  two  thousand  and  in  the  county 
nearly  three  thousand.  Since  entering  upon  his 
duties  he  has  served  as  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  labor  and  industrial  affairs,  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committees  on  elections,  mines  and 
mining,  judicial  department  and  practice,  judi- 
ciary,   and  canal,  river  improvement   and   com- 


merce. Doubtless  his  most  important  work  in 
the  house  has  been  in  connection  with  the  in- 
dustrial interests  of  the  state  and  his  most  im- 
portant bill  was  one  forbidding  the  importation 
of  workmen  under  false  pretenses,  an  act  pro- 
hibiting the  use  of  deceptive  representation, 
false  advertisements  and  unlawful  force  in  the 
procuring  of  employes  to  work  in  any  department 
of  labor  in  the  state,  and  fixing  penalties  for  any 
violation  of  this  law.  To  this  bill  he  gave  his  at- 
tention during  the  entire  session,  endeavoring  to 
win  friends  to  the  policy  therein  contained  and 
fighting  the  underhanded  policy  of  its  enemies. 
During  the  last  week  of  the  session  he  was  so 
engrossed  with  the  bill  that  he  did  not  get  more 
than  seven  hours'  sleep  in  the  entire  time.  Among 
his  other  bills  was  one  revising  the  mining  laws 
of  the  state,  which  resulted  in  Illinois  having  the 
best  mining  laws  of  any  commonwealth  in  the 
United  States,  one  to  protect  men  in  case  of  ac- 
cident, and  another  to  enforce  the  placing  of 
labels  on  cigars  and  other  articles  of  manufacture. 
He  was  deeply  interested  in  creating  free  employ- 
ment bureaus,  which  was  brought  before  his 
committee  for  action  and  so  changed  and  modified 
that  it  will  be  a  lasting  benefit  to  the  cause  of 
labor.  Constantly,  throughout  the  session,  he 
labored  for  the  welfare  of  the  working  people, 
and  it  was  said  of  him  that  he  kept  every  prom- 
ise he  had  made  to  the  laboring  classes.  The 
revision  of  the  arbitration  law  was  another  im- 
portant step  toward  uniting  labor  and  capital  and 
its  good  results  will  be  an  inheritage  to  future 
generations  who  will  hold  in  loving  remembrance 
the  men  who  so  faithfully  labored  for  their  wel- 
fare. The  praise  bestowed  upon  him  for  his 
active,  honorable  and  successful  service  in  the 
legislature  was  richly  deserved.  While  he  never 
antagonized  capital,  yet  his  preference  has  always 
been  given  to  the  side  of  labor,  for  he  realizes 
that  of  the  two,  the  working  people  most  need 
help  and  counsel.  Believing  that  prison  labor  is 
injurious  to  working  people,  as  it  brings  the  two 
into  an  unjust  competition,  he  introduced  a  bill 
to  abandon  the  competition  of  prison  with  free 
labor;  and,  while  the  bill  was  held  in  abeyence 
by  agreement  during  that  session,   yet   it  accom- 


294 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


plished  much  good, for,  asa  result, a  resolution  was 
passed  asking  the  governor  to  appoint  a  commis- 
sion to  investigate  the  matter  and  recommend  to 
the  next  legislature  a  bill  to  do  away  with  prison 
labor.  A  measure  to  repeal  the  butterine  bill 
was  introduced  into  the  legislature,  but  through 
his  own  vigilance  and  that  of  his  colleague,  Hon. 
John  Kohlstedt,  and  a  few  other  members,  and 
also  that  of  Charles  Y.  Knight,  secretary  of  the 
Illinois  Dairy  Union,  the  bill  was  defeated,  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  farmers  of  the  state  and 
the  people  in  general.  On  retiring  from  the 
legislature  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
Joliet,  and  is  attorney  for  the  board  of  highway 
commissioners. 

Born  in  Tipton,  Staffordshire,  England,  April 
22,  1863,  our  subject  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Sarah  (Allen)  Drew,  natives  of  the  same  shire. 
His  grandfather,  Joseph  Drew,  was  a  member  of 
a  very  old  family  of  the  shire  and  was  a  miner  by 
occupation,  while  the  other  grandfather,  Edward 
Allen,  was  foreman  of  the  Tipton  iron  works. 
For  years  Joseph  Drew,  Jr. ,  was  a  coal  operator 
in  Staffordshire,  and  while  thus  engaged  his  mine 
was  flooded  with  water  and  he  was  ruined  finan- 
cial^. For  this  reason  he  sought  a  home  in 
America,  crossing  the  ocean  in  1881  and  settling 
at  Braid  wood,  111.,  where  his  family  joined  him 
the  next  year.  For  two  years  he  was  mining  in- 
spector for  this  county.  He  is  still  interested  in 
coal  mining  at  Braidwood.  His  wife  died  there 
in  1897.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children, 
one  of  whom,  Mrs.  Mary  Edwards,  resides  in 
Tipton,  England.  The  others  are  Samuel  J., 
Joseph,  Mrs.  Louisa  Cox  and  Jennie,  all  but  our 
subject  living  in  Braidwood. 

When  a  boy  our  subject  attended  the  national 
school  at  Tipton.  At  thirteen  years  of  age  he 
began  to  assist  his  father  in  the  mine.  In  1882 
he  began  to  work  in  a  mine  at  Braidwood,  his 
first  work  being  the  pushing  of  cars  to  the  foot  of 
the  shaft.  After  three  months  he  began  to  dig 
coal.  In  the  spring  of  18S4  he  and  his  father  and 
brother  were  given  a  room  and  worked  together. 


With  the  exception  of  six  months  in  the  Alle- 
gheny region  of  Pennsylvania  he  continued  at 
Braidwood  for  some  years.  Meantime,  he  began 
to  study  the  primary  branches  in  the  evenings, 
hoping  to  finally  fit  himself  for  the  profession  of 
law.  Not  feeling  satisfied  with  the  knowledge 
gained  at  night,  he  began  to  take  books  into  the 
mine  with  him,  and  during  lulls  in  the  work  he 
studied  by  the  light  of  a  miner's  lamp.  In  1886 
he  entered  a  school  of  shorthand  and  telegraphy 
at  Janesville,  Wis.  Six  months  later  his  father 
was  injured  and  he  returned  home  to  care  for  the 
family  by  taking  his  father's  place  in  the  shaft 
until  his  father  was  able  to  resume  work.  He  then 
entered  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  College, 
graduating  in  August,  1887.  Coming  to  Joliet 
he  became  a  court  reporter  and  stenographer, 
but  soon  entered  the  office  of  Haley  &  O'Donnell, 
attorneys,  and  under  the  preceptorship  of  Mr. 
Haley  studied  for  the  bar.  In  1S92  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  Meantime,  he  had  accepted  a 
position  as  stenographer  for  the  Illinois  Steel 
Company,  and  had  applied  himself  to  the  posi- 
tion with  such  diligence,  gaining  so  compre- 
hensive a  knowledge  of  the  company's  business, 
that  he  was  given  the  position  of  chief  clerk.  He 
continued  with  the  company  until  the  spring  of 
1896,  when  he  resigned  in  order  to  engage  in 
professional  work.  About  the  same  time  he  was 
elected  township  clerk,  which  office  he  held,  by 
two  re-elections,  until  the  spring  of  1899,  when 
he  refused  further  nomination.  While  filling  this 
position  he  engaged  in  general  law  practice,  es- 
tablishing an  office  in  the  Barber  building.  .Since 
his  retirement  from  the  legislature  he  has  resumed 
his  practice,  much  of  which  is  with  working 
men.  Fraternally  is  connected  with  the  Order 
of  Foresters  of  America,  Royal  Arcanum  and  the 
Paul  Revere  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  also  Mount  Joliet 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  married  in 
Braidwood  to  Miss  Lizzie  C.  Parsons,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Parsons,  of  that  city. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drew  have  one  child,  Alberta  L. 
Drew. 


I 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


297 


JUDGE  CHARLES   H.  WEEKS. 


(JUDGE  CHARLES  H.  WEEKS.  For  sixty- 
I  six  years  a  resident  of  this  count}',  closely 
Qy  identified  with  the  development  of  its  re- 
sources and  intimately  connected  with  its  public 
affairs,  the  life  of  Judge  Weeks  was  an  eminently 
useful  one  and  his  reputation  that  of  an  honora- 
ble and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  was  a  boy  at 
the  time  his  father,  Nathaniel  Weeks,  migrated 
from  the  east,  making  the  long  journey  to  Illinois 
with  team  and  wagon,  and  settling  in  Homer 
Township,  this  county.  On  every  hand  the  sur- 
roundings were  indicative  of  the  frontier.  Will 
County  was  at  that  time  a  part  of  Cook,  and  both 
were  sparsely  settled  and  unimproved.  He 
therefore  became  familiar  with  the  experiences 
and  hardships  of  pioneer  existence  and  assisted 
in  bringing  the  count}-  to  its.  present  high  stand- 
ing among  the  counties  of  the  state. 

The  ancestry  of  the  family  appears  in  the 
sketch  of  Horace  Weeks,  of  Joliet,  a  brother  of 
the  judge.  The  latter  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire June  7,  1821,  and  accompanied  his  father 
to  the  west  in  1833,  settling  with  him  in  Homer 
Township,  where  he  helped  to  break  a  tract  of 
prairie  land  and  also  learned  the  trade  of  a  har- 
ness-maker in  Joliet.  After  a  time  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  law,  in  which  he  had 
the  advantage  of  the  preceptorship  of  prominent 
pioneer  lawyers  of  St.  Charles  and  Lockport.  For 
years  he  was  one  of  the  prominent  public  men  of 
the  county  and  a  leader  in  the  Whig  party.  On 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  be- 
came identified  with  it  and  afterward  supported 
its  principles.  For  two  terms  he  served  as  coun- 
ty treasurer,  for  one  term  as  deputy  county  treas- 
urer, and  later  held  the  office  of  county  judge  for 


one  term.  He  was  known  for  his  sturdy  cham- 
pionship of  every  measure  calculated  to  benefit 
the  county,  and  was  always  progressive,  fearless 
and  honest.  To  such  as  he  the  early  advance- 
ment of  the  community  was  due.  A  genuine 
pioneer,  aiding  in  the  development  of  his  locality, 
and  a  citizen  of  strict  integrity,  ever  lending  a 
helping  hand  in  matters  affecting  the  common 
weal,  he  was  held  in  high  respect  and  was  num- 
bered among  the  county's  leading  men.  Upon 
his  retirement  from  office  he  established  his  home 
upon  his  farm  in  New  Lenox  Township  and  there 
resided  for  seven  years.  He  then  withdrew  from 
active  labors  and  afterward  lived  retired  in  Joliet, 
where  he  died  June  5,  1899,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years. 

The  marriage  of  Judge  Weeks  was  solemnized 
in  New  Lenox  Township,  May  6,  1846,  and 
united  him  with  Miss  Jane  C.  McDonald,  who 
was  born  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  Her  father,  Asa 
McDonald,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  of 
Scotch  descent.  He  settled  in  Onondaga  County, 
N.  Y. ,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  salt 
for  some  time,  but  later  became  interested  in 
farming.  In  1836  he  brought  his  family  to  this 
county,  the  trip  being  made  almost  entirely  in 
wagons  and  consuming  six  weeks.  At  first  he 
settled  in  Joliet,  but  soon  removed  to  a  farm  in 
Manhattan  Township,  at  Five  Mile  Grove,  where 
he  carried  on  a  dairy  farm.  Two  years  later  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  New  Lenox  Township,  three 
and  one-half  miles  east  of  Joliet,  and  there  made 
his  home  until  he  died,  at  fifty-six  years.  He 
married  Olive  Rudd,  who  was  born  in  Rutland, 
Vt.,  of  an  old  established  New  England  family; 
she  died  on  the  home  farm  in  New  Lenox  Town- 


298 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ship.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Weeks  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  May  6,  1896,  when  a  large  num- 
ber of  relatives  and  friends  assembled  to  enjoy 
the  occasion  and  tender  them  the  congratulations 
of  the  day.  The}-  were  the  parents  of  an  only 
child,  Eva,  Mrs.  George  H.  Munroe. 


(pAMUEL  B.  FRASER,  who  resides  on  section 
?\  28,  Wheatland  Township,  has  made  his 
\~J  home  in  this  county  since  1847.  During  all 
these  years  he  has  been  a  witness  of  the  wonder- 
ful transformation  that  has  taken  place.  He  has 
seen  cabins  replaced  by  commodious  residences 
of  frame  and  stone,  villages  and  cities  spring  into 
populous  life,  and  raw  prairies  transformed  into 
fertile  farms.  In  all  possible  ways  he  has  aided 
in  the  development  of  its  agricultural  interests, 
instituting  a  system  of  tilling  the  soil,  draining 
the  laud  and  harvesting  the  crops  that  proves  him 
to  be  a  man  of  excellent  ideas.  He  has  made 
farming  his  life  work,  and  by  his  enterprise  and 
industry  has  become  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  the  township.  Always  public  spirited,  he 
has  aided  in  the  establishment  of  schools  and 
churches,  the  building  of  roads,  and  the  carrying 
forward  of  other  worthy  movements.  An  hon- 
ored pioneer,  he  is  highly  respected  and  esteemed. 
When  a  young  man  Robert  Fraser,  our  sub- 
ject's father,  came  to  America  from  Ireland.  He 
enlisted  in  the  war  of  18 12  and  at  its  close  began 
to  farm  in  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y. ,  clearing  a 
tract  of  heavily  timbered  land.  In  1S47  he 
brought  his  family  to  Illinois  via  Buffalo  and  the 
lakes  to  Chicago,  thence  by  wagon  to  this  county. 
At  that  early  period  all  travel  between  Chicago 
and  Joliet  was  conducted  by  wagons,  as  rail- 
roads had  not  yet  been  built,  and  the  canal  was 
not  opened  until  the  spring  of  1848.  His  wife 
was  taken  sick  while  on  the  lake  and  died  in 
Chicago.  In  religion  he  was  connected  with  the 
Associate  Reformed  (now  the  United  Presby- 
terian) Church.  Politically  he  favored  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.      He  married  Elizabeth  Brown,  of 


Sullivan  County,  daughter  of  William  Brown,  a 
hotel  keeper,  and  also  an  engineer  of  local  promi- 
nence. Eleven  children  were  born  to  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fraser,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.:  Thomas,  whose  home  is  in  Manitoba;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Smiley,  of  Plainfield;  Samuel  B.,  Har- 
vey R. ,  of  Denver,  Colo.,  and  Louisa. 

Born  in  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  in  September, 
1832,  our  subject  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  west  with  his  parents.  Three 
years  later  he  started  out  for  himself,  renting  a 
farm  in  Plainfield  Township.  Later  he  moved  to 
Lockport  Township.  Saving  his  earnings  each 
year  he  was  enabled  to  buy  eighty  acres  in  Iowa, 
but  later  had  an  opportunity  to  get  a  farm  in 
Lockport  Township,  so  remained  in  Will  County, 
cultivating  one  hundred  acres.  In  1865  he 
bought  eight}'  acres  forming  the  nucleus  of  his 
present  property.  As  he  prospered  he  added  to 
his  land  until  he  now  has  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  devoted  to  the  raising  of  cereals  and  stock. 
He  has  a  number  of  Durham  cattle  on  his  place, 
usually  milking  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  cows. 
He  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  creamery 
company,  of  which  he  was  the  first  president  and 
in  which  he  is  still  a  stockholder.  Having  the 
welfare  of  the  Prohibition  party  at  heart  he  sup- 
ports its  principles  in  the  national  elections,  and 
in  township  and  county  affairs  supports  the  man 
rather  than  any  special  party.  In  1878  he  was 
elected  road  commissioner,  and  continued  in  the 
position  until  the  spring  of  1899,  when  he  re- 
signed. He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Normantowu 
elevator,  which  is  owned  by  the  farmers  of  his 
locality.  In  religion  he  is  connected  with  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  and  has  for  main- 
years  served  as  an  elder  in  the  same.  In  1891  he 
erected  the  handsome  residence  now  occupied  by 
his  family;  all  of  the  other  improvements,  other 
than  a  part  of  the  old  residence  (now  occupied 
by  his  son),  were  made  by  him. 

In  1859  Mr.  Fraser  married  Ann  A.,  daughter 
of  James  Brown,  a  farmer  in  Sullivan  County, 
N.  V.,  who  settled  in  Will  County  in  1853.  Six 
sons  were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fraser,  two  of  whom  are  living,  Herbert  A.,  who 
teaches  in  Joliet,   and   Ernest  J.,  who  conducts 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


299 


the  home  farm.  The  heaviest  sorrow  of  their 
married  lives  was  the  loss  of  four  of  their  sons, 
Frank  having  died  at  nine  years,  Gillian  at 
seven  years  old,  and  Harry  at  the  age  of  four 
months;  while  another  son,  Thornton,  a  young 
man  of  intelligence  and  ability,  and  at  the  time  a 
teacher  in  Golconda,  111.,  was  drowned  in  1S86, 
while  trying  to  rescue  one  of  his  lady  pupils. 


HON.  ISAAC  C.  NORTON.  A  lifelong  resi- 
dent of  this  county,  Mr.  Norton  is  one  of 
the  experienced  steel-mill  men  of  Joliet, 
having  been  actively  identified  with  this  business 
since  the  days  when  the  Bessemer  process  was  in 
its  infancy.  He  has  been  prominent  in  public 
affairs  and  has  wielded  an  influence  in  the  Re- 
publican party,  of  whose  principles  he  is  a  stanch 
advocate.  As  a  member  of  committees  and 
delegate  to  conventions  he  has  borne  his  part  in 
party  matters,  and  at  onetime  he  represented  the 
first  ward  on  the  board  of  aldermen.  In  18S8  he 
*  was  elected  to  serve  as  a  state  elector  and  was 
one  of  the  twenty-two  electors  who  cast  their 
votes  for  Benjamin  Harrison  for  president. 

Almond  Norton,  a  native  of  New  York  and  a 
merchant  of  Lewis  County,  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  DeWitt  Clinton  and  other  men  promi- 
nent in  public  affairs.  When  his  son,  whom  he 
named  in  honor  of  his  statesman- friend,  was  a 
youth  of  sixteen  years,  he  brought  the  family  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Lockport  in  1842  and  en- 
gaging in  the  mercantile  business  there,  where  he 
died  at  seventy-two  years.  His  son,  who  was 
born  in  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1826,  became 
a  merchant  and  grain-dealer  and  operated  one  of 
the  first  stone  quarries  in  Lockport.  He  was 
superintendent  of  the  Singer  &  Talcott  Stone 
Company  at  Lemont  until  this  company  sold  out 
to  the  Western  Stone  Company,  and  he  remained 
with  the  latter  as  superintendent.  He  died  in 
Lemont  in  1892  and  was  buried  in  Lockport.  In 
early  life  he  was  a  Douglas  Democrat,  but  voted 
for  Abraham  Lincoln's  re-election  and  ever  after 


affiliated  with  the  Republicans.  He  held  the 
office  of  school  director  in  Lockport  and  was  also 
mayor  of  Lemont  for  ten  or  more  years. 

The  marriage  of  DeWitt  Clinton  Norton  united 
him  with  Maria  L.  Singer,  who  was  born  in  Con- 
neaut,  Ohio,  and  is  now  living  in  Englewood, 
111.  Her  mother  was  a  Miss  Collins,  daughter  of 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Norton 
had  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Isaac 
Cook,  the  subject  of  this  article;  Fred  D.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  stone  business  in  Bedford,  Ind. ; 
Clinton  S.,  who  is  also  in  the  stone  business  in 
Indiana;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Knight,  of  Kankakee, 
111.;  Mrs.  Mamie  Clealand,  of  Englewood;  and 
Horace  S.,  who  is  with  the  Illinois  Steel  Com- 
pany in  Joliet. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Lock- 
port,  111.,  December  15,  1850,  and  was  educated 
in  his  home  town  and  Chicago.  His  first  em- 
ployment was  as  a  clerk  in  Lemont.  In  1870  he 
bought  out  a  mercantile  business  in  Lemont  and 
with  a  partner,  under  the  title  of  Kipp  &  Norton, 
carried  on  a  profitable  business.  In  1872  the 
firm  was  consolidated  with  Teedeiis  &  Co.,  and 
as  such  the  business  was  continued  until  1874. 
He  then  spent  six  months  in  Garnett,  Kans. , 
after  which  he  became  bookkeeper  for  R. 
Mathews  in  Joliet.  In  1878  he  accepted  a 
position  as  time- keeper  with  the  Joliet  (now  the 
Illinois)  Steel  Company.  Two  years  later  he 
was  made  superintendent  of  the  making  of  rails 
in  B  mill.  In  1882  he  became  night  superin- 
tendent in  A  mill,  and  continued  as  such 
for  seven  years,  when  he  was  made  super- 
intendent of  the  Billet  and  Bar  mill.  In 
1897  he  was  also  made  superintendent  of 
the  rod  mill,  in  which  capacity  he  has  since 
continued,  having  the  oversight  of  between  eight 
hundred  and  one  thousand  men.  He  has  wit- 
nessed the  growth  of  this  plant  from  insignificant 
proportions  to  its  present  size,  and  has  himself 
been  an  important  factor  in  its  development. 
The  company  has  had  no  employe  more  faithful 
to  its  interests  than  he,  and  his  good  judgment 
and  intelligence  have  materially  aided  the  ad- 
vancement of  its  interests. 

The    residence  of  Mr.   Norton   is  at   No.    302 


300 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


North  Eastern  avenue.  He  was  married,  in 
Lemont,  to  Miss  Alvira  S.  Niccolls,  who  was 
born  in  Cadiz,  Ohio,  and  received  her  education 
in  Bloomington,  111.  Her  father,  Eben  S.  Nic- 
colls, an  early  settler  of  Bloomington,  went  from 
there  to  Kansas,  where  he  engaged  in  railroad 
contracting  and  in  the  real-estate  business;  he 
now  makes  his  home  in  Joliet.  Three  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Norton.  The  eldest, 
Charles  C,  died  at  twelve  years  of  age.  The 
second,  DeWitt  Clinton,  a  graduate  of  the  Joliet 
high  school,  served  in  Company  A,  Third  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  during  the  Spanish- American  war, 
and  is  now  connected  with  the  quartermaster's 
department  of  the  gulf,  located  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 
The  youngest  child,  Maria  Louisa,  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Joliet  high  school.  Mrs.  Norton  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  contributor 
to  its  work. 


I-  RANK  A.  JOHNSON.  The  family  repre- 
Yy  sented  by  this  gentleman  is  one  of  the  oldest 
|  in  Westrejutland,  Sweden.  As  far  back  as 
the  genealogy  can  be  traced  its  members  have 
been  identified  with  the  history  of  that  region  and 
have  contributed  to  its  development.  His  father, 
Johannes  Anderson,  has  spent  his  entire  life  as  a 
merchant  in  Boras  and  is  still  living  there,  active 
in  spite  of  his  seventy  years.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Anderson,  whose  father,  Andrew,  was  a 
farmer,  and  who  died  many  years  ago,  leaving 
three  sons:  Edwin,  who  remains  in  Sweden; 
Frank  A.;  and  Adolph,  a  machinist,  who  has 
made  his  home  in  Joliet  since  1882. 


In  the  village  of  Boras,  Frank  A.  Johnson  was 
born  March  19,  1857,  and  there  he  received  a 
public-school  education  and  gained  his  early 
knowledge  of  business  by  clerking  in  his  father's 
store.  After  his  marriage,  in  1883,  he  left  home 
and  settled  upon  a  farm,  where  he  and  his  wife 
began  housekeeping.  The  money  which  he  saved 
enabled  him  to  purchase  a  home  of  his  own,  but 
in  1886  he  sold  out  and  came  to  America,  arriving 
in  Joliet  on  the  23d  of  May.  Soon  he  secured 
employment  in  the  wire  mill,  where  he  remained 
as  a  fence  maker,  in  the  wire  fence  department 
for  twelve  years.  Finally  he  resigned  and  em- 
barked in  a  business  of  his  own,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  thefirm  of  Johnson  &  Larson,  in  February 
1899.  The  firm  established  headquarters  at  No. 
606  Cass  Street,  and  built  up  a  good  trade  in 
coal,  flour  and  feed.  He  sold  his  interest  in  this 
business  in  October,  1899,  and  then  bought  a 
half  interest  in  an  undertaking  establishment  at 
No.  503  Cass  Street.  The  name  of  the  firm  is 
Wunderlich  &  Johnson. 

Stanchly  Republican  in  his  views,  Mr.  John- 
son is  a  member  of  the  Swedish- American  League 
of  Republican  Clubs  and  has  also  been  active 
in  the  Swedish  Republican  Club,  serving  on 
various  prominent  committees.  In  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  he  is  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees.  He  carries  insurance  in  the  Fraternal 
Aid  of  Milwaukee,  and  is  a  member  ofthe  Knights 
of  the  Globe.  The  residence  which  he  built 
at  No.  318  Harris  avenue  makes  a  neat  and 
pleasant  home  for  himself  and  his  wife,  who  was 
Emma  Johnson,  a  native  of  Sweden.  The}*  had 
but  one  child,  Erik  Arthur,  and  were  bereaved 
by  his  death  when  but  three  years  and  seven 
months  old. 


UN»VERS?TYTOFE  ILLINOIS 


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z^t^zLJ^e 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


303 


HON.  AMOS  SAVAGE. 


HON.  AMOS  SAVAGE.  Both  through  his 
honorable  service  in  the  army  during  the 
Civil  war  and  through  his  efficient  work  as 
a  public  official,  Mr.  Savage  is  entitled  to  a  high 
place  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens.  His 
army  career  covered  a  period  of  more  than  three 
years,  beginning  Augusts,  1861,  when  he  en- 
listed in  Company  G,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. His  first  commission  was  that  of  second 
lieutenant,  which  was  succeeded,  July  20,  1862, 
by  his  promotion  to  first  lieutenant.  He  assisted 
in  repelling  the  raid  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson  up- 
on the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  where  one 
hundred  men  of  his  regiment  defeated  a  night  at- 
tack of  the  Third  Arkansas  and  the  Thirty-sev- 
enth Virginia  regiments,  who  attempted  to  de- 
stroy a  railroad  bridge  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad.  Shortly  afterward,  in  the  battle  of 
Winchester,  March  23,  1862,  he  helped  to  drive 
the  Confederates  from  the  field  and  secure  some 
of  their  guns  and  a  number  of  prisoners.  With 
his  command  he  was  sent  to  join  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  aid  in  the  seven  days'  fight.  From 
April  to  December,  1863,  he  took  part  in  the 
siege  of  Charlestown,  during  which  time  he  led 
his  company  over  the  parapet  of  Fort  Wagner. 
In  1864  he  participated  in  the  campaign  against 
Richmond,  with  the  Army  of  the  James,  and  on 
the  nth  of  July  of  that  year  he  was  given  a  cap- 
tain's commission,  in  which  office  he  remained 
until  the  close  of  his  service.  On  account  of  dis- 
ability he  was  honorably  discharged,  October  31, 
1864.  At  that  time  his  regiment  had  been  re- 
duced, from  the  casualties  of  battle  and  from  dis- 
ease, from  seven  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men  in  the  short  space  of  two  months, 


which  fact  alone  attests  to  the  valor  of  the  men 
and  their  active  participation  in  the  war. 

As  in  war,  so  also  in  peace  Captain  Savage  has 
proved  himself  a  public-spirited  citizen.  His  in- 
terest in  civic  affairs  has  continued  thoughout  his 
entire  active  life.  In  politics  a  believer  in  the 
Republican  party,  he  was  on  that  ticket  elected 
supervisor  of  Homer  Township  when  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  being  the  youngest  man 
ever  elected  a  member  of  the  Will  County  board. 
He  served  for  a  few  months,  resigning  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  army.  In  1867  he  was  again 
chosen  to  be  supervisor  and  accepted  the  office, 
filling  it  five  years,  being  chairman  during  two 
years  of  the  time.  He  resigned  his  position  on 
the  board  in  1S72,  in  order  to  accept  a  seat  in  the 
state  legislature.  In  that  body  he  was  known 
for  his  championship  of  measures  for  the  benefit 
of  the  people.  He  was  a  member  of  the  commit- 
tee that  drafted  the  present  railroad  law  of  Illi- 
nois. In  other  ways  he  rendered  acceptable  serv- 
ice to  the  people  and  ably  represented  his  con- 
stituents, retiring  with  the  good  will  of  all.  From 
1876  to  1S84  he  was  a  member  of  the  state  board 
of  equalization.  In  November,  1864,  he  was  ap- 
pointed township  school  treasurer,  which  office 
he  filled  continuously  for  thirty-one  and  one-half 
years.  His  first  connection  with  a  presidential 
campaign  was  in  i860,  when  he  took  the  stump 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  has  been  active  in 
every  campaign  since  that  time. 

For  sixty-one  years  Captain  Savage  made  his 
home  on  the  farm  in  Homer  Township  where  he 
was  born  June  18,  1836.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest 
native-born  citizens  of  this  county  and  has  wit- 
nessed its  growth  and  the  development  of  its  re- 


304 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sources.  When  a  young  man  he  taught  school 
for  six  successive  winters,  but  with  that  excep- 
tion and  the  public  offices  he  filled,  his  attention 
has  been  given  to  stock-raising  and  farming.  For 
fifteen  years  he  made  a  specialty  of  feeding  and 
shipping  hogs  and  cattle,  in  which  work  he  met 
with  success.  Having  accumulated  a  competency 
he  determined  to  retire  from  active  labors,  and  in 
1897  removed  to  the  village  of  Marley,  where  he 
now  makes  his  home.  Besides  his  residence  here 
he  owns  three  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  farm 
land  in  Homer  Township,  the  rental  of  which 
brings  him  a  good  income.  He  has  been  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  of 
this  county  and  served  as  its  president  many 
times.  He  is  active  in  the  E.  A.  Gooding  Post 
Xo.  401,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
chaplain.  He  was  appointed  president  of  the 
Will  County  Farmers'  Institute  to  succeed  the 
late  honored  A.  A.  Frances,  but  declined  the  of- 
fice. He  is  president  of  the  New  Lenox  County 
Fire  Insurance  Company. 

The  Savage  family  originated  in  England,  but 
seven  generations  ago  it  was  founded  in  Connec- 
ticut. The  first  of  the  family  concerning  whom 
there  is  a  record  was  John  Savage,  of  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  who  was  married  at  Hartford  to 
Elizabeth  Dubin,  February  10,  1652.  The  old 
Connecticut  homestead  is  still  in  the  family.  The 
captain's  great-grandfather,  Amos  Savage,  was 
born  and  died  near  Middletowu,  Conn.  He 
served  in  the  French  war  and  the  Revolution,  and 
in  the  latter  was  commissioned  an  ensign,  a  posi- 
tion similar  to  that  of  lieutenant.  His  son,  Amos, 
was  born  in  Middletown,  in  1765,  and  soon  after 
the  Revolution  migrated  to  New  York,  where  he 
became  the  owner  of  a  large  farm  and  also  en- 
gaged in  tanning.  For  his  day  he  was  a  well-to- 
do  man.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-line  Whig. 
He  died  in  1839. 

Levi  Savage,  the  captain's  father,  was  born  in 
Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  January  2S,  1799. 
At  Granville,  January  27,  1822,  he  married 
Milenda  Streator,  who  was  born  February  20, 
1799.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  settled  in 
Clinton  County.  X.  Y.,  but  three  years  later  re- 
turned to  Washington  County.     In  June,    1833, 


he  brought  his  family  to  this  county,  settling 
near  Joliet,  but  in  the  spring  of  1834  took  upland 
on  section  28,  Homer  Township.  There  he  im- 
proved a  valuable  farm.  For  years  he  was  a 
deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church.  He  was 
an  Abolitionist  and  a  Republican.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 14,  18S5,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  His 
wife  passed  away  October  13,  1893,  aged  ninety- 
four.  They  had  eight  children,  but  only  three 
are  now  living,  viz.:  Emily,  wife  of  William  H. 
Lanfear,  of  Homer  Township;  Edward,  of  Sioux 
Falls,  S.  Dak.;  and  Amos,  our  subject. 

During  a  furlough  while  in  the  army  Captain 
Savage  married  Mary  L. ,  daughter  of  Asahel 
and  Catherine  (Geddes)  Slate,  and  a  native  of 
Georgetown,  S.  C,  but  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage a  resident  of  Lemont,  Cook  County,  111. 
Five  children  comprise  the  family  of  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Savage.  The  eldest,  Helen  E.,  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  A.  Rowley,  of  Homer  Township. 
Frank  M.  resides  in  Homer  Township.  John  H. 
is  an  attorney  of  Chicago.  Wilfard  holds  an 
office  as  meat  inspector  for  the  government  at 
Omaha,  Neb.  Mary  A.,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Walter  Paddock,  of 
Orland,  111.  The  mother  of  the  children  deserves 
much  credit  for  the  rearing  of  an  intelligent  fam- 
ily. She  has  labored  self-sacrificingly  to  have 
her  children  a  credit  to  the  community  and  an 
honor  to  the  family  name. 

The  property  which  Captain  Savage  owns  and 
the  advantages  which  he  has  given  his  family  in- 
dicate the  energetic  nature  of  the  man,  assisted 
by  his  wife,  and  to  their  determination  and  in- 
dustry they  are  due.  In  his  labors  as  a  fanner 
and  stock-dealer  he  displayed  good  judgment 
and  an  ability  to  work  to  the  best  advantage. 
Reared  in  this  county  during  its  pioneer  days, 
when  the  schools  were  few  and  their  instruction 
limited,  he  nevertheless  acquired  a  broad  fund  of 
practical  information,  and  by  self-culture  and  ap- 
plication has  become  a  well-informed  man,  con- 
stantly adding  to  his  early  stock  of  knowledge 
acquired  in  the  primitive  schools.  No  one  ap- 
preciates more  than  he  the  value  of  a  good  edu- 
cation, hence  he  gave  his  children  every  advan- 
tage in  his  power  and  also  helped  to  promote  the 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


305 


interests  of  the  schools  of  the  township.  While 
he  is  now  retired  from  active  labors,  he  still  su- 
perintends the  management  of  his  property,  and 
this  affords  an  outlet  for  his  energy  and  an  op- 
portunity for  the  continued  exercise  of  the  judg- 
ment that  brought  his  success  in  the  past. 


EHARLES  A.  NOBLE,  county  recorder,  is 
one  of  the  popular  men  of  Joliet.  He  rep- 
resents an  old  eastern  family,  whose  mem- 
bers have  always  displayed  the  greatest  loyalty 
to  our  government.  His  father,  R.  S. ,  was  a  son 
of  Hugh  Noble,  who  removed  in  early  life  from 
eastern  New  York  to  Dorset,  Bennington  Coun- 
ty, Vt. ,  where  the  former  was  born  and  reared, 
and  whence  he  removed  to  Illinois  about  1840, 
settling  in  St.  Charles.  In  a  short  time  he  came 
to  Wilmington,  this  county,  and  here  engaged  in 
the  marble  business  until  his  death,  in  1862.  He 
married  Ellen  N.  Richards,  who  was  born  in 
Claremont,  N.  H.,  and  died  in  this  county  in 
1878.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
all  but  three  of  whom  are  still  living. 

The  oldest  son,  W.  S.,  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
One  Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  un- 
til he  was  captured  at  Chickamauga,  after  which 
he  was  imprisoned  for  eighteen  months  at  Dan- 
ville, Andersonville,  Florence  and  Libby.  He  is 
now  an  engineer  in  Joliet.  The  second  sou, 
Henry,  enlisted  in  Company  I,  One  Hundredth 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  captured  at  the  same 
time  with  his  brother,  enduring  eighteen  months 
of  prison  life.  He  was  finally  released  on  a  sick 
parole,  but  did  not  long  survive,  dyiug  in  the 
Union  hospital  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  early  in 
1865.  The  third  son,  James  R.,  served  in  the 
Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry  until  the  close  of 
the  war;  he  is  now  living  in  Leavenworth,  Kans. 
The  fourth  son,  Edward  H.,  is  a  locomotive  en- 
gineer, in  Leadville,  Colo.,  and  the  only  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Mary  Slouson,  lives  in  Denver,  Colo. 

The  youngest  of  the  family  was  Charles  A., 
who  was  born  at  Wilmington,  in  this  county. 
When  he  had  finished   his  schooling  he  came  to 


Joliet  and  secured  a  position  as  bookkeeper  and 
conveyancer  in  the  real-estate  office  of  L.  E.  In- 
galls.  He  soon  established  a  reputation  for  skill 
and  accuracy  with  a  pen,  and  ability  as  an  office 
man  which  made  him  available  for  a  better  place. 
This  advancement  came  in  1884  by  his  selection 
to  fill  the  position  of  chief  deputy  in  the  office  of 
circuit  clerk  and  recorder  of  the  county.  This 
appointment  was  for  four  years  and  was  renewed 
in  1888  for  another  term  of  four  years.  He  was 
a  courteous  and  capable  official  and  acquired  a 
large  acquaintance  and  popularity  throughout 
the  county,  so  that  at  the  expiration  of  his  depu- 
tyship,  in  1892,  he  was  looked  to  as  the  proper 
man  to  organize  the  newly  created  office  of  re- 
corder of  deeds.  The  Republicans  nominated 
him  and  he  was  elected  by  a  nice  majority  in  the 
close  election  of  that  year,  running  ahead  of  the 
state  and  national  ticket.  He  was  re-elected  in 
1896  by  a  majority  of  over  two  thousand.  His 
term  will  expire  December  3,  1900. 

With  over  twenty  years'  experience  in  a  real- 
estate  office,  as  clerk  of  the  court  and  as  recorder, 
he  has  gained  a  fund  of  practical  knowledge  about 
real-estate  matters  which  not  only  makes  him  a 
very  useful  official,  but  a  safe  and  conservative 
adviser,  whose  counsel  is  often  sought.  He  buys 
and  sells  considerable  real  estate  and  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  one  of  the  principal  subdivisions  ad- 
joining Joliet. 

In  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  in  1887,  Mr.  Noble  mar- 
ried Miss  Lillian  Reid,  who  was  born  in  Wauke- 
gan,  111.,  and  died  in  Joliet  in  188S.  His  second 
marriage  took  place  in  Crete,  this  county,  in  June, 
1899,  his  wife  being  Miss  Florence  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  A.  H.  Smith. 

Prominent  in  Masonry,  Mr.  Noble  is  past  master 
of  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  past 
high  priest  of  Joliet  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  past  Thrice 
Illustrious  master  of  Joliet  Council;  member  of 
Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T.,  and  Medinah 
Temple,  N.  M.  S.  He  was  the  first  secretary  of 
the  Union  Club  and  later  was  its  president  for 
several  years.  During  the  building  of  the  Silver 
Cross  hospital  he  was  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  and  afterward  continued  in  that  capacity 
for  some  years,  assisting  in  placing  upon  a  firm 


306 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


basis  an  institution  that  has  been  an  active  agent 
in  philanthropic  work  in  Joliet.  In  1891  he  or- 
ganized the  Noble  Masonic  Relief  Society,  of 
which  he  has  been  president  from  the  first  and 
which,  through  a  system  of  his  own,  is  organized 
so  as  to  furnish  relief  promptly  and  systematically 
to  the  worthy  poor.  The  Joliet  Relief  Associa- 
tion has  the  benefit  of  his  assistance  as  one  of  its 
directors.  He  is  also  active  in  the  Joliet  Business 
Men's  Association,  and  is  serving  upon  its  di- 
rectorate. 


■gEORGE  B.  COOK.  A  resident  of  this 
_  county  for  many  years  before  his  death, 
^Ji  Mr.  Cook  became  well  known  among  the 
people  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  his  manly 
qualities  made  him  popular  with  all  classes.  In- 
dustrious, persevering  and  energetic,  he  was 
eminently  worthy  of  large  financial  success;  but 
unfortunate  enterprises  deprived  him  of  much  of 
his  capital,  and  this,  combined  with  his  gen- 
erosity, which  was  a  dominant  trait  in  his  char- 
acter, prevented  him  from  becoming  the  possessor 
of  a  fortune.  However,  he  won  that  which  is  of 
more  value  than  money — the  respect  of  his 
associates,  the  regard  of  his  acquaintances  and 
the  affection  of  his  friends,  and  it  is  doubtless 
true  that  few  men  have  been  more  deeply  mourned 
at  death  than  was  he. 

A  sou  of  Lewis  and  Mary  (Hartwick')  Cook, 
the  subject  of  this  article  was  born  in  Watertown, 
N.  Y.,  in  August,  1840,  and  was  one  of  a  family 
of  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  only  two 
sons  survive.  When  he  was  a  boy  his  father 
brought  the  family  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Cook 
County,  where  he  died.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  Lockport  in  1891.  On  coming  to  this 
county  in  early  manhood,  our  subject  for  some 
years  was  employed  in  the  office  of  the  canal  com- 
missioner at  Lockport,  after  which  he  was  lock- 
keeper  and  then  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store  in 
Lockport.  From  there  he  went  to  Channahon  as 
lock-keeper.  Two  years  later  he  accepted  a 
position  as  superintendent  in  the  widening  of  the 
feeder  near  Wilmington,  a  work  that  required 
several  years  in  its  completion.     Next  he  became 


a  member  of  the  firm  of  Cook  &  Fowler,  mer- 
chants at  Shermanville,  this  county,  but  after  a 
few  years  returned  to  Chicago  and  clerked  there 
for  some  time.  In  1885  he  returned  to  this 
county,  accepting  a  position  as  clerk  for  Mr. 
Dyer  in  Joliet,  later  clerking  for  Neighbor  & 
Nicholas,  and  afterward  engaging  in  the  dry- 
goods  business  on  Washington  street,  thence 
moving  to  Jefferson  street.  On  selling  out  he 
took  a  clerkship  with  the  Joliet  Dry-Goods  Com- 
pany and  continued  in  charge  of  their  dry-goods 
department  until  his  death. 

Politically  Mr.  Cook  believed  in  the  wisdom  of 
Republican  principles  and  gave  his  vote  to  that 
party.  Though  not  a  member  of  any  denomi- 
nation he  was  a  man  of  firm  religious  belief  and 
lived  the  life  of  a  Christian.  For  some  time  he 
held  membership  in  Matteson  Lodge  No.  175, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,in  which  he  was  past  master.  He 
also  was  a  member  of  Joliet  Chapter,  R.  A.  M., 
and  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T.  On  the 
6th  day  of  June,  1897,  while  out  riding  upon  his 
wheel,  he  suddenly  fell  from  the  bicycle  and  in  a 
moment  was  dead,  the  victim  of  heart  disease. 
His  sudden  death  was  a  shock  to  his  friends  and 
a  source  of  deepest  sorrow  to  his  family. 

March  25,  i860,  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  Mr. 
Cook  married  Miss  Eliza  Killeen,  who  was  born 
near  Dublin,  Ireland,  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 
five  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  one  son 
and  three  daughters  are  now  living,  the  son, 
John,  being  a  prominent  citizen  of  New  Liberty, 
Iowa.  When  a  child  she  was  brought  to  America 
by  her  mother  and  later  received  her  education  in 
a  convent  in  Louisville,  Ky.  Her  father,  Theo- 
dore Killeen,  a  native  of  Ireland,  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  there  until  his  death.  Her 
mother,  Ann,  was  born  in  England,  being  the 
daughter  of  Frederick  Potts,  an  officer  in  the 
English  army.  After  the  death  of  her  husband 
she  brought  the  family  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Providence,  R.  I.  Her  death  occurred 
in  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  1885.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cook  became  the  parents  of  two  sons,  James  and 
George,  both  of  whom  make  their  home  in  Joliet, 
but  are  traveling  much  of  the  time  as  advance 
agents  for  Ringling  Brothers'  circus. 


GF 
UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 


KEOKUK    B      BOOTH 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


309 


KEOKUK    B.  BOOTH. 


REOKUK  B.  BOOTH.  As  an  enterprising 
business  man,  Mr.  Booth  was  well  known 
to  the  people  of  Joliet.  The  record  of  his 
life  affords  an  illustration  of  the  fact  that  he  who 
is  quick  to  see  opportunities  and  equally  quick  to 
grasp  them  11133'  attain  success,  in  spite  of  early 
disadvantages  and  many  obstacles  that  confront 
him.  His  was  a  life  of  diligence.  When  only 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  left  home,  and  from  that 
time  he  made  his  own  way  in  the  world,  suc- 
ceeding so  well  that,  although  he  was  only  in  the 
prime  of  life  when  he  died,  he  had  accumulated 
a  competency  and  built  up  a  substantial  business. 
Meantime  he  had  also  made  many  friends,  and  it 
is  said  that  his  funeral  was  one  of  the  largest  ever 
held  in  Joliet,  this  fact  affording  in  itself  an  in- 
dication of  his  popularity  as  a  man. 

Mr.  Booth  was  born  in  Libertyville,  Ohio, 
May  11,  1857,  a  son  of  T.  C.  Booth,  a  descendant 
of  English  ancestors  who  first  settled  in  New 
Jersey  and  thence  removed  to  Ohio.  When  he 
was  fourteen  he  and  his  brother,  Harry  O.,  came 
west,  and  he  secured  a  clerkship  in  a  Chicago 
clothing  store.  He  was  a  self-made  and  a  self- 
educated  man  in  every  sense.  His  evenings 
were  spent  in  the  school  room,  where  he  laid  the 
foundation  for  a  store  of  knowledge  that  aided 
him  in  his  business  and  made  his  society  valuable 
to  his  numerous'friends.  After  his  marriage,  in 
1884,  he  removed  to  Lake  Geneva,  Wis.,  and 
entered  the  hardware  business  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  T.  C.  Smith  &  Co.  After  the  death 
of  Mr.  Smith  Mr.  Booth  came  to  Joliet,  in  1887, 
and  founded  the  business  in  which  he  afterward 
engaged,  and  which  he  enlarged  from  time  to 
time.      He  had  a  three-story  laundry  operated  by 

15 


steam  and  furnished  with  modern  appliances,  it 
being  the  largest  and  best"  laundry  in  the  city. 
He  was  active  in  the  National  Laundrymen's 
Association,  and  assisted  in  organizing  the  Illi- 
nois State  Laundrymen's  Association,  of  which 
he  was  elected  the  second  president.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Republican,  and  in  religion  a  Univer- 
salis!. He  was  a  charter  member  and  stock- 
holder in  the  Union  Club.  Fraternally  he  be- 
longed to  Matteson  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  Joliet  Chapter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.,  Joliet 
Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T.,  and  Medinah  Tem- 
ple, N.  M.  S.,  of  Chicago. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Booth  took  place  in 
Chicago,  September  10,  1S84,  and  united  him 
with  Miss  Susan  F.  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
Ottawa,  111.,  a  daughter  of  Nohr  R.  and  Anna 
(Brush)  Smith,  natives  of  Homer,  N.  Y.,  and 
Amityville,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.  Her  grand- 
father, Nohr  R.  Smith,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Bridge- 
port, Conn.,  and  became  a  large  miller  in  Homer, 
N.  Y.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  Cort- 
land Academy,  and  served  as  a  member  of  the 
original  board  of  twelve  trustees,  continuing  on 
the  board  until  his  death,  at  seventy-four  years. 
His  father  was  a  captain  in  the  coasting  trade 
and  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  of  English  an- 
cestry. Nohr  R.  Smith,  Jr.,  graduated  from 
the  academy  which  had  been  founded  largely 
through  his  father's  efforts.  When  a  young 
man  he  settled  in  Ottawa,  111.,  where  he  built 
up  a  large  and  profitable  grain  business.  His 
death  occurred  in  Secor,  111.,  in  1877.  Politi- 
cally he  voted  with  the  Democrats.  His  wife, 
who  was  a  member  of  an  old  Long  Island  family, 
died  in  Ottawa.     They  were  the  parents  of  three 


3l° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children,  but  Mrs.  Booth  is  the  sole  survivor. 
She  was  educated  in  Cortland  Academy  and  Mon- 
ticello  Seminar)-  at  Godfrey,  111.,  and  is  now  an 
educated  and  accomplished  woman,  possessing 
not  only  social  charms,  but  also  business  ability, 
and  is  successfully  managing  the  business  estab- 
lished by  her  husband.  Like  him,  she  is  a  be- 
liever in  the  doctrines  of  the  Universalist  Church. 
As  he  was  active  in  Masonry,  she,  too,  has  been 
prominent  in  the  allied  organization,  the  Eastern 
Star,  and  is  past  matron  in  Chapter  No.  187  in 
Joliet.  Mr.  Booth  died  June  24,  1899,  and  three 
days  later  his  remains  were  buried,  with  Masonic 
honors,  in  Oakwood  cemetery.  He  is  remem- 
bered as  a  reliable,  industrious  business  man, 
who  abundantly  deserved  the  prosperity  that  his 
efforts  had  gained. 


|"~  RANK  E.  MARSH,  a  resident  of  Joliet,  is 
f^  engaged  in  the  grain  and  coal  business  at 
I  Plainfield  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Marsh 
&  Wood.  He  was  born  in  Joliet  June  27,  1849, 
a  son  ofH.  N.  Marsh,  elsewhere  represented  in 
this  work.  His  education  was  obtained  in  local 
public  schools  and  Chicago  Academy.  His  first 
business  was  in  connection  with  railroading. 
After  two  months  of  work  as  a  substitute  he  was 
given  the  position  of  ticket  agent  and  operator  in 
the  Joliet  office  of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  his 
father  at  the  time  being  freight  agent  for  the 
same  road.  The  position  was  one  of  responsibil- 
ity, but,  although  he  was  quite  young,  he  proved 
himself  fully  equal  to  the  demands  made  upon 
him.  He  remained  with  the  company  for  six 
years,  leaving  in  1S74  in  order  to  embark  in  the 
grain  business  with  Mr.  Carpenter  as  a  partner. 
In  1879  another  partner  was  taken  into  the  firm, 
the  title  of  which  then  became  Carpenter,  Marsh 
&  Speer.  By  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Carpenter  in 
1 88 1  the  name  was  changed  to  Marsh  &  Speer, 
and  as  such  continued  until  1886. 

Forming  a  partnership  with  Milton  R.  Wood 
in  1886,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  engaged  in  the 


grain  business  in  Plainfield,  where  he  built  the 
elevator  and  has  since  had  charge  of  the  same, 
his  partner  living  in  Chicago.  In  1888  the  firm 
built  an  elevator  at  Normantown,  three  miles 
northwest  of  Plainfield,  and  this  they  operated 
until  the  summer  of  1899,  when  they  sold  it. 
They  have  built  an  elevator  at  Wolfs  Crossing, 
six  miles  northwest  of  Plainfield,  which  they 
operate. 

In  national  politics  Mr.  Marsh  is  a  Republican, 
but  is  inclined  to  be  independent  in  local  matters. 
For  four  terms  of  two  years  each  he  was  alder- 
man from  the  fourth  ward  of  Joliet,  and  for  three 
3^ears  he  held  the  office  of  school  inspector.  In 
1873  he  married  Miss  Kate  Richmond,  of  Joliet, 
who  died  in  1879.  Of  the  three  children  born  to 
this  union,  one,  Kate,  died  in  infancy.  The  older 
son,  H.  Richmond  Marsh,  M.  D.,  a  graduate  of 
the  New  York  Homeopathic  College,  has  since 
1896  been  employed  as  a  government  teacher  and 
medical  missionary  at  Point  Barrow,  Alaska. 
The  second  sou,  Loren  W.,  represents  the  Lux- 
fer  Prism  Company  in  Boston,  Mass.  In  1882 
Mr.  Marsh  married  Miss  Ida  Pierce,  of  Green- 
field, Mass.,  and  one  son  survives  her,  Ralph  L. 
The  present  wife  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Jessie  Gaskell  and  was  born  in  Seward 
Township,  Kendall  County. 

As  a  business  man  Mr.  Marsh  is  careful  and 
active,  full  of  life  and  energy,  and  by  good  man- 
agement and  perseverance  he  has  placed  himself 
in  the  front  ranks  of  the  successful  business  men 
of  the  county. 


(]OHN  D.  KOBLISKA,  deceased,  formerly 
I  of  Homer  Township,  was  born  in  Lockport, 
(2/  this  county,  June  8,  1856,  and  was  a  son  of 
Francis  and  Mary  E.  Kobliska,  natives  of  Bohe- 
mia. His  parents  came  to  America  in  1853  and 
settled  in  Homer  Township,  where  his  father 
commenced  to  farm  on  a  small  scale,  but  in  time 
he  was  prospered,  and  when  he  died,  in  1879,  he 
left  considerable  property  to  his  children.  His 
wife  survived  him  twenty  years,  dying  in   1899. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3ii 


On  the  home  farm  our  subject  grew  to  manhood, 
receiving  his  education  in  district  schools.  In 
1870  he  bought  the  eighty-acre  farm  where  his 
family  still  lives,  and  here  he  engaged  in  truck 
gardening,  finding  a  market  for  his  produce  in 
Joliet  and  along  the  canal.  He  was  an  honest, 
hard-working,  persevering  man,  who  toiled  tire- 
lessly in  order  to  surround  his  family  with  the 
comforts  of  life.  Had  his  life  been  prolonged  he 
would  undoubtedly  have  enjoyed  an  increasing 
success,  as  he  had  established  his  business  on  a 
substantial  basis  and  had  built  up  an  excellent 
trade;  but,  while  still  in  the  prime  of  his  useful- 
ness, he  passed  from  earth.  With  the  thought- 
fulness  of  one  who  is  devoted  to  his  family  he 
had  carried  a  life  insurance,  and  this,  together 
with  his  farm,  left  his  family  comfortably  pro- 
vided for.  He  had  erected  a  number  of  build- 
ings on  the  place;  in  1890  fire  entailed  a  heavy 
loss,  but  he  rebuilt  the  same  year.  In  his  polit- 
ical relations  he  was  a  Democrat.  However,  he 
was  not  active  in  politics  and  never  aspired  to 
office,  finding  sufficient  to  occupy  his  time  in  the 
management  of  his  farm  and  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  toward  his  family  and  his  friends.  His 
death  occurred  September  3,  1896,  when  he  was 
forty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Kobliska  is  survived  by  his  wife,  whom 
he  married  December  3,  1881,  and  who  was  Mary 
E.  Mende,  daughter  of  Anton  Mende,  of  Chica- 
go. Their  five  children  are:  Charles  A.,  Ella, 
George  W.,  Paul  F.  and  Ruth  Marie,  all  of 
whom  are  students  in  the  Lockport  school.  The 
eldest  son,  who  is  a  bright  and  intelligent  youth 
of  sixteen  years,  carries  on  the  home  place  with 
the  assistance  of  his  mother. 


.  LIEL  S.  BRUNSON,  a  well-known  farmer 

'S   of  Dupage  Township,  is  one  of  the  oldest 

_    native-born  citizens  of  the  county,  his  birth 

having  occurred  in  Lockport  Township  April  22, 

1835.     His  father,  Cyrus,  a  native  of  Roxbury, 

Conn.,  born  in  1789,  was  reared  in  York  state,  and 


there  married  Susanna  Maxwell,  February  14, 
1815.  She  died  September  2,  1825,  and  afterward 
he  married  Harriet  E.  Scudder,  the  date  of  their 
union  being  February  17,  1828.  In  1833  he 
started  with  his  family  for  the  west,  traveling  by 
canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  team  to  Ohio,  where 
he  spent  the  winter.  In  1834  he  completed  the 
journey  to  Illinois  via  wagon,  arriving  in  Will 
County  in  April.  All  the  surroundings  were 
those  of  the  frontier.  There  were  but  three 
houses  between  the  land  where  he  settled  and 
Chicago,  and  in  the  entire  county  there  was  only 
one  frame  house.  He  took  up  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  government  land  and  eighty  acres  of 
canal  land.  Almost  his  sole  neighbor  was  his 
brother-in-law,  who  had  settled  here  in  1833,  ar>d 
through  whose  solicitations  he  had  been  induced 
to  come.  On  his  land  he  raised  wheat,  averaging 
forty  bushels  to  the  acre,  and  this  he  hauled  to 
Chicago.  He  built  the  stone  house  on  the  road 
to  Joliet  which  was  long  known  as  the  old  Brun- 
son  place.  As  time  passed  by  and  he  prospered 
he  added  other  land  to  his  place,  and  gave  to 
each  of  his  sons  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
Though  interested  in  political  affairs  he  took  no 
part  in  them,  preferring  to  devote  himself  to  the 
improvement  of  his  place.  While  in  the  east  he 
held  a  number  of  local  offices,  and  after  coming 
west  he  was  often  urged  to  accept  the  nomination 
for  township  and  county  offices,  but  always  re- 
fused. During  the  war  of  181 2  he  was  a  captain 
in  the  volunteer  service,  and  afterward  was  con- 
nected with  the  state  militia.  After  Buffalo  was 
burned  by  the  British  his  company  was  ordered 
there,  and  stationed  at  Twelve-Mile  Creek.  In 
politics  he  upheld  Whig  principles.  His  only 
brother,  Harvey,  who  removed  from  New  York 
to  Ohio,  enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  hardships  and  exposure  of  army 
service.  His  father,  Thomas,  was  one  of  six 
brothers  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
from  which  it  will  be  seen  that  the  family  is  in- 
tensely patriotic.  The  first  of  the  name  in  Amer- 
ica crossed  the  ocean  shortly  after  the  arrival  of 
the  "Mayflower"  in  New  England,  and  several 
succeeding  generations  remained  in  the  east. 
By  his  first  wife  Cyrus  Brunson  had  five  chil- 


312 


GENEALOGICAL,  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dren,  viz.:  Montreville,  born  July  16,  1817; 
PhcebeL.,  April  i,  1819;  Cyrus  M.,  April  12, 
1821;  David  H.,  December  25,  1822;  and  Susan 
E.,  August  16,  1S25.  By  his  second  wife  four 
children  were  born,  namely:  Eliel  S. ;  Marshall 
N.,  who  was  born  April  18,  1838,  aud  died  in 
infancy;  Clarissa,  born  November  23,  1840;  and 
Harriet  A.,  who  was  born  July  25,  1845,  and 
died  i'n  childhood.  The  father  of  this  family  was 
killed  by  lightning  in  1857,  and  n's  widow  died 
in  November,  1892,  when  eighty-two  years  of 
age. 

When  a  boy  the  subject  of  this  sketch  had  no 
educational  advantages  whatever,  as  schools  were 
few,  aud  even  had  they  been  numerous,  the  work 
on  the  home  farm  would  have  prevented  him 
from  attending.  After  his  father's  death  he  took 
up  the  management  of  the  homestead,  remaining 
there  until  1863,  when  he  bought  a  quarter  sec- 
tion in  Dupage  Township.  This  land  had  orig- 
inally been  taken  up  by  his  uncle,  who  sold  it  to 
John  Frink,  and  the  latter  used  it  as  a  stopping- 
place  for  stages.  Our  subject  bought  it  from  Mr. 
Frink.  About  forty  acres  had  been  broken,  a 
log-house  and  a  small  barn  had  been  built,  but 
no  other  attempt  at  improvement  had  been  made. 
He  built  a  new  house  and  made  other  valuable 
improvements,  but  on  the  morning  of  August  26, 
1893,  a  fire  occurred  that  destroyed  six  buildings 
on  his  farm,  every  tool  that  he  had  aud  $1,000 
worth  of  grain.  By  dint  of  hard  work  he  was 
able  to  save  the  residence  from  destruction.  This 
house  was  built  in  1876,  aud  he  still  occupies  it. 
The  farm  is  a  fine  place,  and  its  neat  appearance 
bespeaks  the  thrift  of  the  owner.  He  bought 
fifty  acres  adjoining  his  original  purchase,  and 
cultivated  the  whole  until  1893,  when  he  retired. 
Iu  stock-raising  his  specialty  was  Shropshire 
sheep.  In  1884  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  at  Lemont.  Politically  a  Repub- 
lican, he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  public 
affairs,'  and  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  twelve  years,  as  township  school  treasurer 
for  eight  years,  and  township  trustee  for  many 
years. 

In  1859  Mr.  Bruuson  married  Elizabeth  Alden, 
member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  America, 


being  of  the  eighth  generation  in  direct  descent 
from  John  Alden  and  Priscilla  Mullins,  of  Puritan 
fame.  The  Alden  family  is  now,  asiu  early  days, 
noted  for  the  unassuming  demeanor  of  its  mem- 
bers, their  honesty  and  integrity.  As  a  rule, 
they  have  followed  the  profession  of  teaching, 
although  Mrs.  Bruuson's  father,  Simeon  Alden, 
learned  a  trade  when  a  young  man,  and  after 
settling  in  this  county  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  born  in  Stafford,  Conn.,  and  in  early  man- 
hood removed  to  New  York  state,  where  his 
daughter  was  born.  In  1S46  he  settled  in  Chi- 
cago, and  in  1853  established  his  home  iu  Dupage 
County.  At  the  time  that  he  came  west  Chicago 
was  a  small  hamlet,  containing  only  one  school, 
although  two  more  were  built  during  the  year  of 
his  arrival.  The  Sherman  house  was  the  largest 
building  iu  the  city,  and  it  was  raised  in  1846  and 
made  five  stories  in  height.  No  attempt  had 
been  made  to  pave  the  streets,  and  teams  often 
stuck  in  the  mud  in  what  is  now  the  heart  of  the 
city.  Though  Mrs.  Bruuson  was  but  a  child  at 
the  time,  all  these  things  made  an  indelible  im- 
presssion  on  her  mind,  and  often  now  she  takes 
pleasure  in  contrasting  the  great  city  of  to-day 
with  the  muddy,  dingy  hamlet  of  fifty-  years  ago. 


("JULIUS  W.  FOLK,  M.  Dm  who  is  living  re- 
I  tired  in  Joliet,  is  a  member  of  a  German 
G/  family.  His  father,  Henry,  was  born  in  the 
kingdom  of  Brunswick,  Germany,  June  12,  1806, 
and,  being  the  only  son  of  wealthy  parents,  was 
given  the  best  advantages  which  ample  means 
rendered  possible.  He  graduated  in  medicine 
from  the  University  of  Heidelberg.  In  1S33  he 
came  to  America  and  settled  iu  York,  Pa.,  but 
afterward  removed  to  Abbottstown,  Adams 
County,  Pa.,  and  later  went  to  Holmesburg,  the 
same  state.  In  the  spring  of  1849  he  settled  in 
Illinois,  remaining  for  a  short  time  in  Blue  Is- 
land. The  year  1851  found  him  iu  Mokena,  this 
county,  and  in  1854  ne  settled  in  Greengarden 
Township,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  three  huu- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3i3 


dred  and  sixty  acres  and  superintended  its  culti- 
vation while  also  practicing  medicine.  He  was 
the  first  physician  to  settle  in  Peotone,  where  he 
continued  to  make  his  home  until  he  died,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1888.  He  was  a  man  well  versed  in  the 
classics  and  general  history,  as  well  as  in  the 
science  of  medicine,  and  his  broad  knowledge 
upon  every  subject  of  importance  gave  value  to 
his  opinion.     In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

Twice  married,  the  first  wife  of  Dr.  Henry 
Folk  was  Christine  Kinsman,  who  died  April  19, 
1S43,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  less 
than  one  year  old.  Afterward  the  doctor  mar- 
ried Louisa  Kinsman,  a  half-sister  of  his  first 
wife,  and  who  now  makes  her  home  with  a 
daughter  in  Houston,  Tex.  The  sisters,  Chris- 
tine and  Louisa,  were  born  in  Germany.  When 
they  were  children  the  family  decided  to  come  to 
America.  However,  on  their  arrival  at  the  sea- 
port they  found  the  ship  had  sailed  which  they 
intended  to  take;  and,  as  another  would  not  leave 
for  a  long  time  for  the  United  States,  they  deter- 
mined to  take  a  sailing  vessel  about  to  leave  for 
Jamaica,  hoping  later  to  get  to  this  country. 
While  they  were  on  the  vessel  ship  fever  broke 
out  and  the  father  fell  a  victim  to  the  disease, 
dying  at  sea.  Soon  after  landing  the  mother 
died  and  later  two  of  the  oldest  sons  passed  away, 
leaving  the  other  children  alone  and  helpless  in 
a  foreign  country.  An  aunt  living  in  York,  Pa., 
was  corresponded  with  and  sent  for  them  to  join 
her,  which  they  did,  reaching  York  in  1837, 
three  years  after  they  had  started  on  the  ill-fated 
voyage.  The  family  had  possessed  large  means, 
but  the  illness  of  the  parents  and  sons,  with  ex- 
orbitant bills  for  physicians  and  nurses  and  high 
hotel  rates,  together  with  the  fact  that  grasping 
strangers  had  imposed  upon  the  little  children, 
rendered  them  poor. 

Dr.  Folk  was  the  second  child  and  only  son 
among  seven  children  who  attained  maturity. 
He  was  born  in  Holmesburg,  Pa.,  July  5,  1842, 
and  came  west  when  a  child  with  his  father.  In 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  One 
Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  service  as  a  corporal  at  Springfield. 
Soon    he  was   assigned   to  hospital  duty  under 


Dr.  A.  W.  Heise,  of  Joliet,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  some  time.  Later  he  went  to  the  south 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Laverne,  Stone 
River  and  Chickamauga.  In  February,  1864,  he 
was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  physical 
disability.  The  year  after  his  return  home  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Heise. 
In  1866  he  entered  Chicago  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1869,  and  afterward 
he  practiced  with  his  former  preceptor  for  two 
years  in  Joliet. 

Turning  his  attention  from  medicine  to  rail- 
roading, Dr.  Folk  became  a  contractor  with  J.  A. 
Henry  in  1871.  He  built  a  switch  on  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  from  Joliet  to  the  gravel  pit,  and 
then  was  connected  with  the  Dwight  &  Wash- 
ington branch  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  road.  His 
next  contract  was  for  the  building  of  a  road  from 
Roodhouse  to  the  Mississippi  River.  Next  he 
went  into  Texas  as  a  contractor  on  the  Houston 
&  Great  Northern,  built  by  Shepherd  &  Henry, 
and  spent  three  years  in  that  state,  where  he  had 
charge  of  the  construction  of  the  road.  Later  he 
was  employed  on  the  Houston,  Arkansas  & 
Northern  Railroad  and  on  the  government  works 
at  Mussel  Shoals,  Ala.  His  last  contract  was  on 
the  Mississippi  levee  in  Missouri.  In  1895  he 
retired  from  the  railroad  and  contracting  busi- 
ness, since  which  time  he  has  given  his  attention 
to  the  supervision  of  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  three  miles  southwest  of  Joliet  and  to 
the  oversight  of  his  other  interests.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Will  County  Bank,  and  at  one  time 
served  on  its  board  of  directors. 

In  the  blue  lodge  at  Manteno,  111.,  Dr.  Folk 
was  made  a  Mason,  and  he  is  now  a  member  of 
Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T.  He  has  always 
supported  the  platform  of  the  Republican  part}', 
although  he  has  not  been  active  in  politics.  His 
marriage  took  place  in  Joliet  and  united  him  with 
Miss  Helen  J.  Henry,  who  was  born  in  Berlin, 
Hartford  County,  Conn.,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  A. 
and  Nancy  E.  (Briggs)  Henry.  When  she  was 
about  three  years  old  she  was  brought  to  Illinois 
by  her  parents  and  has  since  made  her  home  in 
Will  Count)-.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Univer- 
salist    Church,  in    the   work  of  which    she    has 


3'4 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


maintained  an  interest  and  to  which  she  has  been 
a  generous  contributor.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Folk  have 
two  children:  J.  Albert,  who  is  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1902,  Culver  (Ind.)  Military  Academy; 
and  Ethel  Louise. 


'HOMAS  SWINBANK,  deceased,  who  was 
for  some  years  connected  with  the  rolling 
mills  of  Joliet,  was  born  at  Swinbank,  Ken- 
dall, England,  February  8,  1849,  a  son  of  Joseph 
Swinbank,  a  farmer  and  freeholder  in  that  locali- 
ty, and  later  a  part  owner  of  a  rolling  mill  at 
Elsecor,  where  he  died.  Through  his  mother  he 
descended  from  the  noble  families  of  Bath  and 
Birketts.  He  married  Ann  Megean,  whose 
mother  was  a  member  of  the  noble  house  of  Bath. 
Both  Joseph  Swinbank  and  his  wife  have  long 
been  dead.  Of  their  six  children,  two  sisters  re- 
main in  England.  Joseph,  who  was  an  engineer, 
died  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  John  is  with  the  Oliver 
steel  works  in  Pittsburg;  and  William  died  in 
Seattle,  Wash.,  while  on  a  trip  west  with  the  Sir 
Knights. 

When  seventeen  years  of  age  our  subject  en- 
tered the  rolling  mill  at  Elsecor,  England,  where 
his  brothers,  John  and  William,  also  learned  the 
trade.  In  1870  he  came  to  America,  settling  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  securing  employment  as  a 
heater  in  the  Cleveland  mills.  In  1883  he  went 
to  Pittsburg,  Pa. ,  as  a  heater  in  mills.  Two 
years  later  he  traveled  in  the  west,  north  and 
south.  In  1889  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  was 
employed  by  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  as  a 
heater  in  their  mills,  and  also  became  interested 
in  real  estate  and  farm  property  in  the  county. 
His  brother,  William,  who  had  put  down  a  mill 
near  Pittsburg  and  later  was  a  boss  roller  in 
Cleveland,  removed  to  Joliet  and  engaged  as  a 
boss  roller  here  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

On  retiring  from  the  mill  Mr.  Swinbank  set- 
tled on  one  of  his  farms  near  Braceville,  Grundy 
County,  but  the  location  was  not  suited  to  his 
health,  and  he  went  to  Atlantic  City.  Finally 
he    returned   to    Pittsburg,  Pa.,   where   he   died 


April  27,  1898,  and  was  buried  in  the  Allegheny 
cemetery  in  that  city.  He  had  served  as  treas- 
urer of  the  Amalgamated  Association  of  Steel 
and  Iron  Workers,  and  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee that,  at  the  time  of  the  Cleveland  strike, 
met  with  the  employers  for  arbitration.  His 
brother,  John,  was  vice-president  for  the  district 
at  the  time  of  the  great  Pittsburg  strike.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican,  in  religion  an 
Episcopalian,  and  fraternally  belonged  to  Matte- 
son  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ,  and  Joliet  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M. 

In  Pittsburg,  February  2,  1886,  Mr.  Swinbank 
married  Miss  Margaret  Robeson,  who  was  born 
in  Washington  Count}-,  Pa.,  a  daughter  of 
James  L.  and  Jane  (Lower)  Robeson,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Philadelphia  and  of  Indiana  Coun- 
ty, Pa.  Her  grandfather,  Dr.  James  Robeson, 
graduated  in  medicine  in  London  and  while  in 
his  native  land  married  Margaret  Johnson, 
daughter  of  a  shipbuilder  on  the  Clyde.  With 
his  wife  he  came  to  the  United  States.  Three 
days  after  they  landed  in  Philadelphia,  their  son, 
James  L-,  was  born.  The  latter  became  a  con- 
tracting decorator  and  artist,  and  engaged  in 
business  in  Pittsburg  until  his  death.  During 
the  Civil  war  two  of  his  brothers  served  in  the 
Union  army  and  he  raised  a  company  of  which 
he  was  elected  captain,  but  at  Washington  he  was 
discharged  on  account  of  ill  health.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  a  lieutenant  in  the  war  of  1812 
and  a  granddaughter  of  one  of  Washington's 
aides  in  the  Revolutionary  and  French  and  In- 
dian wars.  The  Lower  family  was  of  Holland- 
Dutch  descent.  Three  brothers  of  Mrs.  Robeson 
took  part  in  the  Civil  war.  She  is  still  living  and 
makes  her  home  in  Dunkirk,  Ind.  Of  her  family 
of  four  daughters  and  two  sons,  two  daughters 
and  one  son  are  living.  Franklin  is  connected 
with  the  National  Biscuit  Company  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.  William  J.,  an  artist,  died  in  Pittsburg; 
Martha  is  the  widow  of  James  Faulkner,  of 
Dunkirk,  Ind.     Belle  and  Agnes  are  deceased. 

Mrs.  Swinbank  graduated  from  Burt's  Normal 
School  and  the  Pittsburg  Academy.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  returned  to  Joliet.  In 
Jackson   Institute,    Chicago,   she   learned    dress- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3i5 


making  and  tailoring,  and  in  April,  1899,  started 
in  business  at  No.  413  Cass  street,  Joliet.  Hav- 
ing excellent  taste,  she  has  been  successful  in  her 
work  and  is  building  up  a  valuable  business.  She 
owns  eighty  acres  in  Grundy  County  and  proper- 
ty in  the  Dakotas.  In  religion  she  is  a  Uuiversal- 
ist.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were  charter 
members  of  the  Union  Club  of  Joliet,  with  which 
they  were  connected  until  their  removal  to  Grun- 
dy County.  She  has  two  children,  Edith  Marga- 
ret and  Eugene  Franklin. 


(lOHN  A.  GRANT,  who  has  spent  his  entire 
I  life  in  this  county,  was  in  June,  1898,  ap- 
(~)  pointed  deputy  internal  revenue  collector 
for  the  twelfth  division  of  the  first  district  of  Illi- 
nois, embracing  Lee,  Dekalb,  Kendall,  Dupage 
and  that  part  of  La  Salle,  Grundy  and  Will 
Counties  lying  north  of  the  Illinois  River.  For 
some  years  he  has  been  an  active  factor  in  the 
politics  of  his  county,  and  a  local  Republican 
leader.  While  residing  in  Jackson  Township  he 
served  as  collector,  and  also  held  the  office  of 
police  magistrate  of  Elwood  for  one  term.  In 
1886  and  again  in  1890  he  served  as  secretary  of 
the  county  central  committee,  and  in  other  po- 
sitions he  has  assisted  in  promoting  the  welfare 
of  his  party. 

Mr.  Grant  was  born  in  Jackson  Township, 
this  county,  July  21,  1850,  a  son  of  John  and 
Adeline  (Frazer)  Grant,  and  a  grandson  of 
John  Grant,  Sr.,  a  farmer  of  Scotland,  and 
Thomas  Frazer,  a  lifelong  resident  of  West  Vir- 
ginia. His  father,  who  was  born  at  Banfshire, 
Scotland,  in  18 16,  a  member  of  an  old  Scotch 
Presbyterian  family,  crossed  the  ocean  in  1834, 
being  the  first  of  his  family  to  seek  a  home  in 
America,  although  about  1850  three  of  his 
brothers  joined  him  in  Will  County.  After 
traveling  in  search  of  a  location  for  a  few  months 
he  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  was  employed  as  a 
sub-contractor  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal.     In  1838  he   bought  property   at  Reed's 


Grove,  which  was  the  first  farm  opened  in  Jack- 
son Township,  its  original  owner  having  been 
Charles  Reed.  There  he  began  farming  and 
stock-raising.  In  later  years  he  became  the 
owner  of  several  farms,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  in  very  comfortable  circumstances.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Whig  and  an  Abolitionist,  and 
among  the  offices  which  he  held  was  that  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  In  religion  he  was  identified 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  died 
of  the  cholera  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years  and  six  months. 

Twice  married,  John  Grant  had  by  his  first 
wife  a  son,  William  C,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
implement  business  at  Elwood.  His  second 
wife,  Adeline,  was  born  in  Greenbrier  Count}', 
W.  Va. ,  and  after  the  death  of  her  father,  in 
1834,  accompanied  her  mother  and  the  other 
children  to  Illinois,  settling  at  Forked  Creek, 
Wesley  Township,  this  county,  where  her 
mother  died  in  1880.  Four  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  Grant's  second  marriage,  namely:  Mary 
A.,  who  died  of  cholera  in  1854,  aged  nine 
years;  Mrs.  Margaret  R.  Bush,  of  Elwood;  John 
A.;  and  James  M.,  of  Joliet.  The  boyhood  days 
of  our  subject  were  passed  on  the  home  farm, 
and  his  education  was  secured  in  district  schools. 
He  remained  with  his  mother  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  settled  one 
mile  south  of  Elwood  and  improved  a  farm  of 
ninety  acres,  making  this  place  his  home  from 
1871  to  1883.  His  next  business  was  as  propri- 
etor of  a  meat  market  in  Elwood.  In  1891  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Lambert  &  Bishop 
Wire  Fence  Company,  becoming  foreman  in  the 
plain  wire  department,  where  he  remained  for 
six  years.  In  January,  1897,  he  accepted  a  po- 
sition as  keeper  in  the  state  penitentiary,  where 
he  remained  for  eighteen  months.  He  resigned 
that  position  to  accept  the  appointment  of  deputy 
internal  revenue  collector,  which  he  has  since 
filled  with  efficiency. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Grant  is  connected  with  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Court  of  Honor.  In 
religious  faith  he  is  a  Methodist.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Wilmington,  this  county,  to  Miss  C.  A. 
Fishburn,  who  was  born  in  that  place,   daughter 


316 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  John  Fishburn,  a  pioneer  farmer  there.  Four 
children  have  blessed  the  home  life  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grant,  namely:  Cynthia,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  two  and  one-half  years;  Charles,  who  is  a 
baggageman  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad; 
Lena  E.  and  Edna,  who  reside  at  home. 


$J  EORGE  MASSEY,  president  of  the  Massey 
—  Stone  Company,  has  been  prominently  iden- 
>_J  tified  of  recent  years  with  the  development 
of  the  quarry  interests  in  this  county.  His  con- 
nection with  the  quarry  of  which  he  is  now  the 
proprietor  began  in  1892,  when  the  Kirkpatrick, 
Howk  &  Massey  Stone  Company  was  organized, 
with  himself  as  president  and  owner  of  one-half 
interest.  The  company  opened  a  quarry  on  Mill 
road,  near  Richards  street,  at  once  beginning  to 
operate  the  same.  After  three  years  Mr.  Massey 
purchased  the  interest  of  his  partners,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  alone.  He  is  the  owner  of 
eighteen  acres  of  quarry,  which  is  connected  by  a 
switch  with  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad, 
and  is  provided  with  a  complete  equipment  of 
derricks,  steam  drills,  etc.  The  products  of  the 
quarry  are  shipped  to  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, and,  the  quality  being  very  desirable,  bring 
a  fair  return  to  the  owner. 

A  son  of  William  and  Ellen  (Cleary)  Massey, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  home 
farm  in  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  and  descended 
from  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Ballylander.  Of 
seven  children,  he  and  three  other  sons  survive, 
John  being  in  Chicago,  William  at  Lake  Geneva, 
Wis.,  and  Charles  in  South  Chicago.  When  a 
boy  he  studied  in  the  national  schools  of  Ireland. 
In  1861,  accompanied  by  his  mother,  he  crossed 
the  ocean  from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  the  jour- 
ney on  a  sailing  vessel,  the  "North  America," 
taking  forty  days.  He  at  once  joined  his  three 
brothers  and  two  sisters  at   Lake  Geneva,  Wis., 


and  for  two  years  worked  on  a  farm  near  that 
place.  Next  he  went  to  Racine,  Wis.,  and  for  a 
year  was  employed  in  J.  I.  Case's  machine  shop. 
Going  from  there  to  Chicago  he  worked  in  the 
Northwestern  Railroad  shops.  In  1S71  he  en- 
gaged in  general  contracting  in  the  same  city, 
but  two  years  later  established  his  home  in  Joliet, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  carried  on  con- 
tracting and  a  real-estate  business  in  this  city 
until  1892,  since  which  time  he  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  stone  industry.  He  has  bought 
and  sold  considerable  property,  and  built  the 
house  which  he  now  occupies  on  Collins  street. 
Here  he  owns  six  fine  buildings  that  pay  a  good 
rental  and  are  among  the  best  investments  on  the 
street.  He  also  owns  five  acres  of  quarryland 
two  miles  west  of  his  old  quarry,  which  is  also 
a  good  investment  and  will  prove  a  heritage  to 
his  descendants. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Massey  is  independ- 
ent, never  having  mingled  in  public  affairs  to  any 
extent,  but  preferring  to  devote  himself  ex- 
clusively to  his  business  interests.  He  was 
reared  in  the  Roman  Catholic  faith  and  is  now 
a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Church.  In  this  city  he 
married  Miss  Lizzie  Kelley,  who  was  born  in 
County  Limerick,  Ireland,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Kelley,  at  one  time  a  resident  of  Joliet,  but 
who  died  in  Chicago  at  eighty-four  years  of  age. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Massey  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren: Nella  T.  and  Catherine  Y. ,  who  are  grad- 
uates of  St.  Mary's  Academy;  William  E.,  who  is 
taking  a  business  course;  Lizzie  G.  and  George, 

Jr. 

Mr.  Masse}'  deserves  much  credit  for  his  suc- 
cess in  life.  Starting  almost  without  a  dollar, 
but  being  endowed  with  a  great  amount  of  energy 
and  perseverance,  he  was  determined  to  succeed. 
His  life  is  a  study  to  the  historian  of  this  country 
and  an  example  to  the  younger  generation.  His 
reputation  for  honest  dealing  is  proverbial  and 
his  jolly  greetings  and  hearty  ways  will  long  be 
remembered  by  the  citizens  of  Joliet. 


UNIVERSITY  0^   |!_"*OIS 


(nnt 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3i9 


HORACE  HUMPHREY. 


HORACE  HUMPHREY,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Humphrey  &  Sons,  is  proprietor 
of  the  oldest  manufacturing  establishment 
in  Joliet  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  one 
of  the  pioneer  foundry  men  in  Illinois.  In  1861 
he  began  the  foundry  business  on  a  small 
scale,  building  a  foundry  on  land  that  he 
first  rented  but  later  purchased.  Gradually 
the  business  grew  to  Targe  proportions,  a 
machine  shop  was  erected  with  a  capacity  of 
forty  tons,  and  other  improvements  were  made 
from  time  to  time.  At  this  writing  the  business 
place  has  a  frontage  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  on  Ottawa  street.  Machinery  and  castings 
of  all  kinds  are  manufactured  and  the  quality  of 
the  products  is  such  as  to  insure  a  steady  demand 
for  them. 

Mr.  Humphrey  represents  the  fourth  genera- 
tion in  descent  from  a  native  of  Holland,  who,  on 
account  of  persecution,  went  to  Germany;  he 
married  a  lady  in  Holland  who  was  related  to  the 
Van  Zandts,  Bogardners  and  Anneka  Jans  family. 
The  grandfather,  John  Humphrey,  St.,  a  black- 
smith by  trade,  devoted  himself  mainly  to  farm- 
ing in  Canada.  Owing  to  his  connection  with 
political  affairs  in  that  country  his  farm  was  con- 
fiscated and  he  was  forced  to  leave.  He  removed 
to  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  and  later  to  Baldwinsville, 
the  same  state,  where  he  died.  His  son,  John, 
Jr.,  was  born  six  miles  from  Montreal,  and  be- 
came a  moulder  and  foundryman  in  Baldwins- 
ville, N.  Y.,  but  removed  to  the  west  in  later 
years  and  settled  near  Adrian,  Mich. ,  where  he 
died.  He  married  Phidelia  Darrow,  who  was 
born,  of  English  parentage,  in  what  is  now 
Oneida    County,   N.   Y.,  and  died  in  Michigan. 


Of  their  six  children  only  three  are  living,  our 
subject  and  two  sisters. 

The  oldest  of  the  family,  Horace,  was  born  at 
Baldwinsville,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1828.  From  early 
boyhood  he  was  familiar  with  work  in  a  foundry, 
and  when  very  young  was  accustomed  to  make 
and  sell  castings  for  people  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  was  made  a  partner  in  the  business  and  re- 
mained there  for  some  years.  In  1850  his  father 
went  to  California,  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
where  he  waited  three  months  for  transportation. 
During  his  father's  absence  he  conducted  the 
business.  On  the  former's  return,  in  1851,  he 
went  to  Cleveland,  working  there  until  the 
spring  of  1852,  when  he  returned  to  New  York. 
Two  years  later,  having  been  offered  a  position 
in  Joliet,  he  came  to  this  city  and  entered  the 
foundry  of  Jones  &  Cogwin  as  foreman.  He 
continued  with  the  firm  until  they  sold  out  two 
years  later,  after  which  he  was  employed  at 
carriage-making.  In  1861  he  embarked  in  the 
foundry  business  for  himself  and  during  the 
almost  forty  years  that  have  since  elapsed  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  manufacturing  interests 
of  Joliet.  He  has  given  his  time  very  closely  to 
business  matters,  with  no  desire  to  enter  politics 
and  no  wish  to  hold  public  office,  his  participation 
in  public  affairs  being  confined  to  the  casting  of  a 
Republican  vote.  While  in  Baldwinsville,  N.  Y., 
he  married  Miss  Lucinda  Howe,  daughter  of 
Cyrel  Howe,  a  farmer  of  that  town.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Mrs.  Ida  Payne,  of  Joliet; 
Cora,  widow  of  W.  J.  Evans,  deceased;  H.  Fred 
and  Harry  B. ,  who  are  connected  with  their 
father  in  business. 


320 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(JOSEPH  LADD  HURD,  deceased,  formerly 
I  one  of  the  successful  grain  dealers  of  Joliet, 
Q)  was  born  in  Acton,  Mass.,  May  18,  1821,  of 
English  descent,  and  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
Ann  (Heald)  Hurd.  His  father,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  born  July  27,  1756,  was  a  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Grace  (Estabrook)  Hurd,  and  a 
grandson  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Barlow) 
Hurd.  The  preceding  generation  was  represented 
by  Jacob  Hurd,  who  came  from  England  in  an 
early  day  and  founded  the  family  at  Charlestown, 
Mass.  The  genealogy  of  the  Healds  is  traced 
back  to  John  Heald,  a  native  of  Bunwick-on- 
Tweed,  and  a  member  of  a  family  noted  for  the 
physical  stature  and  mental  attributes  of  its  male 
members.  He  settled  in  Massachusetts  in  1641, 
and  his  descendant,  our  subject's  mother,  was 
born  in  that  state,  February  7,  1786. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  in 
the  east.  About  1858  he  came  to  Joliet  and  at 
once  became  interested  in  the  grain  business,  op- 
erating the  Michigan  Central  elevator  and  own- 
ing other  elevators  on  the  same  road.  For  some 
years  he  owned  the  village  of  Bloon,  a  small  grain 
town,  that  is  now  a  part  of  Chicago  Heights.  In 
his  business  he  had  abundant  opportunities  for 
the  exercise  of  the  sterling  qualities  of  manhood 
and  the  exhibition  of  those  habits  which  are  wor- 
thy of  emulation.  By  his  integrity  he  won  the 
confidence  of  his  associates  and  was  classed 
among  the  best  citizens  of  his  home  town.  In 
politics  he  was  in  sympathy  with  the  Republican 
party  and  took  great  interest  in  supporting  all 
political  matters  that  tended  to  the  improvement 
of  the  city  or  county.  Fraternally  he  was  a 
Chapter  Mason,  and  in  religion  a  Unitarian. 
Ere  yet  old  age  had  come  to  him,  his  busy 
life  ended  and  he  passed  from  earth,  June  12, 
1876. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Hurd  married  in  Joliet, 
January  1,  187 1,  and  who  is  still  living  in  this 
city,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jannett  A.  Tullock, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Ruth  Eliza 
(Winters)  Tullock.  Her  father,  who  was  born 
in  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  in  1812,  and  was  the 
younger  son  in  a  family  consisting  of  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.     As  his  father,   James  Tul- 


lock, was  a  farmer  of  some  means,  he  was  given 
good  educational  advantages  in  his  native  land. 
After  coming  to  the  United  States  he  traveled 
some,  especially  in  New  York  and  Michigan. 
Having  learned  the  stone  mason's  trade,  he  gave 
his  attention  to  it  in  different  towns.  On  Christ- 
mas day  of  1845,  in  Lucas  County,  Ohio,  he 
married  Miss  Winters,  who  was  born  in  Delaware 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  who  now  owns  the  home 
where  Mrs.  Hurd  resides  in  Joliet.  Immediately 
after  his  marriage  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  contracting.  He  helped  to  build  the 
Jackson  street  dam  that  was  used  for  almost  fifty- 
five  years,  and  he  built  the  Hyde  dam  mill,  also 
many  residences,  a  few  of  which  still  stand.  He 
witnessed  and  contributed  to  the  early  growth  of 
Joliet  and  was  one  of  its  enterprising  pioneers. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  early  identified  themselves 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  was  a  con- 
tributor to  church  work  as  long  as  he  lived. 
Fraternally  he  was  connected  with  the  Masons. 
From  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  this  city,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1846,  until  his  death,  in  1857,  ne  aided  in 
local  movements  and  gave  his  support  to  all  plans 
for  the  benefit  of  the  town.  For  his  family  resi- 
dence he  built  a  house  on  the  corner  of  Scott  and 
Jefferson  streets,  which  was  then  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  city.  Of  the  three  children  comprising  his 
family,  Mrs.  Hurd  was  the  eldest.  The  other 
daughter,  Avelena  D.,  married  Llewellyn  Baker 
and  resides  in  Oakland,  Cal.;  the  son,  George  A. 
Tullock,  is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in 
Joliet.  Mrs.  Tullock  is  the  only  survivor  of  ten 
children  forming  the  family  of  James  and 
Electa  (Eggleston)  Winters.  Her  father,  who 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  removed  from  New 
York  to  Lucas  County,  Ohio,  where  he  cleared  a 
farm  and  remained  until  his  death.  His  wife, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Eggleston,  was 
born  in  New  York,  of  English  descent,  and  died 
in  Michigan. 

Mrs.  and  Mrs.  Hurd  were  the  parents  of  two 
sons,  viz.:  Charles  H.,  who  graduated  from  the 
Joliet  high  school,  and  now  owns  a  rice  planta- 
tion in  Louisiana;  and  William  Ladd,  a  photog- 
rapher in  Joliet.  Having  spent  her  life  in  Joliet, 
Mrs.  Hurd  is  well  acquainted  in  the  city  and  has 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


321 


many  warm  friends  among  the  best  people  here. 
She  is  connected  with  the  Universalist  Society. 
Various  charitable  enterprises  have  received  her 
assistance  and  her  philanthropic  spirit  leads  her 
into  active  participation  in  movements  of  a  benev- 
olent nature. 


©GIlLLIAM  H.  SHIFFER,  one  of  the  lead- 
\  A  /  ing  farmers  of  Manhattan  Township,  was 
V  V  born  in  Clarion  County,  Pa.,  in  1845,  and 
descends  from  German  ancestors,  who  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  in  an  early  day.  His  father,  Will- 
iam, a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  181 1, 
learned  the  miller's  trade  in  his  native  county, 
and  this  occupation  he  followed  there,  at  the 
same  time  owning  and  cultivating  a  farm.  In  1S57 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Plainfield,  this  county,  but  after  a  few  years 
bought  a  farm  near  Lockport.  In  1866  he  dis- 
posed of  his  Illinois  property  and  moved  to  Polk 
County,  Iowa,  but  five  years  later  he  went  to 
Rooks  County,  Kans. ,  and  entered  a  claim  to 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  Clearing 
the  ground,  he  put  up  farm  buildings,  placed 
the  land  under  cultivation,  built  fences,  erected 
a  house,  and  in  time  made  the  farm  a  valuable 
place.  He  continued  to  reside  there  until  his 
death  at  eight}'  years.  During  the  existence  of 
the  Know-Nothing  party  he  advocated  its  prin- 
ciples,  and  afterward  became  a  Republican. 

The  marriage  of  William  Shiffer  united  him 
with  Elizabeth  Near,  who  was  born  in  Germany 
and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  at  eight  years 
of  age,  growing  to  womanhood  in  Pennsylvania. 
They  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children, 
namely:  John,  of  Joliet;  Lewis,  who  lives  near 
Plainfield,  in  Kendall  County;  Mary,  the  widow 
of  Francis  Delong,  of  Joliet;  Sarah,  wife  of  Syl- 
vester Hannes,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Solomon, 
whose  home  is  in  Joliet;  Robert,  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa;  William  H.;  Rebecca,  the  widow  of 
William  Haines,  of  Rooks  County,  Kans.;  Pris- 
cilla,  wife  of  Nelson  Bellward;  Simon,  of  Polk 
County,    Iowa;  Charles,    residing    in   Colorado; 


and  Lavinia,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Rollins,  of 
South  Dakota.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  Will  County  when  eighty-one  years  of 
age.  Four  of  the  sons  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  took  part  in  its  leading  battles.  John 
was  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
second  Pennsylvania  Regiment.  Lewis,  Solo- 
mon and  Robert  belonged  to  the  Forty-sixth  Illi- 
nois Volunteers. 

At  the  time  the  family  settled  in  this  county 
our  subject  was  a  boy  of  twelve  years.  He  was 
educated  in  common  schools  and  Plainfield  Col- 
lege. In  1869  he  came  to  Manhattan  Township 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  24.  Four 
years  later  he  sold  that  place,  after  which  he 
spent  three  years  in  Manteno.  In  1881  he  set- 
tled on  the  old  Young  homestead  on  section  22, 
where  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and 
carries  on  a  general  farm  and  stock  business. 
The  most  of  the  improvements  on  the  farm  have 
been  made  under  his  supervision.  He  is  inter- 
ested in  the  Manhattan  Center  Threshing  Com- 
pany, and  for  four  years  acted  as  manager  of 
the  machine.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  has 
served  his  party  as  delegate  to  the  county  con- 
vention. For  four  years  he  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  for  one  year  served  as  town- 
ship treasurer,  for  three  years  was  commissioner 
of  highways  of  the  town  of  Manhattan,  and  for 
seventeen  successive  years  was  school  director, 
during  a  part  of  the  time  serving  as  clerk  of  the 
board.  In  the  United  Evangelical  Church  at 
Manhattan  he  is  steward,  trustee,  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  has  also  been  assistant  superin- 
tendent and  a  teacher  of  the  Sunday-school.  All 
movements  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  have  re- 
ceived his  encouragement  and  assistance,  as  have 
also  those  enterprises  calculated  to  advance  the 
general  welfare  of  the  people. 

March  17,  1873,  Mr.  Shiffer  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Gardner) 
Karr.  She  was  one  of  twelve  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living,  namely:  Philip,  a  farmer  in 
Nebraska;  George,  a  farmer  in  Indiana;  Martin 
and  John,  also  residents  of  Indiana;  Elizabeth 
and  Kate,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  Mahlan 
Stroop.    One  of  her  brothers,  Henry  Karr,  served 


322 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


under  General  Grant  in  the  Civil  war,  and  died 
while  in  the  army.  In  1S47  William  Karr  came 
from  Germany  and  settled  in  Summit  County, 
Ohio.  In  i860  he  established  his  home  on  a 
farm  in  Jackson  Township,  Will  County,  where 
he  resided  for  six  years.  Later  he  made  his 
home  in  Greengarden  Township  for  three  years. 
In  1870  he  bought  the  farm  where  Mr.  Shiffer 
now  lives,  and  here  he  died  at  eighty  years  of 
age,  and  his  wife  when  eighty- six.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shiffer  have  only  one  child  living,  Nettie, 
wife  of  Henr}'  Eberhart,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  in  Manhattan. 


r~RANK  STOWE  VANDER  BOGART,  one 
r^  of  the  most  popular  officials  of  the  county, 
I  has  made  Joliet  his  home  since  November, 
1889,  and  for  some  time  served  as  deputy  clerk 
under  Henry  R.  Pohl.  In  1892  the  Republican 
convention  nominated  him  by  acclamation  to  the 
office  of  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  and  he  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  little  less  than  four  hun- 
dred. Four  years  later  he  was  again  nominated 
by  acclamation  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of 
two  thousand  three  hundred  and  eight,  which 
was  much  the  highest  majority  given  any  candi- 
date of  his  ticket.  His  first  term  began  in 
December,  1892,  and  the  second  will  expire  in 
December,  1900. 

The  famity  represented  by  our  subject  was 
founded  in  America  by  Dr.  Hermine  Myndert 
Vauder  Bogart,  who  came  from  Holland  as  ship 
surgeon  of  the  sailer  "  Eeudracht,"  in  1632,  and 
settled  in  Manhattan  Island.  From  him  de- 
scended William  Henry  Vauder  Bogart,  Sr. ,  who 
was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  and  about 
1842  brought  his  family  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Florence  Township,  Will  County,  where  he  was 
a  pioneer  farmer.  He  died  at  his  homstead  four 
miles  south  of  Wilmington.  His  son,  William 
Henry,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y., 
and  was  eight  years  of  age  when  the  family  came 
west.     A  farmer  and  stock  dealer,  he  also  gave 


some  attention  to  the  meat  business,  having  a 
market  in  Wilmington  for  many  years.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Twentieth  Illi- 
nois Infantry  and  served  until  he  was  taken  ill 
and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo., 
where  he  was  honorably  discharged.  His 
brothers,  Walter  and  James,  enlisted  in  the 
Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  the  latter 
served  as  a  sharpshooter  until  the  close  of  the 
war;  Walter  was  killed  during  the  early  part  of 
the  war  while  acting  as  a  picket  upon  Morris  Is- 
land. He,  like  his  brothers,  served  with  fidelity 
to  the  Union  and  proved  his  loyalty  to  his  coun- 
try in  the  hour  of  need.  He  is  now  connected 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
fraternally  is  a  Mason.  At  sixty-five  years  of 
age  he  is  now  living  retired  from  business.  His 
wife  was  Laura  J.  Stowe,  daughter  of  Cyrus 
Stowe,  who  removed  from  Vermont  to  New  York, 
thence  to  the  vicinity  of  Niles,  Mich.,  Irom 
there  to  St.  Joe,  the  same  state,  and  finally  set- 
tled in  Wilmington  Township,  this  county,  in  an 
early  day. 

In  a  family  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  all 
still  living,  our  subject  was  next  to  the  oldest. 
He  was  born  in  Wilmington,  this  county,  March 
15,  1868,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  high 
school  of  his  home  town.  In  1886  he  went  to 
Chicago,  where  he  was  employed  as  bookkeeper 
for  John  G.  Miller  &  Co.,  wholesale  clothiers. 
Later  he  went  back  to  Wilmington  and  from  there 
came  to  Joliet.  In  addition  to  his  duties  as  cir- 
cuit clerk  he  is  treasurer  and  a  stockholder  and 
director  of  the  Hercules  Gold  Mining  Company, 
which  owns  three  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres 
of  land  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Deadwood. 
With  his  father-in-law,  Wilbur  L.  Keeney,  he 
bought  the  Naperville  electric  light  plant  soon 
after  it  had  been  established,  and  this  they  built 
up,  he  acting  as  president  of  the  company  and  his 
father-in-law  as  secretary,  treasurer  and  manager. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican, and  takes  an  intense  interest  in  the  success 
of  his  party.  Until  the  Joliet  camp  of  Sons  of 
Veterans  disbanded  he  was  one  of  its  active 
members. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Vauder  Bogart  took  place 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


323 


in  Naperville,  111.,  and  united  him  with  Miss 
Nellie  M.  Keeney,  who  was  born  in  East  Glas- 
tonbury, Conn.,  and  in  1874  came  to  Wilming- 
ton, 111.,  with  her  parents,  who  in  1892  removed 
to  Naperville,  and  now  reside  in  Joliet.  To  their 
union  one  child  has  been  born,  a  daughter,  Ruth 
Helen. 


(ILLIAM  SIMPSON,  deputy  assessor  of 
Joliet,  has  for  some  years  been  an  active 
participant  in  the  public  life  of  the  city. 
He  is  a  firm  believer  in  Republican  principles  and 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and  measures  put 
forward  by  the  party.  With  the  enthusiasm  that 
is  one  of  his  attributes  he  has  entered  heartily 
into  the  field  of  politics.  During  his  period  of 
service  as  a  member  of  the  county  committee  he 
was  for  a  time  its  assistant  secretary.  Formerly 
he  held  the  chairmanship  of  the  city  central  com- 
mittee of  the  party,  and  is  still  one  of  its  mem- 
bers, besides  being  identified  with  the  work  of 
the  township  committee.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Illinois  State 
League  of  Republican  Clubs. 

The  Simpson  family  is  of  English  ancestry. 
Mr.  Simpson's  father,  Butler,  was  born  in  Lon- 
don, England,  and  in  early  life  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  father,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Joliet 
Township,  this  county.  In  1862  he  came  to 
Joliet.  During  a  portion  of  the  Civil  war  he  was 
employed  by  the  government  in  the  repairing  of 
wagons.  On  returning  to  Joliet  he  secured  em- 
ployment in  Davidson's  quarry.  In  1865  he 
bought  property  on  South  Chicago  street,  where 
he  carried  on  the  business  of  wagon-making. 
Later  he  was  interested  in  a  grocery  with  his 
sons.  He  married  Mary  Jane  Coates,  who  was 
born  in  Scarborough,  England.  They  still  re- 
side in  Joliet,  as  do  also  their  five  living  sons, 
viz.:  William,  Frederick,  Walter,  George  and 
Harry. 

In  this  city  our  subject  was  born  June  28,  1863, 
and  here  his  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools   and    Prof.    Russell's    Business   College. 


For  five  years  he  served  as  an  apprentice  to  the 
carpenter's  trade  under  Dan  Winters,  after  which 
he  followed  this  occupation  for  six  years,  during 
the  last  two  of  which  he  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building.  In  1889  he  bought  an  interest  in  a 
grocery  at  No.  303  South  Chicago  street,  but 
after  nine  months  sold  to  his  partner,  Mr.  Mur- 
phy, and  then  established  the  grocery  house  of 
Simpson  Brothers  in  his  father's  store  building, 
continuing  there  for  three  years,  when  he  sold 
out. 

When  Robert  J.  Morrison  was  elected  town- 
ship assessor  in  1894  Mr.  Simpson  received  the 
appointment  of  deputy,  which  he  has  held  ever 
since,  with  the  exception  of  the  year  spent  as 
keeper  at  the  Illinois  state  penitentiary  under 
Major  McClaughrey.  The  latter  position  he 
resigned  after  thirteen  months  on  account  of  ill 
health.  In  1896  he  was  deputy  collector  under 
T.  N.  Williamson  and  two  years  later  held  the 
same  position  with  William  Winckler.  In  1898 
he  received  the  appointment  of  city  sealer,  which 
he  held  for  one  year  until  a  change  was  made  in 
the  mayor's  office.  He  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Possessing  a 
genial,  companionable  disposition  he  has  won 
many  friends  amoug  the  people  of  the  city,  and 
is  popular  both  in  public  affairs  and  social  circles. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Simpson  took  place  in 
Joliet  October  20,  1885,  and  united  him  with 
Miss  Josephine  D.  Wheeler,  who  was  born  in 
Frankfort  Township.  The  only  child  of  their 
union,  Lawrence  F.,  died  September  20,  1897,  at 
the  age  of  nine  years  and  nine  months.  Mrs. 
Simpson  is  a  daughter  of  Beuajah  and  Elizabeth 
(Sanders)  Wheeler,  natives  respectively  of  New 
York  and  Vermont.  She  was  one  of  eight  chil- 
dren, all  but  one  of  whom  are  living;  of  the  sur- 
vivors she  is  the  oldest  and  the  only  one  in  Joliet. 
Her  paternal  grandfather,  D.  N.  Wheeler,  re- 
moved from  New  York  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  '30s  and  settled  in  Frankfort  Township,  this 
county,  remaining  there  until  1897.  He  then 
went  to  Virginia,  Neb.,  where  he  has  since  lived 
retired  from  active  labors.  Benajah  Wheeler  re- 
moved to  Missouri  in  1871  and  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  in  Grundy  County,  that  state.     His  wife 


324 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  a  daughter  of  Frank  and  Sarah  Sanders,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
settled  in  this  count}-  prior  to  the  '40s,  and  has 
since  made  his  home  in  Greengarden  Township, 
Will  Count}-,  where  he  owns  a  section  of  land. 


3OHN  F.  SKEEL,  clerk  of  the  board  of 
school  inspectors  and  clerk  of  the  board  of 
education  of  Joliet  Township,  is  a  descendant 
of  a  Welsh  family,  whose  first  representatives  in 
this  country  were  two  brothers  that  settled  in 
Connecticut.  His  grandfather,  Nathan  Skeel, 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  removed  to  Salt  Point, 
near  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  pumps.  During  the  war  of  18 12  he 
served  in  the  defense  of  Sackett's  Harbor.  At 
an  early  date  he  brought  his  family  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  in  1830  settled  in  Hennepin,  111., 
where  he  manufactured  pumps.  At  the  time  of 
the  Black  Hawk  war  his  son,  Linus  B.,  enlisted 
in  the  army,  where  he  showed  himself  to  be  a  man 
of  courage  and  hardihood.  The  active  life  of 
Linus  Skeel  was  passed  in  farm  pursuits  near 
Hennepin,  and  he  was  successful  in  his  under- 
takings. On  retiring  from  active  labors  and  busi- 
ness cares  he  removed  to  Gibson  City,  Ford 
County,  111.,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in 
1897,  when  he  was  eighty-six  years  of  age. 
During  the  Cu-il  war  his  farm  was  a  station  on 
the  underground  railroad  and  more  than  one  run- 
away slave  was  helped  by  him  on  his  way  to  free- 
dom. He  was  a  devout  and  leading  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church  and  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal workers  in  the  congregation  in  his  locality. 
Twice  married,  Linus  B.  Skeel  had  five  chil- 
dren by  his  first  wife,  and  two  of  these  are  living. 
One,  Oliver,  was  a  soldier  under  Sherman  during 
the  Civil  war.  The  second  wife  was  Flora  Mor- 
rison, who  was  born  in  Argyleshire,  Scotland, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Clyde,  and  who  is  now 
seventy-four  years  of  age.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Donald  Morrison,  a  seafaring  man,  who  served 
in  the  British  navy  during  the  naval  war  between 
England  and  Russia  in  1799  and  lost  an  arm  in 
an  actiou;  afterward  he  was  retired  on  a  pension. 
Our  subject  was  one  of  the  seven  children  born 


to  Linus  B.  and  Flora  Skeel,  and,  of  these,  four 
are  now  living,  he  being  the  youngest  son.  He 
was  born  near  Hennepin,  Putnam  County,  111., 
December  24,  i860,  and  was  educated  in  Gran- 
ville high  school  and  Wheaton  College,  graduat- 
ing from  the  latter  in  1883  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  Afterward  he  engaged  in  the  newspaper 
business  at  Highmore,  S.  Dak.,  being  editor  of 
the  Dakota  Capital 'for  one  year.  Later  he  taught 
in  the  city  schools  at  Tama,  Iowa,  for  one  year. 
While  there  he  married,  in  1885,  Miss  Flora 
Birdsell,  daughter  of  William  H.  Birdsell,  then 
of  South  Dakota,  but  now  of  Lockport,  111. 

In  1885  Mr.  Skeel  returned  to  Granville  as 
principal  of  the  high  school  in  which  he  had 
studied  some  years  before.  The  next  year  the 
county  board  of  supervisors  appointed  him  to  fill 
a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  superintendent  of 
schools  of  Putnam  County.  After  the  expiration 
of  the  term  he  came  to  Joliet  in  1887,  where  for  a 
year  he  was  cashier  and  bookkeeper  for  the  Locey 
coal  mines.  For  eighteen  months  he  held  a  simi- 
lar position  with  the  Barrett  Hardware  Company. 
For  a  year  he  was  bookkeeper  with  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company,  after  which  he  was  bookkeeper 
and  cashier  with  Bishop  &  Lambert  for  two  years, 
continuing  with  them  until  January,  1893.  After 
the  consolidation  he  was  employed  in  the  Chicago 
office  during  the  World's  Fair.  In  the  fall  of 
1893  he  went  west,  intending  to  settle  in  Idaho 
or  Washington,  but,  after  an  attack  of  mountain 
fever,  he  decided  that  Illinois  was  preferable  for 
a  place  of  residence.  He  was  still  quite  ill  when 
he  came  back  to  this  state.  On  regaining  his 
health,  in  1894  he  became  principal  of  the  Broad- 
way school,  Joliet,  continuing  there  until  he  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  board  of  school  inspectors 
in  July,  1896.  In  the  spring  of  1899  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  township  high  school  was  voted 
almost  unanimously  by  the  people  and  the  school 
board  appointed  him  their  clerk.  These  two 
positions  take  his  entire  time,  and  their  duties  he 
discharges  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned. He  is  identified  with  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  he  is  a  ruling  elder.  He 
and  his  wife  reside  in  a  house  that  he  built  at  No. 
120  Dewev  avenue. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


325 


pC)ILLIAM  MORGAN,  who  is  one  of  the 
1  A  /  larSe  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Jack- 
y  Y  son  Township,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence 
County,  N.  Y. ,  June  24,  1844,  a  son  of  Moses 
and  Eliza  A.  (Storrs)  Morgan.  He  was  one  of 
five  children,  of  whom,  besides  himself,  two  sur- 
vive, viz.:  Sidney  and  Emily,  wife  of  Cornelius 
McClure,  of  Manhattan  Township,  this  county. 
His  father,  who  was  born  in  Vermont  August  15, 
18 15,  settled  in  New  York  state  when  a  young 
man  and  engaged  in  farming  in  St.  Lawrence 
County,  but  in  1849  he  came  west  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Kendall  County  twelve  miles  west  of 
Joliet.  His  means  were  small;  in  fact,  he  had 
but  $68  at  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Kendall 
County.  Not  having  sufficient  means  to  buy  a 
farm  he  operated  rented  land  for  four  years. 
Next  he  settled  in  Joliet  Township,  this  county, 
three  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of  Joliet, 
where  he  remained  for  a  year.  In  March,  1855, 
he  came  to  the  place  where  his  son,  our  subject, 
still  resides.  Here  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  acres  of  land  and  devoted  his 
energies  to  stock-raising  and  farming.  More 
than  usual  success  rewarded  his  exertions.  Con- 
stantly he  added  to  his  possessions,  investing  the 
products  of  one  farm  in  the  purchase  of  another. 
He  was  so  successful  that  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  owned  thirteen  farms.  Personally  he  was  a 
man  of  fine  qualities,  possessing  the  hospitality 
of  the  typical  pioneer  and  showing  in  every  act 
that  his  code  of  honor  was  the  highest.  His  per- 
sonal friends  were  many,  and  he  won  the  regard 
of  every  associate.  Politically  he  was  an  ardent 
Republican,  but  always  refused  to  accept  nom- 
ination for  any  office.  While  he  was  not  identi- 
fied with  any  denomination  he  attended  and  sup- 
ported the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  On  the 
homestead  where  he  had  so  successfully  labored 
for  more  than  thirty  years  he  died,  August  20, 
1878.  His  name  well  deserves  perpetuation  in 
the  list  of  pioneers  of  the  county;  for  while  he 
was  not  one  of  the  earliest  settlers,  there  were  com- 
paratively few  here  at  the  time  of  his  arrival,  and 
he  experienced  all  the  hardships  of  life  in  a  new 
country.  It  is  but  justice  to  him  to  say  that  his 
success  was  not  due  to  outside  help,  nor  was  it 


the  result  of  what  we  call  "  luck."  It  came  to 
him  through  the  exercise  of  determination,  good 
judgment,  perseverance  and  energy.  He  never 
entered  the  alluring  field  of  speculation,  but 
worked  only  in  his  chosen  occupation  of  agricul- 
ture, and  the  result  proved  that  he  made  no  mis- 
take in  his  life-work.  His  wife,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Catherine  (Thew) 
Storrs,  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  N.  Y.,  July 
13,  181 7,  and  died  in  Will  County,  111.,  Decem- 
ber 5,  1885. 

Since  he  was  eleven  years  of  age  our  subject 
has  made  his  home  in  Jackson  Township.  Grow- 
ing up  on  a  farm  he  acquired  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  agriculture  and,  as  the  occupation  suited 
his  tastes,  he  has  always  continued  farm  pursuits. 
He  and  his  brother  Sidney,  whose  farming  and 
stock  interests  are  in  conjunction,  pay  taxes  on 
fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  are  among  the 
most  prosperous  men  in  their  section  of  the 
county.  In  political  views  he  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican but  not  a  partisan.  He  is  not  connected 
with  any  denomination,  but  contributes  to  the 
support  of  the  Methodist  Church,  toward  the  doc- 
trines of  which  he  inclines.  In  1877  Mr.  Morgan 
married  Maria  E.  Ellenwood,  who  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.  In  1870  she  came 
to  this  county  with  her  parents,  Alfred  and 
Lydia  (Morgan)  Ellenwood,  and  settled  in 
Florence  Township,  where  her  father  died  eleven 
years  afterward.  Her  mother  now  makes  her 
home  with  her  son  George.  The  family  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Morgan  consists  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Eliza  A.,  Oscar,  Lydia,  Lloyd  L., 
Ernest  A.,  Amber  L-,  and  infant  daughter. 


(31  CKER  RULAND.  Homer  Township  is 
J  I  greatly  indebted  for  its  present  wealth 
I  I  and  high  standing  to  the  intelligent  and 
capable  farmers  who  have  been  instrumental  in 
developing  its  agricultural  resources.  As  a  mem- 
ber of  the  farming  community,  who  has  con- 
tributed to  its  material  advancement  and  who  has 
been   especially  active   in   the  promotion  of  its 


326 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


live-stock  interests,  mention  belongs  to  Mr. 
Ruland,  who  owns  the  family  homestead  of  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  acres.  Here  he  was  born 
in  1856,  and  here  his  life  thus  far  has  been  spent. 
He  is  one  of  the  largest  raisers  of  thoroughbred 
sheep  and  cattle  in  the  county  and  owns  some 
valuable  registered  stock,  having  made  several 
importations  from  England  of  Shropshire  sheep. 
Besides  his  other  interests,  at  this  writing  he 
holds  the  office  of  deputy  sheriff.  For  six  years 
he  was  highway  commissioner  of  Homer  Town- 
ship, to  which  office  he  was  elected  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket.  For  sixteen  years  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  his  district.  He 
is  a  director  of  the  Homer  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Will 
Count}*  Highway  Commissioners'  Association. 

Our  subject's  grandfather,  Acker  Ruland,  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island,  and  in  an  early  day 
migrated  to  Ohio,  where  he  conducted  a  large 
paper  mill  near  Cincinnati  for  several  years. 
From  there  he  moved  to  Tippecanoe  County, 
Ind.,  and  purchased  six  hundred  acres  of  land, 
which  he  operated  success  full}-.  He  remained 
there  until  his  death,  when  sixty-five  years  of  age. 
He  had  a  brother,  John,  who  served  in  the  con- 
tinental army  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  His 
ancestors  were  French  and  were  early  settlers  of 
Rhode  Island.  He  married  Charlotte  Bolster,  a 
native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  they  had  seven  chil- 
dren, but  all  are  dead  excepting  Manley.  In 
1848  three  of  their  sons,  Charles,  Manley  and 
Acker,  came  from  Indiana  to  Will  County,  111., 
and  took  up  adjoining  farms  in  Homer  Township, 
where  they  energetically  began  work  as  agricul- 


turists. Soon  after  their  arrival  Charles  met  his 
death  by  accident.  Manley  continued  to  make 
his  home  in  this  locality  until  1870,  when  he 
removed  to  Butler  Count}',  Kans.,  and  there  he 
has  since  resided.  Acker,  our  subject's  father 
and  the  third  of  the  brothers  who  came  together 
to  Will  County,  was  born  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
In  time  he  became  a  prosperous  farmer  of  the 
township.  He  was  also  a  physician  of  the  old 
school  and  had  a  large  practice  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. At  the  time  of  his  death,  when  forty-two 
years  of  age,  he  was  well  to-do.  He  married 
Maria,  daughter  of  Henry  Glassford,  and  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  her  father  having  come  to  that 
state  from  Ireland  when  seven  years  of  age.  By 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Ruland  five  children  were 
born,  namely:  Sarah,  who  is  the  wife  of  James 
Meek,  of  Chicago;  Eliza,  who  married  G.  H. 
Page;  Helen,  who  married  G.  H.  Paddock; 
Maria,  wife  of  Dr.  S.  R.  Cowger;  and  Acker,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

Having  passed  his  life  in  this  township,  our 
subject  is  well  acquainted  with  the  people  here; 
and,  as  he  is  a  man  of  the  utmost  integrity  and 
the  highest  principles  of  honor,  he  is  respected 
by  all  to  whom  he  is  known.  In  fraternal  rela- 
tions he  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  He  has  a  high  reputation  as  a  man 
of  intelligence,  and  the  township  is  fortunate  to 
number  among  its  citizens  a  man  of  his  char- 
acter and  ability.  In  1S78  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Susan  Harris,  who  was  born  in 
Lockport,  this  county,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Harris.  They  have  four  daughters,  Mabel, 
Ethel  and  Edna  (twins),  and  Mildred. 


lib: 

OF 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


7^0 


i/t^l^jZ^- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


329 


GEORGE  F.  GURNEY. 


^JEORGE  F.  GURNEY.  It  is  solely  through 
his  determination  and  perseverance  of  char- 
1  acter  that  Mr.  Gurney  has  become  known  as 
one  of  the  wealthy  land  owners  of  this  county. 
When  he  came  here,  in  the  spring  of  1845,  he 
was  a  boy  of  thirteen,  the  oldest  of  a  family  of 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  whose  father  had 
been  defrauded  of  his  money,  and  who  were 
therefore  early  obliged  to  begin  the  battle  of  life 
for  themselves.  He  found  Joliet  a  small  hamlet, 
whose  few  inhabitants  eked  out  a  precarious  sub- 
sistence, but  with  the  sturdy  resolution  char- 
acteristic of  pioneers  remained  hopeful  and  with 
the  far-seeing  eye  of  faith  worked  for  the  benefit 
of  future  generations.  Owing  to  his  father's  ill 
fortune  he  was  early  obliged  to  become  self-sup- 
porting and  to  contribute  to  the  maintenance  of 
the  family.  During  1847  and  1848  he  worked  at 
canal  construction.  When  the  canal  was  com- 
pleted, on  the  4th  of  July,  1848,  he  towed  the 
first  canal  boat  out  of  Joliet,  going  to  Chicago  for 
Henry  Fish  and  returning  with  a  load  of  lumber 
for  Otis  Hardy.  During  the  summer  of  the  same 
year  he  went  to  Grundy  County  and,  with  seven 
yoke  of  oxen,  worked  at  breaking  prairie  soil,  but 
in  the  fall  returned  to  this  county.  Buying  teams 
of  his  own,  in  the  spring  of  the  next  year  he 
began  to  break  prairie  and  followed  that  occupa- 
tion for  a  few  years,  after  which  he  herded  cattle 
for  Smith,  Hatton  &  Rogers.  Turning  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits,  he  became  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county, 
the  value  of  which  was  due  entirely  to  his  care- 
ful cultivation  and  judicious  oversight.  He  is 
still  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  farm  land,  but 
16 


since  1894  has  been  living  retired  in  Joliet,  where 
he  built  and  occupies  a  residence  at  No.  505 
Union  street. 

Mr.  Gurney  was  born  in  Gloucestershire,  Eng- 
land, July  2,  1832,  a  son  of  William  and  Ruth 
(Hooper)  Gurney.  His  father,  who  was  the  son 
of  a  ship  chandler  and  vessel  owner,  brought  his 
family  to  the  United  States  in  1844,  and  after  a 
short  sojourn  in  Cook  County,  111.,  in  the  spring 
of  1845  canie  to  Joliet.  A  few  years  later  he  died 
in  Kankakeetown,  this  county.  His  wife  died 
in  Channahon.  Of  their  children  Edward  E.  and 
Henry  H.  died  in  Wilmington;  Louise  is  married 
and  lives  in  Kankakee  County;  Matilda,  Mrs. 
Hyde,  is  in  Canon  City,  Colo.;  and  Selina,  Mrs. 
Buss,  makes  her  home  in  Florence  Township. 
The  family  crossed  the  ocean  from  Bristol  to  New 
York  on  a  sailing  vessel,  spending  seven  weeks 
on  the  voyage,  and  from  New  York  proceeded  up 
the  Hudson,  thence  via  the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo, 
and  from  that  city  by  the  lakes  to  Chicago. 

In  1859  the  subject  of  this  sketch  bought  two 
hundred  acres  in  Wilton  Township,  thirteen  miles 
southeast  of  Joliet,  purchasing  from  the  Illinois 
Central  road.  Two  years  later  he  settled  on  the 
land  and  began  its  improvement.  He  remained 
there  until  1867,  when  he  removed  to  a  farm  of 
four  hundred  and  eighty-six  acres,  of  which  two 
hundred  and  twenty-six  and  two-thirds  acres  are 
in  Manhattan  Township  and  the  remainder  in 
Jackson  Township.  This  continued  to  be  his  home 
until  1 894.  He  gave  his  attention  to  its  cultivation. 
Every  improvement  of  a  first-class  farm  was  to  be 
found  on  his  place,  and  through  his  supervision 
and  wise  management  the  estate  was  made  profit- 


33° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


able.  He  is  still  the  owner  of  nine  hundred  acres, 
the  larger  part  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  He 
recently  sold  one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres, 
prior  to  which  he  owned  ten  hundred  and  forty- 
six  acres,  including,  besides  his  place  before 
named,  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sec- 
tions 34  and  27,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
one-half  mile  west,  and  eighty  acres  adjoining 
the  last-named  place.  Besides  this  he  owns  one- 
half  section  of  land  in  Wright  Count}',  Iowa. 
During  the  years  of  his  active  farm  life  he  made 
a  specialty  of  the  stock  business,  and  bought 
and  raised  high-grade  and  full-blooded  Durham 
cattle,  imported  Norman  and  also  standard-bred 
horses,  having  as  many  as  sixty  head  of  horses 
on  his  place  at  one  time.  His  son  drives  what 
is  said  to  be  the  finest  pair  of  English  shire 
horses  in  Manhattan  Township,  and  these  were 
raised  by  our  subject. 

In  Wilmington,  this  county,  Mr.  Gurney  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  Brydon,  who  was  born  in  Liver- 
pool, England,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza 
(Ballentine)  Brydon,  all  natives  of  Scotland. 
Her  paternal  grandfather,  James  Brydon,  was  a 
farmer,  as  was  also  her  maternal  grandfather, 
George  Ballentine,  and  both  lived  in  Roxbury- 
shire.  Mrs.  Gurney  was  one  of  two  children,  the 
other  being  James,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry  and  was  wounded 
in  battle;  he  is  now  living  in  Chatsworth,  111. 

Concerning  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gur- 
ney we  note  the  following:  Frances  Ruth,  who 
was  educated  in  Will  County,  married  Franklin 
P.  Losh,  a  native  of  Center  County,  Pa.,  and  of 
German  descent;  they  moved  to  Iowa  in  1893  and 
settled  in  Wright  County,  where  they  and  their 
children,  Clarence  A.,  Edgar  J.,  Elsie  E.  and 
Harry  G.,  now  live.  The  second  daughter  of 
Mr.  Gurney  was  Emma,  now  deceased.  The 
third,  Elsie  Augusta,  married  Charles  F.  Pohl- 
man,  a  native  of  Will  County,  111.,  and  son  of 
William  and  Amelia  Pohlman,  natives  of  Ger- 
many and  old  settlers  of  this  county ;  they  have  had 
three  children,  Arno  George  (deceased),  Alma 
Ray  and  Florence.  The  oldest  son  of  Mr.  Gur- 
ney is  Elmer  George,  who  married  Mary  F.  Nor- 
ton,    daughter  of    William    and    Eliza    (Good- 


enough)  Norton,  natives  respectively  of  New 
York  and  Indiana,  but  for  years  residents  of 
Will  County,  where  their  daughter  was  born. 
The  second  son,  Arno  James,  married  Alice 
Voorhees,  daughter  of  Ralph  -and  Adeline 
(Young)  Voorhees,  natives  of  Ohio;  they  have 
one  daughter,  Maude  Esther.  The  sixth  child 
of  our  subject  is  Eliza  M.,  who  married  Albert 
Lichten waiter,  a  native  of  Will  County,  and  a 
son  of  Henry  H.  and  Leah  (Geiss)  Lich ten- 
waiter,  natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Penn- 
sylvania; they  have  two  children,  Gladys  Eva 
and  Clayton  Gurney  Lichtenwalter.  The  young- 
est daughter  of  our  subject,  Nellie  Josephine, 
married  Oscar  Rhodes  Myers,  a  native  of  Wheat- 
land, this  county,  and  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elmira 
(Rhodes)  Myers,  natives  respectively  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Our  subject's 
youngest  child,  Otto  Henry,  married  Clara  E. 
Geiss,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Malinda  (Whit- 
son)  Geiss,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  young- 
est son  and  his  wife  live  on  the  Gurney  home- 
stead. The  family  are  connected  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

During  the  earl}-  years  of  his  residence  in  this 
county  Mr.  Gurney  was  quite  active  in  educa- 
tional and  public  affairs.  Formerly  a  Democrat, 
at  the  time  of  Fremont's  campaign  he  transferred 
his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  part}-,  which  he 
assisted  in  organizing  in  his  count}-.  Frequently 
he  was  elected  to  serve  as  delegate  to  conventions 
and  as  member  of  important  political  committees, 
and  in  other  ways,  his  service  to  his  party  was 
helpful  to  its  interests.  For  six  years  he  was  a 
school  director  in  Jackson  Township  and  his  in- 
fluence was  apparent  in  the  building  up  of  the 
schools  of  his  township. 


IMOTHY  GORMAN,  who  is  a  well-known 
general  merchant  of  Channahon,  has  made 
his  home  in  this  county  since  1858.  He 
was  born  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  in  1829,  a 
son  of  Patrick   and   Margaret    (Kelly)  Gorman. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


33i 


lifelong  residents  of  County  Mayo,  where  his  fa- 
ther followed  the  occupation  of  a  brick  and  stone- 
mason. When  a  boy  our  subject  had  few  ad- 
vantages. His  life  was  one  of  constant  toil  from 
an  early  age.  At  fifteen  years  he  was  bound  out 
to  the  tailor's  trade,  the  plan  being  for  him  to 
serve  five  years,  but  at  the  expiration  of  two  and 
one-half  years,  owing  to  a  panic  in  the  money 
market  and  a  consequent  depression  in  business, 
he  was  released  from  his  engagement.  Having 
a  brother  who  was  a  tailor  in  Birmingham,  Eng- 
land, he  went  to  that  city,  but  found  that  there, 
as  in  Ireland,  times  were  hard  and  work  scarce. 
He  spent  three  years  in  England,  working  at 
various  occupations  in  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. 

In  May,  1849,  Mr.  Gorman  took  passage  on 
the  sailing  vessel  "James  H.  Shepherd"  for 
America  and  landed  in  New  York  on  the  12th  of 
June,  after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks.  In  New 
York  he  finished  his  apprenticeship  to  the  tailor's 
trade  and  for  nine  years  remained  in  that  city 
and  in  Yonkers  and  Williamsburg,  working  at 
the  occupation.  The  year  1858  found  him  in 
Will  County,  111.,  where  he  worked  for  three 
years  at  tailoring  in  Joliet.  Next  he  removed  to 
Channahon,  where  for  a  time  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  In  187 1  he  established  the  mercantile 
business  which  he  has  since  conducted.  Being  a 
man  of  good  business  ability  he  has  met  with 
considerable  success  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  the  village. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gorman,  in  1854,  united 
him  with  Miss  Mary  Lennon,  who  was  a  native 
of  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Judith  (Corwin)  Lennon.  After  the 
death  of  her  father  in  Ireland,  her  mother 
brought  the  family  to  America.  To  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gorman  twelve  children 
were  born,  of  whom  ten  are  living,  viz.:  Peter, 
a  blacksmith  in  Denver,  Colo.,  who  is  married 
and  has  three  daughters;  Martin  T.,  of  Chicago, 
who  is  married  and  has  two  children,  Timothy 
and  Mary  Edna;  Francis,  a  merchant  of  Wolcott, 
Colo.,  whose  family  consists  of  five  children, 
Harry,  Anna,  Francis  L. ,  Marguerite  C.  and 
Helen   W. ;   Patrick    H.,  a  steam-fitter  living  in 


Chicago;  John,  also  a  steam-fitter  in  that  city; 
Anthony,  who  is  connected  with  his  brother, 
Francis,  in  merchandising;  Margaret,  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Will  County;  Timothy 
J.,  who  is  in  Pullman,  111. ;  Jeremiah,  who  is  with 
his  older  brothers  in  Wolcott,  Colo. ;  and  Mathew, 
who  is  with  the  American  Insurance  Company 
of  Newark,  N.  J.,  Rockford,  111.,  being  the head- 
cpuarters  for  the  western  department. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gorman  is  a  stanch  Democrat. 
Under  the  two  administrations  of  President  Cleve- 
land he  served  as  postmaster  of  Channahon  and 
for  ten  years,  altogether,  he  filled  the  office  of 
town  clerk.  During  the  existence  of  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Lodge  at  Minooka  he  held  membership 
in  it,  but  upon  its  disbandment  did  not  transfer 
his  membership  to  Joliet,  the  distance  being  too 
great  for  him  to  attend  the  meetings  regularly. 
He  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Channahon.  As 
village  trustee,  which  office  he  now  fills,  he 
favors  plans  for  the  benefit  of  the  town  and  the 
promotion  of  its  interests. 


E HESTER  S.  ALLEN.  On  the  western 
bluff  of  the  Desplaines  valley,  in  Lockport 
Township,  is  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Allen.  Their  brick  residence,  erected  by  Mr. 
Allen  in  1879,  not  only  affords  them  a  comfort- 
able dwelling  place,  but  also  gives  a  fine  view  of 
the  valley  stretching  beyond.  On  the  farm  will 
be  noticed  a  large  number  of  sheep,  the  Oxford 
Downs  leading  numerically.  There  are  also 
several  full  blooded  English  horses,  among  them 
a  colt  two  years  and  five  months  old,  weighing 
sixteen  hundred  and  thirty  pounds.  For  several 
years  after  1870  Mr.  Allen  was  a  heavy  dealer, 
wholesale  and  retail,  in  ice,  cutting  the  product 
from  an  artificial  pond  on  his  place,  and  continu- 
ing in  the  business  until  that  part  of  the  farm 
was  condemned  by  the  drainage  board. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Allen,  Martin,  a  native  and 
lifelong  resident  of  Vermont,  served  in  many 
local  offices,    and  in  politics    was    first   a  Whig 


332 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  later  a  Free-Soiler.  His  occupation  was  that 
of  a  farmer.  He  and  his  brother,  Reuben,  were 
the  principal  members  of  the  Goshen  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  Addison  County,  and 
helped  to  build  its  house  of  worship.  However, 
owing  to  his  views  on  the  slavery  question,  in 
1846  he  identified  himself  with  the  Wesleyan 
Methodists  and  built  for  them  a  church  that  is 
still  standing  and  in  constant  use.  His  son, 
Wilson,  aided  in  re-shingling  the  building  in 
1895.  By  his  marriage  to  Hannah  Smith  he 
had  five  children,  namely:  Eliza,  deceased; 
Wilson,  a  farmer  at  Ripon,  Wis.;  Andre M.,  de- 
ceased; Chester  S. ;  and  Luther,  of  Kansas.  The 
grandfather,  Noah  Allen,  settled  in  Goshen  in  an 
early  day,  removing  there  from  another  part  of 
the  same  state. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Goshen,  Vt.,  February  20,  1830.  He  re- 
mained on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
four.  For  some  years  he  was  in  very  poor 
health,  the  result  of  an  attack  of  measles  when 
he  was  eighteen.  As  soon  as  he  recovered  suffi- 
ciently to  start  out  for  himself  he  began  farm- 
ing, and  this  occupation  he  has  followed  ever 
since.  In  1864  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled 
on  the  place  he  still  owns.  Since  then  he  has 
bought  and  sold  considerable  land.  In  politics 
he  was  formerly  a  Republican,  but  now  votes 
with  the  Prohibitionists.  For  the  past  thirtj-- 
four  years  he  has  been  an  officer  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Lockport,  and  until  1897 
was  also  connected  with  the  Sunday-school 
work. 

A  remarkable  evidence  of  the  over-ruling  Prov- 
idence that  saves  a  life  when  God  has  further 
need  of  it  in  the  world,  is  shown  in  Mr.  Allen's 
career.  His  life  was  preserved  in  a  moment  of 
greatest  peril.  May  11,  1882,  he  drove  two 
teams  to  Joliet,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  drain 
tile.  When  he  arrived  there  he  found  the  tile 
he  had  previously  selected  was  gone,  so  he  started 
through  the  tile  factory,  looking  at  the  kilns  on 
each  side.  The  place  where  the  elevator  worked 
was  six  or  eight  inches  lower  than  the  path  where 
he  was  walking.  This  fact  he  did  not  notice, 
and  when   he  stepped  into  it  he  was  thrown  for- 


ward into  the  elevator  pit.  At  that  instant  the 
elevator  (weighing  twelve  hundred  pounds) 
dropped  with  two  men  in  it.  They  jumped  from 
the  elevator  just  before  it  struck.  The  foreman 
saw  the  falling  elevator  and  a  man  under  it.  He 
gathered  his  men,  lifted  the  elevator  and  pulled 
Mr.  Allen  out.  When  the  latter  came  to  his 
senses  he  saw  ten  or  twelve  men  looking  at  him, 
as  if  a  dead  man  had  come  to  life.  Not  a  bone  or  a 
blood-vessel  was  broken.  After  a  little  time  the 
men  loaded  up  his  tile  for  him  and  he  returned 
home.  He  did  not  get  out  again  for  two  weeks, 
and  was  lame  and  bruised  for  three  months,  but 
the  fact  that  he  escaped  uninjured  is  certainly  re- 
markable. The  reason  for  the  falling  of  the  ele- 
vator was  the  breaking  of  a  bolt  connected  with 
the  main  shaft,  so  that  the  elevator  could  not  be 
controlled.  Had  Mr.  Allen  fallen  a  second  later 
he  would  have  been  completely  crushed. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  wife  was 
Prudence  S.  Baker.  Her  father,  Anthony,  son 
of  Anthony,  Sr.,  of  English  extraction,  was  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  October  9,  1788.  He  married 
Prudence  Gaines,  who  was  born  in  Massachu- 
setts, August  15,  1786.  Both  had  moved  to  Sud- 
bury, Vt. ,  and  they  were  married  there  in  1809. 
From  that  place  the}'  moved  to  a  farm  in  Goshen, 
Addison  County,  Vt. ,  where  they  lived  for  many 
years.  He  was  prominent  in  local  affairs  and 
held  numerous  offices  until  failing  eye-sight  com- 
pelled him  to  withdraw  from  such  work.  He  was 
active  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  later  was  an 
Abolitionist.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  connected 
with  the  Christian  Church.  Of  their  ten  children 
two  died  in  infancy.  Eight  attained  mature  years, 
married  and  had  families.  Their  names  and 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Almon  G.,  No- 
vember 27,  1810;  Anthony  S.,  July  9,  1813; 
Polly  M.,  April  25,  1815;  Oliver  H.  P.,  Decem- 
ber 11,  1816;  Olive  S.,  April  23,  1818;  Loren 
H.,  March  26,  1821  (a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war); 
Harry  H.,  December  3,  1826;  and  Prudence  S., 
April  13,  1829.  In  1850  the  parents  sold  their 
farm  and  moved  to  Forestdale,  Vt.,  where  they 
spent  their  remaining  years.  The  father  died 
July  25,  1873,  and  the  mother  November  29, 
1874.     Mrs.    Prudence]* Allen    was  born  in    the 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


333 


town  of  Goshen,  Addison  County,  Vt.,  received 
a  good  education,  and  began  to  teach  school  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years.  She  was  married  to 
Andrew  M.  Allen  in  her  home  town  April  23, 
1850,  but  her  husband  died  of  consumption,  July 
14,  1851,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  nine 
months  and  nineteen  days.  Afterward  for  two 
years  she  taught  school,  making  her  home  with 
her  parents  when  not  engaged  in  teaching  Her 
second  marriage  took  place  October  24,  1854, 
and  united  her  to  Chester  S.  Allen,  a  brother  of 
her  first  husband.  They  lived  in  Goshen  for 
nine  years  after  their  marriage  and  then  moved 
to  Illinois,  settling  011  their  present  homestead, 
March  10,  1864.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children.  Their  son,  Delbert  C,  who  was  born 
in  Goshen,  Vt. ,  May  19,  1858,  in  now  a  farmer  at 
Tecumseh,  Neb.  Their  daughter,  Etta  P.,  who 
was  born  in  Lockport,  September  13,  1868,  is  the 
wife  of  Allen  T.  Dille,  and  resides  in  Mitchell, 
Iowa. 

The  lives  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  have  been  full 
of  useful  lessons  of  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the 
church  and  humanity.  They  can  look  back  on  the 
past  years  and  be  satisfied  with  the  view.  As  the 
shadows  lengthen  in  life's  evening,  and  the 
rough  places  become  smoothed,  the  thought  may 
dwell  with  them  that  a  new  generation  will  re- 
vere their  memory,  and  their  names  will  live  in 
the  historical  records  of  Will  County. 


IJjATHANIEL  PAGE.  The  record  of  a  use- 
I  /  ful  life  is  worthy  of  being  perpetuated  in  the 
I  IS  annals  of  biography.  In  writing  this  me- 
morial of  a  good  man,  long  since  passed  to  his 
eternal  reward,  we  are  doing  an  act  of  simple  jus- 
tice to  one  whose  active  life  was  inseparably  asso- 
ciated with  the  pioneer  history  of  our  county,  and 
one  whose  influence  for  good  was  felt  in  his  home 
neighborhood  even  after  he  had  passed  from  it. 
As  an  earl}'  settler  he  participated  in  the  work  of 
clearing  and  cultivating  a  portion  of  the  county's 
fine  farming  region. 


In  an  early  day  Nathaniel  Page,  Sr.,  migrated 
from  Massachusetts  to  Vermont  and  settled  in 
Windsor  County,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced 
age.  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  latter 
county  in  1788  and  remained  on  a  farm  near  his 
birthplace  for  many  years,  but  in  1838  he  removed 
to  Will  County,  111.  His  first  location  was  in 
Lockport,  where  he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade 
for  a  year.  In  1839  he  moved  to  New  Lenox 
Township,  settled  upon  a  farm  and  began  the 
clearing  of  land.  Upon  the  farm  which  he  im- 
proved the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed,  and 
there  he  died,  February  4,  1866,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years. 

During  his  residence  in  Vermont  Mr.  Page 
married  Nancy  Gifford,  a  native  of  that  state, 
born  in  the  same  year  as  himself;  she  died  in 
1865,  at  the  age  of  nearly  seventy-seven  years. 
Their  oldest  son,  Harvey,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, came  to  this  county  in  1858  and  engaged 
in  farming  here  for  twelve  years.  About  1870 
he  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  cultivated  farm 
land.  He  died  in  that  state  in  1886,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  two 
children,  Archie,  and  Catherine,  who  is  the  wid- 
ow of  Benjamin  Thomas.  The  second  son, 
Seneca,  who  was  born  in  Windsor  County,  Vt., 
came  to  Will  County,  111.,  in  1837,  being  the 
first  of  the  family  to  remove  west.  Much  of  his 
after  life  was  passed  in  New  Lenox  Township, 
where  he  cultivated  a  farm  and  was  also  active 
in  local  affairs.  He  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of 
sixty  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  three  children 
who  now  reside  in  Joliet.  The  third  son,  Austin, 
was  born  in  Vermont  in  1819  and  migrated  to 
Illinois  in  1839;  here  he  spent  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life,  following  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  general  farming  until  his  death  in  1890,  at 
seventy-one  years  of  age.  Two  daughters,  Mary 
and  Nancy,  died  in  girlhood,  and  a  son,  Charles, 
born  in  1826,  came  to  Will  County,  111.,  in  1839, 
and  died  here  in  1856,  at  twenty-eight  years  of 
age.  The  only  surviving  member  of  the  family 
is  Miss  Orauda  Page,  who  has  made  her  home  in 
this  county  since  1839;  she  took  care  of  her  par- 
ents during  their  declining  years,  and  has  since 
continued  to  reside  on  her  place  of  thirty  acres  in 


334 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


New  Lenox.  During  her  young  womanhood  she 
taught  two  terms  of  school,  and  she  has  continued 
to  the  present  to  be  deeply  interested  in  educa- 
tional and  literary  work.  As  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  comity  she  has  shown  great  interest  in 
its  development  and  is  justly  proud  of  its  high 
standing  among  the  galaxy  of  the  counties  of  the 
state. 


^JEORGE  B-  DAVIS,  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
—  tiers  of  Channahon  Township,  was  born  in 
Ji  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  May  7,  1821, 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Martha  (Burlingame)  Davis, 
of  whose  nine  children  he  and  his  brother,  Van 
Dyke,  of  Kankakee  County,  111.,  are  the  sole 
survivors.  His  father,  a  native  of  Long  Island, 
born  in  1787,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Albany 
County,  N.  Y. ,  and  after  his  marriage  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Montgomery  County.  In  1824  he  re- 
moved to  Rensselaer  County,  and  from  there,  in 
1836,  turned  his  face  westward  to  Illinois.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  he  came  to  Channahon 
Township,  Will  County,  and  in  the  spring  of  the 
next  year  his  family  joined  him  here.  A  short 
time  later  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land.  How- 
ever, before  he  had  moved  to  his  new  home  he 
was  taken  ill  and  died  September  30,  1838.  His 
parents,  Ezekiel  and  Lois  (Tripp)  Davis,  were 
probably  natives  of  Long  Island,  but  there  are 
no  records  concerning  their  birth.  They  moved 
to  Albany  County,  N.  Y.,  and  lived  upon  a  farm 
there  until  they  passed  away,  in  advanced  years. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
Roger  and  Elizabeth  (Sweet)  Burlingame,  the 
latter  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  The  former 
was  a  sea  captain  in  early  life,  but  after  his  mar- 
riage he  settled  down  to  farming  in  Albany 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  of  yellow  fever 
a  few  years  later. 

At  the  time  our  subject  came  to  this  county  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age.  After  his  father's 
death  in  1838,  he  and  his  brothers  carried  on  the 
farm.  January  12,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Olive 
Comstock,  a  native  of  Tompkins  County,  N.  Y., 


and  the  daughter  of  Alexander  McGregor  and 
Esther  (Saltmarsh)  Comstock.  To  their  mar- 
riage eight  children  were  born,  four  of  whom  are 
now  living,  namely:  G.  Henry,  who  for  ten 
years  has  been  storekeeper  in  the  street  car  de- 
partment at  Pullman,  111.;  Sadie,  at  home; 
Oliver,  a  practicing  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Joliet;  and  Wilbur  B.,  a  farmer  of  Channahon 
Township. 

Two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Davis  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm  and  set- 
tled thereon.  He  has  been  a  progressive  and 
energetic  farmer.  From  time  to  time  he  added  to 
his  farm  until  it  numbered  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  but  in  recent  years  he  has  sold  his 
son  ninety-five  acres,  which  leaves  in  his  farm 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres.  For  years  he 
was  school  director  and  also  trustee  of  the  school 
fund.  He  is  an  ardent  Republican  in  politics. 
Not  caring  for  elective  offices,  he  has  always  re- 
fused to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  as  a  candidate 
for  any  but  minor  offices.  For  forty  years  he  has 
served  as  a  trustee  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  es- 
teemed men  of  Channahon  Township,  where  his 
hospitality,  genial  disposition,  upright  life  and 
generous  nature  have  won  him  hosts  of  friends 
during  the  more  than  sixty  years  of  his  residence 
here. 

Mrs.  Davis  traces  her  lineage  to  the  von  Kom- 
stohk  (or  Comstock)  family,  of  Frankfort-on- 
the-Main  in  Germany.  Tradition  states  that  the 
family  was  founded  in  America  by  three  brothers 
from  Wales  or  England,  where  the  family  had 
gone  from  Germany  owing  to  their  connection 
with  some  political  strife  that  rendered  further 
residence  in  their  native  land  perilous.  The  lin- 
eage is  traced  back  to  a  noble  ancestry  prior  to 
1547.  William,  who  founded  this  branch  of  the 
family  in  America,  settled  in  Wethersfield,  and 
thence  went  to  New  London,  Conn.  His  son, 
Samuel,  had  a  son,  Samuel,  who  was  the  father 
of  Hezediah  Comstock.  The  latter's  son,  Gid- 
eon, moved  from  Rhode  Island  to  Connecticut. 
Adam,  son  of  Gideon,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island. 
He  was  a  man  of  stalwart  physique,,  six  feet  in 
height,  well    proportioned   and   dignified,  in  de- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


335 


porttnent  grave  and  gentlemanly,  well  calculated 
to  command  the  respect  of  all  who  approached 
him.  Before  the  Revolution  he  was  one  of  the 
king's  justices  of  the  peace  and  a  major  in  his 
army.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  how- 
ever, he  entered  the  American  army,  with  the 
determination  to  use  all  his  energies  in  the  de- 
fense of  his  country.  In  the  language  of  his 
biographer,  "  He  was  a  soldier  by  nature,  pow- 
erful in  body,  of  undaunted  courage,  an  enthusi- 
astic patriot,  and  a  good  disciplinarian.  He  had 
the  confidence  of  Washington,  who  raised  him 
to  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  continental  line.  At 
the  brilliant  victory  of  Red  Bank  he  was  the 
officer  of  the  day;  alternately  with  General  Smith 
of  Maryland,  he  commanded  at  the  successful 
defense  of  Mud  Fort  (now  Fort  Mifflin).  He 
also  shared  the  various  sufferings  of  his  brave 
companioiis-in-armsat  Valley  Forge.  After  this, 
from  a  domestic  affliction,  he  resigned  his  com- 
mission, which  General  Washington  reluctantly 
accepted,  giving  him  an  honorable  discharge 
from  the  army." 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  Colonel  Corn- 
stock  was  elected  to  the  legislature  of  his  native 
state.  In  1785  he  moved  to  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 
One  year  later  he  purchased  and  moved  to  a  farm 
in  Greenfield  (now  Corinth)  Township,  Sara- 
toga County,  where  he  made  his  home  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  While  a  citizen  of  New  York 
he  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  New 
York  assembly  and  senate,  in  which  bodies  he 
exercised  a  controlling  influence  by  reason  of  his 
recognized  ability.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  in  and  for 
the  county  of  Saratoga,  to  which  office  he  was 
peculiarly  adapted.  He  was  not  bred  to  the  pro- 
fession of  law,  but  his  strong  mind  and  investi- 
gating habits,  his  sound  judgment  and  compe- 
tent knowledge  of  science,  were  abundantly  mani- 
fest in  his  judicial  opinions.  He  died  April  10, 
1819. 

Rev.  Alexander  McGregor  Comstock,  M.  D., 
was  born  in  Greenfield  Township,  Saratoga 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  9,  1788,  and  was  one 
of  the  seventeen  children  of  Adam  and  Margaret 
(McGregor)    Comstock.     He   was   a  Methodist 


Episcopal  minister,  a  graduate  in  medicine,  and 
a  farmer.  During  the  war  of  18 12  he  served  as 
a  surgeon.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  intellec- 
tual powers  and  industrious  habits.  His  life 
seemed  to  be  squared  by  the  proverb,  "  Whatso- 
ever thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy 
might."  In  each  of  his  three  vocations  he  met 
with  success.  In  1835  he  made  his  first  trip  to 
Illinois.  The  next  year  he  brought  his  family 
to  Joliet,  where  he  practiced  medicine  and  acted 
as  a  local  minister.  In  1837  he  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Troy  Township,  but  in  1841  returned  to  Joliet, 
where  he  died  July  9,  1854.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Whig.  He  married  Esther  Saltmarsh,  who 
was  born  of  Holland  descent,  in  Columbia 
County,  N.  Y. ,  and  died  in  Joliet  in  1874.  They 
had  six  children,  five  of  whom  came  to  Joliet, 
and  four  attained  maturity:  Mrs.  Olive  Davis; 
Adam;  Mary,  who  lives  in  Joliet;  and  Grover, 
who  died  in  this  city.  The  only  surviving  son, 
Adam  Comstock,  is  a  well-known  civil  engineer 
and  surveyor  of  Joliet.  A.  M.  Comstock,  M.  D., 
had  a  brother,  Rev.  O.  C.  Comstock,  M.  D., 
who  was  a  man  of  remarkable  gifts  and  attain- 
ments. Besides  being  a  minister  in  the  Baptist 
Church  and  a  practicing  physician,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  New  York  legislature,  a  judge,  a 
member  of  congress  and  the  chaplain  of  that 
body  for  some  years. 


©GJlLLIAM  F.  HUTCHINSON,  of  Joliet, 
I  A/  came  to  tn's  c^y  *a  the  fall  of  1886  as 
V  V  deputy  county  clerk  under  H.  H.  Stossen, 
continuing  in  that  capacity  for  two  terms.  In  the 
fall  of  1894,  on  the  Republican  ticket,  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  by  a  majority  of  twenty-two 
hundred  and  eighty-five.  Four  years  later  he 
was  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  over  three  thou- 
sand, which  was  the  largest  vote  ever  polled  for 
a  county  clerk  in  Will  County.  As  clerk  he  has 
been  systematic  in  his  work,  energetic,  and  at- 
tentive to  every  detail,  and  has  won  the  con- 
fidence of  the  voters  of  the  county.  He  is  also 
serving  as  clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  and, 


336 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


under  the  new  law,  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
review.  During  his  residence  in  Monee  he  was 
for  fourteen  years  treasurer  of  Monee  Township, 
and,  on  the  incorporation  of  the  village  of  Monee, 
served  for  one  term  as  clerk  of  the  village  board. 

The  Hutchinson  family  originated  in  England, 
but  has  been  represented  in  America  since  Puri- 
tan times,  and  one  of  its  most  distinguished 
members  wTas  Governor  Hutchinson,  a  colonial 
governor  of  Massachusetts.  Rev.  William  Hutch- 
inson, our  subject's  father,  was  a  son  of  Ebenezer 
Hutchinson  and  was  born  in  New  Hampshire, 
where  his  active  life  was  spent  in  the  Congrega- 
tional ministry.  He  died  at  Plainfield,  that 
state,  in  1842,  when  he  was  forty-eight  years  of 
age.  His  wife,  who  had  died  in  the  fall  of  1835, 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Ann  Abbott  and 
was  born  in  New  Hampshire  of  an  old  family  of 
New  England.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  the  latter, 
Martha,  died  at  sixteen  years.  Joseph,  who  re- 
sides in  Waterbury,  Vt.,  served  in  a  Vermont 
cavalry  during  the  Civil  war,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  and  confined  in  Libby  prison  until 
exchanged.  Merrill,  who  was  a  protege  of  one 
of  the  early  governors  of  Ohio,  enlisted  from  that 
state  in  the  Civil  war  and  served  as  a  lieutenant; 
he  died  in  Burlington,  Vt. 

William  F.  was  born  at  Dalton,  Coos  County, 
N.  H.,  April  1,  1833.  From  an  early  age  he 
was  self-supporting,  earning  the  money  necessary 
for  his  education  in  the  St.  Johnsbury  (Vt.) 
Academy,  where  he  completed  the  regular  course 
of    study.     He     then     taught    for    a     year    in 


Columbus,  Ohio.  In  1855  he  came  to  Illinois, 
where  he  first  taught  in  Greengarden,  Will 
County,  and  then  at  Monee,  being  principal  of 
the  latter  school  for  seven  years.  For  two  years 
he  was  connected  with  Fairbanks  &  Co.,  as  com- 
mercial traveler,  aad  then  entered  the  store  as  a 
bookkeeper,  where  he  remained  until  1879. 
Afterward  he  was  principal  of  the  school  until 
1886,  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Joliet.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  Mount  Joliet  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  chairman  of 
the  local  division  of  the  Union  League.  Reared 
in  the  Whig  faith,  he  became  a  free  soiler  and,  in 
1856,  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party  upon 
its  organization  in  Illinois.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  board  of  deacons  of  the  Central  Presbyterian 
Church.  While  in  Monee  he  was  for  fourteen 
years  superintendent  of  the  Union  Sunday-school. 
In  Batavia,  Ohio,  Mr.  Hutchinson  married 
Miss  Virginia  Bryan,  who  was  born  in  that  city 
and  died  in  Joliet  in  1897.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Bryan,  who  is  a 
deputy  county  clerk;  Gertrude,  who  died  in  this 
county;  Merrill,  of  Chicago;  Maud,  who  acts  as 
one  of  the  deputy  county  clerks;  Edwin,  who 
died  at  twenty  years  of  age;  and  Bertram,  who 
is  a  coal  and  feed  merchant  in  Joliet.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  of  Mr.  Hutchinson  took  place  in 
Kankakee  on  the  last  day  of  1898  and  united  him 
with  Miss  Mary  L.  Easterbrooks,  who  was  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  of  an  old  New  England  family, 
and  was  for  some  years  successfully  engaged  in 
educational  work  in  this  county. 


wwosffv  of  «awo« 


cc  !~h^^.I6^LLJ— 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


339 


ALFRED  VAN  FLEET. 


61  LFRED  VAN  FLEET,  president  of  the  Van 
LA  Fleet  Manufacturing  Company  of  Joliet, 
J  )  was  born  near  Fairview,  Fulton  Count}', 
111.,  January  14,  1843.  He  is  a  descendant  of  a 
family  that  emigrated  from  Holland  in  an  early 
day  and  settled  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 
His  grandfather,  Henry  Van  Fleet,  was  born  in 
the  latter  state,  near  Flemington,  in  1763,  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native  lo- 
cality. David  Van  Fleet,  who  was  born  on  the 
family  homestead  in  1813,  came  west  about  1834 
and  settled  in  Fulton  County,  111.,  of  which  he 
was  among  the  earliest  settlers.  Later  he  re- 
moved to  the  vicinity  of  Aurora,  where  he  was  a 
pioneer  farmer.  For  many  years  he  served  as 
township  supervisor.  Besides  his  farm  he  also 
had  a  blacksmith's  shop.  His  last  years  were 
spent  near  Sandwich,  111.,  where  he  died. 

The  wife  of  David  Van  Fleet  was  Maria, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Henry  Dolliver,  and  a  sister  of 
Rev.  James  Dolliver,  whose  son,  Hon.  Prentice 
Dolliver,  is  a  congressman  from  Iowa.  She  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  and  died  in  Kansas.  Her 
father,  who  always  followed  the  sea,  during  the 
war  of  18 1 2  tendered  the  cotton  on  his  vessels  to 
General  Jackson  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans.  Later,  while  on  his  way  to  New  York, 
he  was  captured  by  the  British  and  held  a  prisoner 
in  Dartmore  prison,  England,  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  his  papers  meantime  having  been  taken 
from  him  so  that  he  could  not  prove  his  property. 
The  family  of  David  and  Maria  Van  Fleet  con- 
sisted of  five  children,  of  whom  three  sons  and 
one  daughter  survive,  namely:  W.  H.,  a  ma- 
chinist,   connected    with    the  Van   Fleet  Manu- 


facturing Company;  V.  D.,  who  is  also  a  ma- 
chinist in  Joliet;  Alfred;  and  Mrs.  Cornelia 
Gruder,  of  Kansas. 

Reared  upon  a  farm  in  Dekalb  County,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  received  public-school  ad- 
vantages. In  July,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  was  mus- 
tered in  at  St.  Charles,  111.,  and  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  Potomac.  He  took  part  in  all  the 
engagements  of  his  regiment  during  the  penin- 
sular campaign,  including  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, Wilderness,  Gettysburg,  Spottsylvania  and 
the  siege  of  Petersburg.  During  the  battle  of 
Frederick  City  he  was  struck  by  a  shell  and 
slightly  wounded,  and  at  the  same  time  his  horse 
was  killed.  For  bravery  in  the  service  he  was 
commissioned  sergeant.  After  the  grand  review, 
in  which  he  took  part,  he  was  ordered  to  Mexico, 
but  when  on  the  frontier  the  trouble  subsided, 
and  his  regiment  was  mustered  out  in  St.  Louis 
August  22,  1865.  On  returning  home  he  bought 
a  farm  in  Dekalb  County  and  continued  to  cul- 
tivate the  place  until  1868.  He  then  removed 
to  Ames,  Story  Count}',  Iowa,  and  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  farmed  for 
six  years.  Afterward  he  worked  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  Kelley,  the  same  county,  and 
also  carried  on  a  wagon  and  blacksmith's  shop, 
and  operated  a  threshing  machine. 

During  the  winter  of  1876-77  Mr.  Van  Fleet 
became  interested  in  the  barb  wire  business.  A 
man  in  Ames  made  barb  wire  by  twisting  the 
wire  and  putting  on  the  barbs  by  hand.  Con- 
cluding it  could  be  done  by  machine,  our  subject 
began  to  work,  and  succeeded  in  devising  a  ma- 


34° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


chine  that  answered  the  purpose,  and  by  which 
eight  to  ten  spools  could  be  made  a  day.  This 
was  the  first  machine  ever  made  by  which  the 
wire  could  be  manufactured.  He  patented  the 
invention,  but  did  not  develop  it.  In  1S7S  he 
came  to  Joliet  to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of 
barb  wire,  and  for  several  years  had  charge  of 
the  Lock  Stitch  Company.  Later  he  was  super- 
intendent under  Paul  Smith  and  also  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Joliet  Manufacturing  Company. 
While  in  the  latter  position  he  formed  the  firm  of 
Van  Fleet  &  Shreffler.  He  improved  a  machine, 
which  he  patented  about  1880',  and  then  sold  the 
patent  to  Washburn  &  Moen.  In  1S85  he  re- 
signed as  superintendent  of  the  Joliet  Manu- 
facturing Company  and  started  a  machine  shop 
on  Desplaines  street.  When  the  drainage  canal 
came  through  in  1898,  he  bought  his  present  lo- 
cation, 50x130  feet,  and  put  in  a  forty  horse- 
power eugiue.  At  this  place,  No.  513-515  Second 
avenue,  he  has  since  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  wire  machinery  and  wire  goods  of  all  kinds. 
The  products  of  the  factory  are  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  woild.  The  plant  is  owned  by  him 
and  his  son,  Elon  J.,  jointly,  he  being  president 
and  his  son  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany. 

In  political  views  Mr.  Van  Fleet  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  in  religion  is  connected  with  Central 
Presbyterian  Church.  The  local  post  of  the 
Grand  Army  has  his  name  enrolled  among  its 
members.  While  living  in  Aurora  he  married 
Miss  Emma  Bullock,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  state  and  died  in  Joliet  in  1885.  Of  the 
five  children  born  to  their  union,  three  are  living, 
a  son,  Elon  J.,  and  two  daughters,  Grace,  and 
Mrs.   Mary  Hunt,  of  South  Dakota. 


EHRISTOPHER  J.  SMITH,  township  com- 
missioner of  highways,  and  a  resident  of 
Joliet  since  1867,  was  born  in  Fallsburg, 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  September  23,  1847,  a 
sou  of  James  and  Mary  (Flood)   Smith,  natives 


of  Ireland.  His  parents,  after  the  birth  of  one  son, 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  New 
York  state,  where  the  mother  died  in  Ellensville. 
Of  their  eleven  children,  all  but  two  attained  ma- 
ture years.  The  oldest  son,  John,  now  living  in 
Warren,  Pa.,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  as  a 
member  of  a  New  York  regiment  of  cavalry  and 
served  until  its  close.  Three  sons,  Christopher 
J.,  Philip  and  Michael,  are  residents  of  Joliet, 
and  William  is  at  home. 

The  earl}'  years  of  our  subject's  life  were 
passed  in  Fallsburg,  where  he  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  was  engaged  as  a  team- 
ster connected  with  a  tannery.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  came  to  the  west,  arriving  in  Joliet  in 
1867,  and  securing  employment  with  the  Joliet 
Gas  Company.  Later  he  was  employed  in  the 
building  of  the  first  rolling-mill  in  this  city,  and 
after  its  completion  he  secured  work  in  the  mill, 
continuing  there  for  twelve  years.  On  the  erec- 
tion of  the  steel  mill  he  became  a  hooker  in  it, 
and  so  helped  to  roll  the  first  iron  and  first  steel 
rails.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the  Roll  Hands' 
Union,  which  became  connected  with  the  Amal- 
gamated Association  of  Iron  and  Steel  Workers, 
and  he  continued  an  active  member  of  the  same 
until  he  quit  the  business. 

The  next  enterprise  with  which  Mr.  Smith  was 
connected  was  the  bottling  business,  which  he 
conducted  on  Collins  street  for  six  years,  mean- 
time building  up  a  good  trade.  He  then  turned 
the  business  over  to  his  son,  who  has  since  car- 
ried it  on.  During  the  last  term  of  Mayor  Kelly 
he  received  the  appointment  of  superintendent  of 
streets,  which  position  he  held  for  two  years.  He 
then  turned  his  attention  to  general  contracting, 
and  built  a  number  of  sewers  on  Stone,  Ruby, 
Jackson  and  Marion  streets,  having  the  contract 
for  four  and  one-half  miles  of  water-mains;  also 
for  man)r  streets,  grading,   etc. 

The  Democratic  party  has  always  received  the 
allegiance  of  Mr.  Smith,  who  is  a  thorough  be- 
liever in  the  principles  which  it  represents.  On 
the  party  ticket,  in  the  spring  of  1S98,  he  was 
elected  township  highway  commissioner  for  a 
term  of  three  years,  and  is  now  president  of  the 
board.     The  position  consumes  his  time  and  at- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


34i 


tention,  to  the  exclusion  of  outside  interests.  He 
is  filling  the  office  in  a  manner  highly  satisfactory 
to  all  concerned,  and  is  proving  a  reliable,  trust- 
worthy public  official.  Twice  he  was  elected 
alderman  from  the  First  ward,  filling  the  office 
for  four  years,  and  he  also  served  as  assistant  su- 
pervisor for  one  term.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  treasurer  of  the  Ancieut  Order  of  Hiber- 
nians, and  he  is  also  receiver  in  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  is  connected 
with  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  in  the 
building  of  which  he  took  an  active  part,  and  he 
also  aided  generously  in  the  erection  of  the 
academy. 

Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  the  first  to  build  on  Col- 
lins street,  and  still  resides  at  No.  801,  where  he 
has  a  neat  and  comfortable  home.  He  was  mar 
ried  in  Ellensville,  N.  Y. ,  to  Miss  Bridget  Moran, 
who  came  from  Ireland  to  America  with  her 
father,  Conner  Moran,  and  settled  at  Neversink, 
N.  Y.  Four  children  were  born  of  their  mar- 
riage, namely:  John  C,  who  has  charge  of  the 
bottling  business  established  by  his  father; 
Thomas  V.,  who  is  connected  with  the  Elgin, 
Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad;  Ellen  M.,a  graduate 
of  St.  Mary's  Academy  and  Normal  School;  and 
now  a  teacher  in  the  Chicago  public  schools;  and 
George  P.,  a  plumber  employed  with  the  Federal 
Steel  Company. 


(]  OSEPH  PEART.  Those  who  are  reared  in 
I  mining  districts  almost  invariably  follow  the 
Q)  occupation  of  the  people  around  them.  Mr. 
Peart  has  been  no  exception  to  this  rule.  A  min- 
er's son,  and  born  in  the  mining  regions  of  Coun- 
ty Durham,  England,  April  15,  1830,  he  was 
employed  in  boyhood  as  a  digger  in  the  coal 
mines  of  his  native  place.  September  25,  1854, 
he  landed  in  Boston,  and  from  there  proceeded  to 
Zanesville,  Ohio, where  he  was  employed  in  mines 
for  eighteen  months.  The  year  1856  found  him 
in  Illinois.  For  two  years  he  worked  in  the  lead- 
ing mines  of  La  Salle  County.  He  then  went  to 
Felix  Township,    Grundy  County,  and  secured 


work  in  the  mines  there.  When  he  came  to  Will 
County,  in  1868,  he  decided  to  enter  a  different 
occupation,  and  so  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Wilmington  Township  and  em- 
barked in  farming  and  stock-raising.  However, 
after  eight  years  of  farm  life  he  sold  his  place 
and  came  to  Braid  wood,  which  was  then  a  new 
and  small  mining  camp.  From  that  time  until 
1887  he  was  connected  with  the  mines  of  the  Chi- 
cago &  Wilmington  Coal  Company,  a  part  of  the 
time  acting  as  foreman  of  the  gang.  After  fifty 
years,  that  were  almost  wholly  devoted  to  mining 
pursuits,  he  retired  from  active  labors  in  1887. 
He  had  entered  the  mines  of  England,  a  child  of 
seven  years,  in  a  very  humble  position.  He  left 
the  mines  of  Braidwood,  a  man  of  fifty-seven 
years,  after  having  worked  his  way  to  a  respon- 
sible and  remunerative  position.  He  had  early 
in  life  showed  a  determination  to  make  his  way 
in  the  world;  and,  although  his  education  was 
limited  and  his  advantages  few,  he  acquired  val- 
uable information  in  the  school  of  experience  and 
became  a  well-informed  man.  During  these  long 
years  of  labor  he  gained  a  competency,  and  in 
1883  he  built  a  two-story  residence  on  Round 
house  avenue,  where  he  is  now  enjoying  a  rest 
from  his  former  cares. 

Those  who  are  acquainted  with  Mr.  Peart 
thoroughly  understand  his  political  views.  He 
is  known  to  be  a  decided  Republican,  stanch  in 
his  allegiance  to  party.  For  four  years  he  was 
an  alderman,  and  for  three  terms,  of  two  years 
each,  held  office  as  mayor  of  Braidwood.  Dur- 
ing his  service  as  mayor  many  improvements 
were  introduced,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  to 
champion  the  cinder  sidewalks.  For  six  years 
he  served  as  a  school  director.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen;  Braidwood  Lodge  No.  704,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ;  Wilmington  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
Joliet  Commandery,  K.  T. 

In  1859  Mr.  Peart  married  Ellen  Baxter,  who 
was  born  in  this  county.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Ada,  now  the  wife  of  Henry  A.  Fos- 
ter, of  Pontiac,  111.  Mrs.  Peart  is  a  member  of 
the  Eastern  Star,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  its 
work.      Her  father,  William  Baxter,  a   native  of 


342 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Scotland,  immigrated  to  America  about  1830  and 
settled  at  Mount  Savage,  Allegany  County,  Md. 
He  was  a  practical  miner  and  civil  engineer,  and 
surveyed  many  an  acre  of  coal  land  in  Allegany 
County.  In  1848  he  came  west,  settling  in  Will 
County,  and  afterward  engaging  in  surveying  on 
the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  He  made  an 
estimate  of  the  cost  of  building  the  entire  canal, 
and  it  later  developed  that  his  estimate  was  very 
close  to  the  actual  cost.  On  completing  his  sur- 
veying he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Florence  Township, 
and  in  1852  he  died  on  that  place.  His  wife, 
like  himself,  a  native  of  Scotland,  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Ellen  Somerville.  She  died  in 
Florence  Township  in  1866,  at  sixty-three  years 
of  age.  The}f  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  William,  Mrs. 
Peart,  Andrew,  John  C,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Dr. 
Cook,  of  Hastings,  Neb. 


(TAMES  DUCKER.  For  many  years  one  of 
I  the  county's  most  influential  citizens,  Mr. 
(2/  Ducker  was  a  pioneer  dry-goods  merchant 
and  long  held  a  prominent  place  among  the  busi- 
ness men  of  northeastern  Illinois.  When  he 
started  in  business  on  the  corner  of  Clinton  and 
Chicago  streets,  in  1874,  his  was  the  first  dry- 
goods  house  on  Chicago  street;  he  continued  to 
occupy  Ducker's  block,  erected  by  himself,  until 
his  death,  and  meantime  built  up  a  very  large 
trade  in  dry-goods,  clothing  and  carpets.  While 
he  was  in  some  respects  conservative,  yet  in  busi- 
ness matters  he  was  progressive,  and  he  al- 
ways led  in  matters  bearing  favorably  upon  the 
welfare  of  the  people  or  the  development  of  local 
interests.  With  Hon.  George  H.  Munroe  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  building  of  the  Joliet 
theatre,  and  for  a  time  was  president  of  the  com- 
pany that  erected  the  building.  He  also  bought 
the  old  Exchange  hotel  site,  adjoining  Barrett's 
hardware  store,  on  Chicago  street,  where  he  had 
a  frontage  of  sixty-six  feet.  So  high  was  the 
opinion  in  which  others  held  him  as  a   merchant 


that  after  the  Chicago  fire  he  was  offered  a  part- 
nership in  the  firm  of  Marshall  Field  &  Co. ,  with 
the  position  of  foreign  buyer,  but  he  had  left 
England  on  account  of  its  unhealthful  climate  and 
felt  it  inadvisable  to  return  to  that  country,  so 
declined  the  tempting  offer.  During  early  days 
his  opinion  in  regard  to  goods  and  purchases  was 
often  sought  by  western  merchants,  notably 
Marshall  Field  &  Co. 

The  life  which  this  narrative  sketches  began  in 
Epworth,  England,  October  27,  1823,  and  closed 
in  Joliet  December  16,  1885.  The  Ducker  family 
in  a  remote  period  migrated  from  Holland  to 
England,  where  subsequent  generations  became 
prominent.  James  and  Maria  Ducker  lived  upon 
a  farm  at  Epworth  and  were  members  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends.  Their  son,  James,  Jr.,  who 
forms  the  subject  of  this  article,  was  apprenticed 
to  the  dry-goods  business  in  Hull  at  fifteen  years 
of  age  and  served  for  five  years,  after  which  he 
worked  for  wages.  In  1852  became  to  America, 
hoping  that  the  change  would  benefit  his  health. 
After  a  short  time  in  Chicago  he  settled  upon  a 
farm  in  Frankfort  Township,  this  county.  One 
year  on  a  farm  convinced  him  that  agriculture 
was  not  his  forte  in  life.  His  crops  were  de- 
stroyed by  hail  and  he  gained  nothing  except  ex- 
perience. In  1853  he  started  one  of  the  first 
stores  in  Mokena  and  during  the  twenty-one 
years  of  his  residence  there  he  became  a  prosper- 
ous merchant  and  large  grain  dealer.  After  he 
had  been  in  America  for  a  time  two  of  his  brothers 
crossed  the  ocean  to  seek  homes  here.  One  of 
them,  George,  is  now  engaged  in  ranching  near 
Red  Cloud,  Neb.,  and  the  other,  William  B., 
died  in  Nebraska.  In  1874  Mr.  Ducker  removed 
from  Mokena  to  Joliet  and  began  business  in  the 
block  he  had  erected  the  preceding  year.  It  had 
been  his  intentien  to  rent  the  building  and  settle 
in  Chicago,  but,  owing  to  the  block  being  remote 
from  the  business  center,  it  was  impossible  to  se- 
cure a  tenant,  and  he  therefore  decided  to  engage 
in  business  himself.  His  success  was  steady  and 
encouraging,  and  continued  without  a  break  until 
his  death.  He  was  never  active  in  politics,  al- 
though he  kept  posted  concerning  national  issues 
and  voted  with  the  Republicans.     In  religious 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


343 


belief  he  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church. 
In  Chicago,  in  1854,  Mr.  Ducker  married  Jen- 
nette  Allison,  who  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, a  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Mason)  Alli- 
son, natives  of  Paisley,  Scotland.  She  was  third 
among  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  all 
but  herself  living  in  Sterling,  Whiteside  Count y, 
111.  She  was  reared  in  Scotland  and  was  twenty 
years  of  age  when,  in  1853,  she  came  to  Illinois. 
Her  father,  and  grandfathers,  James  Allison  and 
George  Mason,  were  all  manufacturers  of  shawls 
in  Paisley,  and  the  last-named  was  a  prominent 
Presbyterian  elder.  She  built  the  residence 
which  she  occupies,  at  No.  507  Union  street.  In 
her  family  there  are  five  children  living:  James 
W.,  a  merchant  in  Mokena;  Maria  J.,  wife  of 
Dr.  Lewis  Beck,  a  physician  in  Red  Cloud,  Neb.; 
George  A.,  who  is  represented  on  another  page; 
John  J.,  a  merchant  of  Joliet;  and  Jessie  M.,  wife 
of  John  S.  Luthy,  of  Chicago,  a  trusted  man  in 
Carson,  Pirie,  Scott  &  Co. 's  wholesale  house. 


EAPT.  GEORGE  O.  CLINTON.  The  life 
which  this  narrative  sketches  began  in  Wau- 
kesha, Wis.,  August  21,  1839,  in  the  home 
of  Edmund  and  Amanda  (Conkey)  Clinton. 
There  were  seven  sous  in  this  family,  namely: 
Albert  T. ,  who  is  agent  for  the  United  States  Ex- 
press Company  in  LaCrosse,  Wis. ;"  Henry  P., 
who  served  as  quartermaster  in  the  "Iron" 
Brigade,  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  Infantry,  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  and  died  while  in  the  service; 
Edson  C,  deceased,  who  was  a  well-known  lum- 
berman at  Brodhead,  Wis.;  Charles  W.,  who  was 
lieutenant  of  the  First  Wisconsin  Cavalry  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  in  a  hospital  at  Nashville; 
George  O.;  Edmund  D.,  Jr.,  deceased;  and  De- 
Witt  C,  a  commercial  salesman,  representing  the 
Ryan  Mercantile  Company  of  St.  Paul. 

Edmund  D.  Clinton,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
accompanied  his  parents  to  St.  Lawrence  County, 
N.  Y. ,  in  childhood,  and  there  learned  the  black- 


smith's trade.  In  1831  he  removed  to  Ohio  and 
in  1836  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  thence  to  Wauke- 
sha a  year  later.  In  1856  he  located  the  town 
site  of  Brodhead,  where  he  afterward  made  his 
home.  During  his  residence  in  Waukesha  he 
was  one  of  the  contractors  who  built  the  Mil- 
waukee &  Mississippi  Railroad,  the  first  railroad 
built  in  Wisconsin.  After  its  construction  he  was 
made  a  director  of  the  company,  and  continued  to 
be  closely  associated  with  the  construction  of  the 
entire  system  up  to  the  time  of  the  absorption  of 
the  road  by  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
corporation,  when  he  retired  from  the  directorate. 
His  last  years  were  spent  in  retirement  from  busi- 
ness, although  he  had  a  number  of  important  in- 
terests and  continued  to  be  a  busy  man  to  the 
last.  He  and  his  wife  were  earnest  Christians. 
They  founded  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Milwaukee,  subsequently  organized  the  first  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Waukesha,  and,  on 
removing  to  Brodhead,  they  were  two  of  the 
twenty-nine  charter  members  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  that  place.  For  years  he 
officiated  as  a  deacon  in  the  church.  His  father, 
Henry,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  a  descendant 
of  Puritan  stock,  as  was  also  his  mother,  who  was 
a  Miss  Darrow;  the  latter  lived  to  be  ninety-seven 
years  of  age. 

Prior  to  eighteen  years  of  age  our  subject  at- 
tended the  academy  and  Carroll  College  in  Wau- 
kesha. He  then  became  brakeman  with  the 
Milwaukee  &  Prairie  du  Chien  Railroad,  and  a 
year  later  was  made  conductor.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany E,  Thirteenth  Wisconsin  Infantry,  his  name 
being  enrolled  in  the  ranks  August  15,  1861,  and 
he  was  mustered  in  September  14.  He  remained 
on  duty  at  Janesville,  Wis.,  until  December, 
where  he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  and 
adjutant  of  the  Third  Battalion,  First  Wisconsin 
Cavalry;  he  was  made  regimental  adjutant  March 
24,  1862,  and  captain  of  Company  B  September 
26,  1862.  The  regiment  was  organized  at  Ripon 
and  Kenosha,  Wis.,  and  mustered  into  service 
March  10,  1862,  reporting  at  Benton  Barracks, 
Mo.,  March  17,  and  remaining  there  until  April 
28,  when   they    were   attached   to  Vandervere's 


344 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


corps,  department  of  Missouri,  and  operated  in 
southeastern  Missouri  from  April  to  October  of 
that  year.  From  May,  1S63,  to  October,  1864, 
they  were  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  Or- 
dered to  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  April  28,  1862, 
they  assisted  in  scout  and  patrol  duty  in  that  dis- 
trict until  the  expedition  to  Bloomfield  in  Octo- 
ber. May  14-15  they  took  part  in  the  action  at 
Chalk's  Bluff,  then  accompanied  an  expedition  to 
Madison,  Ark.;  July  9-22  were  in  action  at  Scat- 
terville,  Ark.;  July  10,  at  Arkansas  Bluff;  July 
11,  at  Madison;  July  22,  at  West  Prairie,  Mo.; 
July  23,  with  the  compaign  against  Porter's  and 
Poiutdexter's  guerillas;  July  25,  September  io,  at 
Bloomfield  as  headquarters;  July  29,  at  Jones- 
boro,  Ark.;  August  2-3,  Jackson  and  Seatterville; 
August  3,  in  camp  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.;  Oc- 
tober 4,  Bloomfield;  thence  to  Greenville  and 
Patterson,  Mo.:  on  duty  at  West  Plains,  Pilot 
Knob  and  Ste.  Genevieve,  Mo.;  in  April,  1863,  at 
White  Water  River;  April  24,  Cape  Girardeau; 
April  5-27,  Castor  River;  April  29,  Bloomfield; 
April  30,  ordered  to  join  army  of  the  Cumberland 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.:  May  1,  in  action  at  Triune; 
June  19,  in  the  Tullahoma  -campaign;  at  Rover 
June  23;  Middletown,  June  24;  Guy's  Gap, 
June  27;  occupation  of  Tullahoma,  July  1;  at 
Huntsville  and  Fayetteville  until  August  15; 
and  at  Larkinsville,  Ala.,  until  August  31 ;  in  the 
Chattanooga  campaign  from  September  to 
November;  at  Graysville,  September  10;  Craw- 
fish, September  iS;  took  part  in  the  following  en- 
gagements: Chickamauga,  September  19-20; 
Rossville  Gap,  September  21 ;  pursuit  of  Wheeler, 
October  10;  Anderson's  Cross  Roads,  October  2; 
Maysville,  Ala.,  October  13;  after  which  he  was 
at  camp  in  Winchester  until  November  20,  and 
then  was  detached  on  recruiting  service  at  Madi- 
son, Wis.,  from  December,  1863,  to  February, 
1864.  Returning  south,  he  was  at  Cleveland, 
Tenn.,  April  2-13;  took  part  in  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign; was  at  Red  Clay,  Ga.,  May  3:  Tunnel 
Hill,  May  7;  Buzzard's  Roost  Gap,  May  8;  Var- 
nell's  Station,  May  9;  and  was  captured  near 
Dalton,  Ga.,  May  9,  and  made  a  prisoner  of 
war,  being  confined  at  Atlanta  and  Macon,  Ga., 
and  Charleston,  S.  C.     He  was  one  of  three  hun- 


dred officers,  the  first  Union  men  to  be  placed 
under  fire  of  their  own  guns.  He  was  exchanged 
at  Rough  and  Ready,  Ga.,  September  26,  1864, 
and  was  mustered  out  October  28  of  the  same 
year,  and  honorably  discharged  from  the  service. 

Although  the  highest  title  our  subject  won  in 
war  was  that  of  captain,  he  is  always  addressed 
as  "colonel,"  although,  disliking  to  "  sail  under 
false  colors,"  he  has  disclaimed  all  right  to  that 
title;  but,  one  day  shortly  after  his  return  from 
the  front,  he  was  met  by  a  newspaper  man,  who 
addressed  him  as  "  colonel,"  and  on  being  told  he 
was  not  entitled  to  that  rank,  the  man  replied  that 
he  would  at  once  commission  him  colonel.  From 
that  day  to  this  he  has  been  known  by  his  hon- 
orary title. 

On  his  return  home  he  was  for  two  years  en- 
gaged in  buying  stock  and  grain.  In  1S66  he 
built  a  portion  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  road  in  Iowa.  In  1867  he  went  to  Kansas 
and  contracted  to  build  fourteen  miles  of  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  near  Fort  Hays.  While 
there  eight  of  his  men  were  killed  and  fourteen 
head  of  stock  were  captured  by  the  Indians.  His 
next  work  was  lumbering  in  Wisconsin,  after 
which,  with  his  father-in-law  and  others,  he  built 
the  Madison  &  Portage  Railroad,  now  a  part  of 
the  St.  Paul  system.  On  the  completion  of  the 
road  he  took  a  position  in  the  operating  depart- 
ment of  the  same,  and  for  three  years  made  his 
headquarters  in  Milwaukee.  He  then  went  to 
Chicago  and  had  charge  of  the  terminal  of  the 
Wabash  system,  also  was  local  freight  agent  for 
the  road  for  one  year.  Later,  for  ten  months,  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  St.  Louis  bridge  and 
union  depot.  For  fifteen  months  he  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Rio  Grande  division  of  the  Texas 
Pacific  Railroad.  During  this  time  he  had  charge 
of  building  the  roundhouse  and  eighteen  sub- 
stantial buildings  (eating  houses  and  stations). 
In  1884  he  returned  to  Chicago  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Rail- 
road. He  was  in  charge  of  the  Chicago  &  Mil- 
waukee division,  the  Chicago  &  Council  Bluffs 
division  and  the  Chicago  &  Evanston  division. 
After  five  years  he  resigned  to  accept  the  general 
superiutendency  of  the  construction  of  the  Elgin, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


345 


Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad,  with  which  he  re- 
mained for  five  years.  Since  then  he  has  been 
interested  in  a  railroad  contract  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  the  Mineral  Point  &  Northern 
Railroad  in  southwest  Wisconsin.  By  other  rail- 
road officials  he  is  quoted  as  one  of  the  most 
efficient  transportation  men  in  the  United  States. 
There  is  not  a  detail  of  the  business  with  which 
he  is  unfamiliar.  The  many  important  positions 
he  has  held  have  been  filled  with  a  sagacity,  en- 
ergy and  intelligence  that  gave  him  a  high  place 
with  company  officials. 

November  6,  i860,  Captain  Clinton  married 
Miss  Charlotte  Campbell,  who  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Lorinda 
(Hill)  Campbell.  Her  father  was  for  some  years 
a  farmer,  but  later  engaged  in  railroad  building 
with  his  son-in-law.  A  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  February  19,  18 14,  he  moved  to  Albany  in 
1S37,  and  in  later  years  came  west  to  Wisconsin. 
He  died  in  Madison,  that  state,  in  1883.  His  wife 
was  born  February  2,  18 18,  and  died  February 
4,  1900.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Robert  Camp- 
bell, who  came  to  the  United  States  in  17 19  and 
died  in  Connecticut  six  years  later.  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Clinton  are  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Charles  Arba,  who  is  the  Chicago  representative 
of  the  Blanke  Coffee  Company  of  St.  Louis;  Edith 
L. ,  wifeof  John  Tuttle,  a  jeweler  in  Chicago;  and 
James  Campbell,  who  is  cashier  in  the  Morgan  & 
Wright  Tire  Company,  of  Chicago.  Captain 
Clinton  is  a  member  of  Bicknell  Lodge  No.  94, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Brodhead;  Wisconsin  Com- 
maudery  No.  1,  at  Milwaukee;  and  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Loyal  Legion  of  Milwaukee,  and 
George  H.  Thomas  Post,  G.  A.  R. 


5)  EORGE  W.  FLAGG,  a  well-known  farmer 
_   and  stockman   residing   in    Plainfield,   is  a 
>_J    member  of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneer  fami- 
lies in  this  village  and  was  himself  born  here  Jul}' 
25>  1%37-     His  father,  Reuben,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont,  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm   and  learned 


the  stone  mason's  trade  in  his  youth.  In  that 
state  he  married  Betsey  Kendall,  a  woman  of  un- 
usual business  capacity  and  one  well  fitted  to  cope 
with  the  hardships  of  pioneer  existence.  After 
the  birth  of  two  children  they  sought  a  home  in 
the  then  far  west.  When  they  arrived  in  Plain- 
field,  in  1830,  they  found  three  white  families 
here.  The  surroundings  were  those  of  primeval 
nature.  Little  effort  had  been  made  to  reclaim 
the  land  from  its  original  wildness.  Mr.  Flagg 
took  up  a  claim  one  mile  south  of  Plainfield  and 
settled  on  that  place.  At  the  land  sale  in  1S36 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  one 
mile  east  of  Plainfield;  this  property  he  improved 
and  placed  under  cultivation,  making  of  it  a 
valuable  farm.  During  the  winter  of  1831  he 
hauled  the  first  hog  ever  taken  to  Chicago;  it 
was  during  the  progress  of  the  first  Methodist 
convention  held  in  that  city  and  the  pork  was 
presented  to  an  old  preacher,  Mr.  Biggs,  who 
lived  there  at  the  time.  In  1833  ne  hauled  from 
Plainfield  to  Chicago  the  lumber  that  was  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  first  frame  house  in  the 
latter  city.  During  the  Black  Hawk  war  he  en- 
listed under  General  Scott  and  served  until  the 
Indians  were  conquered.  During  the  progress  of 
the  war  his  family  remained  for  a  time  in  the  log 
fort  at  Plainfield,  but  subsequently  went  to  Fort 
Dearborn,  which  afforded  greater  protection  to 
the  whites.  When  the  war  ended  they  returned 
to  their  cabin  home.  They  were  gratified  to  find, 
on  their  return,  that,  although  there  was  an  In- 
dian village  near  by,  the  red  men  had  shown  a 
friendly  spirit  and  had  not  stolen  anything  from 
them.  During  the  existence  of  the  Whig  party 
Mr.  Flagg  upheld  its  principles.  Upon  its  disin- 
tegration he  identified  himself  with  the  Repub- 
lican part}'.  He  held  various  local  offices,  and 
the  county  records  show  that  he  was  the  first  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  Plainfield,  holding  the  office 
several  years.  He  was  fairly  successful  in  life, 
and  at  his  death,  in  1S71,  left  a  good  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  More  than  half  of  his 
life  of  sixty-nine  years  was  spent  in  this  county, 
and  it  was  his  privilege  to  witness  the  remarkable 
growth  of  the  county  and  the  development  of  its 
resources.     His  wife,   who,  like   himself,  was  a 


346 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Universalist  in  religious  belief,  died  in  Plainfield 
in  1876.  Of  their  children  the  two  born  in  Ver- 
mont, Kendall  and  Sarah,  died  in  this  county. 
Samautha,  who  was  born  in  September,  1830, 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  what  was  then 
Cook  Count}',  including  all  the  land  between  Lake 
Michigan  and  Ottawa;  she  died  when  fort}-  years 
of  age.  Prudence  married  David  Holden  and 
both  are  now  deceased.  Benjamin  Franklin  and 
Henry  C.  are  deceased.  William  H.  resides  in 
Plainfield,  N.  Y.;  Loraine,  Mrs.  James  Radney, 
died  in  Iowa.  Mary  is  deceased,  and  Lucy  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Howe,  of  Portland,  Ore. 

The  sixth  member  of  the  family  was  George 
W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  reared 
amid  the  pioneer  influences  of  this  locality.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  deter- 
mined to  enlist  in  the  Union  army,  and  Septem- 
ber, 1 86 1,  found  his  name  enrolled  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  K,  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry, 
in  which  he  served  until  the  spring  of  1862.  The 
hardships  of  army  life  and  its  attending  exposures 
brought  on  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs  and  he  was 
obliged  to  resign  his  commission,  after  having 
done  some  good  service  as  guard  in  the  vicinity 
of  Alexandria.  Realizing  that  the  state  of  his 
health  necessitated  a  change  of  climate,  he  went 


to  Greeley,  Colo.,  where  he  secured  employment 
with  Governor  Eaton  in  herding  cattle  on  the 
range  between  Denver  and  Cheyenne.  For  more 
than  four  years  he  remained  in  the  west.  The 
outdoor  exercise  in  the  pure,  invigorating  air  of 
Colorado  restored  him  to  health.  On  his  return 
home  he  engaged  in  farming  on  a  place  he  had 
purchased  near  Plainfield.  From  time  to  time  he 
added  to  his  place  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
six  hundred  acres,  comprising  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  county.  Since  1872  he  has  made  his 
home  in  the  village,  carrying  on  the  farm  with 
the  aid  of  his  son.  Much  of  his  attention  is  given 
to  the  buying  and  feeding  of  cattle,  in  which 
work  he  has  been  quite  successful. 

November  17,1861,  Mr.  Flagg  married  Miss 
M.  A.  Colgrove,  daughter  of  Lester  Colgrove,  a 
farmer  of  this  township.  They  have  two  sons, 
the  older,  George  K.,  being  a  farmer,  and  the 
younger,  Jerome  F.,  a  grocer  in  Plainfield.  Both 
in  principle  and  in  politics  Mr.  Flagg  is  a  stanch 
Prohibitionist  and  gives  his  influence  toward  the 
progress  of  that  party.  He  is  connected  with  the 
Grand  Army  Post  in  his  home  town.  Mr.  Flagg 
owes  his  prosperity  to  industry  and  frugality, 
and  the  lessons  of  his  life  are  worth  emulating  by 
the  younger  generation. 


UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


/hd^LyAp^     ftfsJv*"^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


347 


MARK  W.   HUNT. 


V/lARK  W.  HUNT,  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
Y  tiers  of  Frankfort  Township,  was  born  in 
(f$  Somersetshire,  England,  March  7,  1830. 
When  eighteen  years  old  he  immigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, sailing  on  the  good  ship  "Isaac  Wright"  and 
arriving  in  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks. 
He  had  but  $5  in  his  possession,  but  he  was  young 
and  strong  and  had  no  fear  for  the  future.  Pro- 
ceeding via  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  he  came  from 
there  by  team  to  this  county,  landing  on  Hickory 
Creek  July  3,  1848.  He  at  once  secured  employ- 
ment on  a  farm,  being  first  in  this  township  and 
afterward  in  New  Lenox.  When  the  excitement 
caused  by  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California 
reached  him  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
the  far  west.  In  1852  he  returned  to  New  York, 
where  he  boarded  a  vessel  bound  for  California. 
Reaching  the  Pacific  coast  he  remained  there  for 
almost  three  years,  being  engaged  in  mining  and 
teaming  in  the  Sacramento  Valley.  The  year  1855 
found  him  back  in  Will  County,  he  having  re- 
turned via  Panama,  and  soon  afterward,  with 
the  earnings  of  his  western  trip,  he  bought  a 
tract  of  timber  land  on  section  12,  New  Lenox 
Township.  Here  he  began  the  life  of  a  farmer. 
In  1857  he  bought  a  farm  in  Frankfort  Town- 
ship and  took  up  his  residence  on  this  property. 
The  original  size  was  eighty  acres.  Subsequently 
he  bought  one  hundred  acres  in  New  Lenox 
Township  on  the  town  line,  and  for  almost  thirty 
years  he  resided  on  this  place,  following  general 
fanning  and  stock-raising.  He  made  a  specialty 
of  raising  Norman  horses  and  Poland-China  hogs. 
With  both  of  these  he  was  more  than  ordinarily 
successful.  Frequently  he  placed  his  stock  on 
exhibition  at  fairs  and  received  premiums  on  the 
same.     From   all  over  the  county  men  came  to 


him  to  buy  stock  for  breeding  purposes.  As  a 
stock-raiser  no  one  in  the  township  was  more  suc- 
cessful than  he.  His  reputation  was  that  of  a 
progressive  stockman,  whose  experience  in  the 
business  made  his  opinion  very  valuable.  In 
1878  he  bought  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Joliet 
Township.  In  1889  he  moved  from  his  farm 
into  Frankfort  Station,  where  he  owns  a  ten- acre 
tract  of  land.  His  landed  possessions  aggregate 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  all  of  which 
bears  good  improvements  and  represents  the  fruits 
of  a  lifetime  of  toil.  The  success  he  has  attained 
is  the  more  remarkable  when  it  is  remembered 
that  he  landed  in  this  country  with  only  $5,  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  laud,  and  without  friends  or 
relatives  to  assist  him  in  getting  a  start. 

While  he  is  not  a  partisan  and  does  not  care  to 
identify  himself  with  public  affairs,  Mr.  Hunt  is 
well  posted  concerning  politics  and  affiliates  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  is  interested  in  edu- 
cational affairs  and  for  a  number  of  years  served 
on  the  school  board.  In  religion  his  sympathies 
are  toward  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  with  which  his  wife  is  connected  and 
toward  which  he  contributes.  In  1856  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Martha  B.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Francis  Owen,  an  early  settler  of  Frankfort 
Township  and  for  many  years  a  local  preacher  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  marriage 
was  blessed  with  five  children,  named  as  follows: 
Addie,  a  well-known  teacher  in  Will  County 
schools;  Neva,  who  is  teaching  school  in  Mis- 
souri; Lottie,  wife  of  Peter  Folkers;  Wilber  A., 
who  is  in  Joliet;  and  Francis  J.,  a  farmer  in 
South  Dakota. 

Rev.  Francis  Owen  was  born  in  Kentucky  Sep- 
tember 19,  1797,  a  son  of  James  Owen,  of  Welsh 


34S 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


parentage.  He  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  a  good  farmer  and  came  to  Will 
County,  111.,  in  1S34,  settling  in  what  is  now 
Frankfort  Township,  where  he  owned  a  farm  of 
over  one  hundred  acres  of  good  land.  His  wife 
was  Kezia  Wright,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William 
Wright,  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a  local  Method- 
ist Episcopal  preacher.  He  had  fifteen  children 
who  reached  maturity.  In  1S05  he  moved  his 
family  to  Kentucky.  The  progenitor  of  this 
family,  William  Wright,  was  born  in  London, 
England.  Rev.  Francis  Owen  was  a  preacher 
of  considerable  local  fame  and  his  exemplary  life 
was  a  blessing  to  Frankfort  Township,  where  he 
is  held  in  loving  remembrance.  He  died  when 
over  seventy  years  of  age.  His  wife  died  Decem- 
ber 16,  1846,  aged  fifty- two  years.  They  had 
nine  children,  and  of  these  seven  reached  matur- 
ity. 


30SEPH  FERRIS  PERRY  was  for  some  years 
connected  with  the  educational  interests  of 
this  county,  first  as  a  teacher  and  after- 
ward as  county  superintendent  of  schools,  in 
both  of  which  capacities  he  gave  efficient  service 
and  general  satisfaction.  Having  been  fitted  by 
a  thorough  education  for  the  responsible  work  of 
training  the  young,  he  devoted  himself  to  his 
duties  with  zeal,  introducing  methods  of  instruc- 
tion that  proved  advantageous  to  the  schools  and 
keeping  constantly  in  touch  with  ever}-  advance 
made  in  pedagogy.  The  schools  of  the  county 
are  still  reaping  the  benefit  of  his  faithful  and  in- 
telligent labors. 

In  the  early  days  of  our  country's  history  the 
Perry  family  lived  in  Connecticut,  and  were  known 
through  their  connection  with  the  coasting  trade. 
In  the  French  and  Indian  and  the  Revolutionary 
wars  they  were  well  represented.  Joseph  Perry, 
our  subject's  grandfather,  was  a  seafaring  man, 
and  rose  to  be  shipmaster  of  a  vessel  engaged  in 
the  West  India  trade.  During  his  last  voyage 
his  ship  was  wrecked   and  he  received  injuries 


from  which  he  died.  His  son,  Dr.  Joseph  Perry, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a  graduate  of  the 
old  New  York  Medical  College.  He  was  a  col- 
onel of  a  Fairfield  County  militia  regiment,  and 
one  of  the  progressive  men  in  the  company.  In 
1854  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Crete,  this 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  practice  until  his 
death  in  1887.  Fraternally  he  was  a  Master  Mason. 
He  married  Caroline,  daughter  of  Hon.  Robert 
Wilson,  both  natives  of  Fairfield,  Conn.  Her 
father,  who  was  a  farmer,  was  elected  selectman 
in  earl}-  life  and  served  until  he  was  too  old  to 
continue  in  the  office  longer.  For  several  years 
he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Connecticut  legisla- 
ture. He  was  the  son  of  Robert  Wilson,  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier.  Mrs.  Caroline  Perry  is  still 
living  and  makes  her  home  with  her  only  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Mary  Browne,  in  Englewood,  111.  Her 
other  children  are  as  follows:  Joseph  F. ;  David  B. , 
of  Ouincy,  111.,  who  served  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-first  Illinois  Infantry  during  the  Civil 
war;  Robert  W. ,  who  died  in  Montana;  George  E. , 
who  graduated  from  the  Annapolis  naval  academy 
and  is  now  professor  of  military  tactics  and  math- 
ematics at  College  Hill,  Ohio;  and  Henry  H.,  who 
lives  near  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

The  subject  of  this  article  was  born  in  Fairfield, 
Conn.,  June  21,  1S46.  He  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  the  family  settled  in  Crete,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  For  some  years  carried  on  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  village.  He  prepared  for  college 
at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  in  1866  matriculated 
in  Yale  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1870 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  the  higher  degree  of 
A.  M.  being  conferred  upon  him  at  a  subsequent 
date.  In  1S70-71  he  engaged  in  teaching  at  Fair- 
field, Conn.  A  year  later  he  accepted  a  position 
in  the  schools  of  Madison,  111.,  and  from  1872  to 
1874  was  engaged  in  school  work  at  Dolton.  In 
1874  he  received  an  appointment  as  superinten- 
dent of  the  east  side  school  in  Joliet,  and  this 
position  he  held  for  three  and  one-half  years, 
resigning  in  1877  to  accept  the  office  of  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  to  which  he  was  elected 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  a  county  that  had  be- 
fore given  a  Republican  majority  of  more  than  a 
thousand.     He  continued  in  the  office  until  De- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


349 


cember,  1882,  when  he  retired  to  private  life,  and 
the  following  month  he  accepted  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  with  the  Joliet  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, in  whose  employ  he  has  since  remained, 
having  been  secretary  of  the  company  since  1893. 
In  former  years  he  served  for  several  years  as 
township  trustee  of  schools  for  Joliet  Township. 
He  is  connected  with  local  lodges  of  Masons  and 
Odd  Fellows. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Perry,  in  Joliet,  united 
him  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Bond,  who  was  born  in 
Wilmington,  this  county.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Bond,  who  was  a  native  of  England  and 
served  in  the  British  arm}-  when  a  young  man, 
coming  to  Canada  with  his  regiment  and  serving 
during  the  Rebellion  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry 
have  four  children,  Joseph  B.,  Howard  S.,  Ralph 
G.  and  Margaret  C. 


3 AMES  HALEY.  One  of  the  well-known 
livery  establishments  of  Joliet  is  situated  at 
Nos.  526-528  South  Chicago  street,  and  is 
owned  and  conducted  by  Mr.  Haley.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  business  at  his  present  location 
since  March,  1S99,  when  he  bought  the  lot  and 
erected  a  large  brick  barn,  using  for  the  purpose 
money  he  had  saved  while  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness. Besides  the  horses  he  owns  he  gives 
especial  attention  to  the  care  of  the  horses  that  he 
boards.  His  vehicles  are  modern  and  substan- 
tial, including  rubber-tire  buggies  and  a  rubber- 
tire  hack.  Besides  his  livery  business  he  owns 
five  acres  of  land  two  miles  southeast  of  Joliet. 

Our  subject's  father,  John  Haley,  a  native  of 
County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  was  married  there  in 
June,  1852,  to  Miss  Ann  O'Mara,  of  the  same 
county.  The  day  after  their  marriage  they 
started  for  America.  They  sailed  in  the  "John 
Bell,"  which  consumed  five  weeks  and  three 
days  in  the  voyage  to  Quebec.  After  spending 
three  months  in  the  latter  city  they  came  to  Joliet. 
For  a  time  Mr.  Haley  worked  as  brakeman  on 
the  railroad.      Afterward  he  had  charge  of  a  work 


train.  While  filling  that  position  he  was  acci- 
dentally run  over  by  a  train,  receiving  injuries 
that  resulted  in  his  death  May  14  1874.  His 
widow  still  resides  in  Joliet.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  but  only  two  are  living, 
James  and  Frank,  the  latter  a  dairyman  in  this 
city.  The  former  was  born  in  Joliet  June  3,  1862, 
and  received  his  education  principally  in  paro- 
chial schools.  When  he  was  eleven  years  of  age 
he  began  to  support  himself.  His  first  work  was 
carrying  water  for  a  gang  of  workmen  on  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad.  Such  other  work  as  he 
could  secure  he  was  glad  to  accept.  Of  evenings 
he  attended  school,  thus  gaining  a  fair  education. 
From  fifteen  until  nineteen  years  of  age  he  was 
employed  as  a  section  hand  on  the  Rock  Island 
road.  For  a  similar  period  he  was  brakeman  on 
a  gravel  train,  after  which,  for  sixteen  years,  he 
was  foreman  of  a  switch  engine  in  Joliet.  On 
retiring  from  the  railroad  business  he  engaged  in 
the  livery  business,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted. 

In  18S7  Mr.  Haley  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Ann  (Furlong)  O'Brien.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  emigrated  to 
America,  settling  in  LaSalle,  111.,  where  she 
was  born;  they  are  now  deceased.  By  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Haley  has  two  children,  Elizabeth  and 
James  F.  The  family  are  connected  with  the 
Sacred  Heart  Catholic  Church,  and  Mr.  Haley  is 
a  regular  contributor  to  its  work.  He  has  never 
been  active  politically,  although  he  is  a  pro- 
nounced Democrat  and  always  supports  with  his 
ballot  the  principles  of  his  party. 


0ANIEL  ROBERTSON,  a  pioneer  of  this 
county,  residing  at  No.  206  North  Broad- 
way, Joliet,  was  born  six  miles  from  Cazeno- 
via,  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  May  11,  1821.  He 
was  one  of  four  children  who  attained  mature 
years,  and  of  whom  he  and  his  brother,  Robert, 
of  San  Bernardino,  Cal.,  are  the  survivors.  His 
father,  Robert,  was  a  son  of  John  Robertson,  a 


35° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farmer  near  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  who  brought 
the  family  to  America  in  1802  and  settled  six 
miles  from  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  where  he  cleared  a 
farm  from  the  timber  land.  Upon  his  death  the 
estate  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son  Robert, 
•  who  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1787,  served  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  died  on  the  homestead  at  sixty- 
seven  years  of  age.  A  man  of  energy  he  added 
to  his  possessions  and  became  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  well-improved  acres,  which  was 
a  large  farm  for  that  section  and  day.  He  mar- 
ried Margaret,  daughter  of  Daniel  Robertson,  a 
farmer  near  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  who  brought  the 
family  to  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1803. 
Though  bearing  the  same  name  the  two  Robert- 
son families  were  not  related.  Mrs.  Robertson 
died  in  Madison  County  when  forty-seven  years 
of  age. 

The  boyhood  years  of  our  subject  were  passed 
on  the  home  farm.  In  1S53  he  made  his  first 
trip  to  Illinois  and  bought  land  in  the  town  of 
Plainfield,  this  county.  The  next  year  he  re- 
turned, settling  here  permanently,  and  buying 
two  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  began  to 
raise  grain.  He  bought  the  first  reaper  in  Plain- 
field  that  would  throw  the  grain  off  in  bundles, 
and  it  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the 
eounty.  Disposing  of  his  farm  in  1869  he  settled 
in  Plainfield  and  started  in  the  grocer}-  and  hard- 
ware business,  continuing  there  for  several  3-ears. 
In  1878,  leaving  his  two  sons  in  business  in  that 
place,  he  settled  in  Joliet,  and,  in  partnership 
with  J.  R.  Ashley  and  H.  B.  Scutt,  began  to 
manufacture  barb  wire,  the  firm  title  being 
H.  B.  Scutt  &  Co.  For  five  years  the  firm  manu- 
factured barb  and  plain  wire  in  the  state  peni- 
tentiary, and  he  was  its  superintendent  part  of 
the  time.  On  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  Mr. 
Robertson  became  a  stockholder  in  the  Ashley 
Wire  Company.  Since  then  he  has  superin- 
tended his  private  interests. 

In  politics  Mr.  Robertson  is  independent.  He 
was  made  a  Mason  in  Plainfield  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  His  marriage  took  place  in  New  York 
state  and  united  him  with  Miss  Helen  Morrison, 
who  was  born  there  of  Scotch  descent.  They 
became  the  parents  of    two   sons,    the  older  of 


whom,  Albert  L.,  died  in  1897;  the  younger, 
Eugene  R.,  is  engaged  in  the  beet  raising  busi- 
ness at  Chino,  Cal.  The  older  son  married 
Sallie  A.  McCloskey,  a  native  of  Plainfield,  and 
they  had  one  daughter,  Helen  Marie,  who,  with 
her  mother,  resides  with  Daniel  Robertson. 


HORATIO  COLLINS.  The  name  of  Mr. 
Collins  is  closely  linked  with  that  of  Homer 
Township.  Here  he  was  born  in  1840  and 
here  his  life  has  been  passed.  Parti y  by  his  in- 
fluence and  efforts  the  township  has  attained  a 
place  among  the  leading  agricultural  regions  of 
the  count}-.  He  has  been  active  in  extending  its 
agricultural  interests.  The  residence  that  he 
now  occupies  is  situated  within  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  of  the  site  of  the  log  cabin  where  he  was 
born.  On  the  old  family  homestead  he  conducts 
general  farm  pursuits  and  stock-raising,  and  the 
two  hundred  and  five  acres  of  improved  land  pay 
an  annual  tribute  to  his  careful  oversight.  The 
place  has  been  subdivided  into  fields  of  convenient 
size  for  the  raising  of  grain  and  the  pasturage 
of  stock,  and  buildings  have  been  erected  as 
needed. 

The  Collins  family  has  been  represented  in  this 
county  since  1S33,  when  our  subject's  father, 
Frederick  (who  was  born  in  Tioga  County, 
N.  Y. ,  in  18 1 2),  came  west  with  his  brother,  Ad- 
dison Collins,  Sr.,  and  bought  a  large  tract  in 
what  is  now  Homer  Township,  entering  the  land 
at  the  first  land  sale  in  Chicago  in  1835.  A  por- 
tion of  the  eight  hundred  acres  then  entered  by 
himself  and  brother  is  still  in  the  possession  of 
the  family.  He  cleared  his  land  and  placed  it  un- 
der cultivation,  afterward  residing  on  it  until  his 
death,  in  1897,  at  eighty-five  years  of  age.  Dur- 
ing the  war  he  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Union.  In  religion  he  was  connected  with  the 
Congregational  Church.  He  married  Nancy 
White,  who  was  born  near  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and 
is  now  living  at  Austin,  111.,  at  eighty-five  years 
of  age.     She   is  also  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


35i 


tional  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  now  living,  Horatio,  Mrs.  Henry 
Hatch  and  Henry  Bird.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  Samuel  Collins,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  who  about  1800  moved  from 
Guilford,  that  state,  to  Tioga  County,  N.  Y., 
and  settled  in  a  wilderness  where  the  Indians  and 
wild  animals  still  roamed. 

The  life  of  the  subject  of  this  article  has  been 
comparatively  uneventful.  Having  always  lived 
on  the  same  farm,  content  to  till  the  soil,  with  no 
desire  to  travel  over  the  country  or  seek  another 
home,  his  life  has  moved  along  quietly  and  hap- 
pily, its  calm  content  unmarredby  misfortune  and 
vicissitude.  Among  the  people  in  whose  neigh- 
borhood his  life  has  been  passed  he  is  highly 
esteemed  as  an  upright  man.  In  former  years  he 
worked  with  the  Republican  party,  but  his  in- 
terest in  the  cause  of  prohibition  led  him  to  ally 
himself  with  the  party  pledged  to  the  support  of 
these  principles.  Both  by  example  and  precept 
he  has  given  his  influence  toward  the  advance- 
ment of  temperance  principles.  He  is  a  Congre- 
gationalist,  and,  with  his  family,  worships  with 
the  congregation  at  Homer.  In  1874  he  married 
Annie,  daughter  of  Alexander  Johnson,  a  native 
of  Scotland.  Mrs.  Collins  was  born  near  Mont- 
real, Canada.  She  came  to  Will  County  with 
her  parents  in  1856  and  was  educated  in  the  Will 
County  schools.  They  have  an  only  daughter, 
Clara. 


GlLFRED  S.  CALKINS,  superintendent  of 
Lj  streets,  and  a  well-known  civil  engineer  of 
/  I  Joliet,  is  a  member  of  an  old  eastern  family, 
and  a  son  of  Almeron  E.  and  Abigail  J.  (Stone) 
Calkins.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Chauncey  W. 
Calkins,  a  native  of  New  York  state,  became  a 
pioneer  on  Gull  Prairie,  in  Barry  County,  Mich., 
and  was  for  a  time  engaged  as  an  Indian  trader 
and  government  agent.  Later  he  removed  to  Al- 
legan, Mich.,  and  carried  on  a  dry-goods  busi- 
ness in  that  city,  where  he  is  still  living,  though 
now  retired    from  business  cares.     Born  on  Gull 


Prairie  and  reared  in  Allegan,  Almeron  E. 
Calkins  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Michigan. 
At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army,  and  was  chosen  captain  of  Company 
K,  Eighth  Michigan  Cavalry,  in  which  he  served 
until  1865.  For  two  terms  he  held  the  office  of 
clerk  of  Allegan  County,  and  he  has  held  all  of 
the  city  offices,  having  been  the  incumbent  of 
some  local  office  during  almost  his  entire  active 
life.  A  leading  Democrat,  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  Democratic  central  committee. 
He  is  also  active  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. He  has  been  engaged  in  the  milling 
business  much  of  the  time  and  has  operated  the 
Valley  mills.  His  marriage  united  him  with 
Abigail  J.  Stone,  daughter  of  George  W.  Stone, 
whose  sister  was  the  mother  of  President  Arthur. 
Mr.  Stone  was  born  in  Vermont  and  in  an  early 
day  settled  in  Allegan  County,  Mich.,  where  he 
carried  on  a  hardware  business. 

The  older  of  the  two  sons  (of  whom  the 
younger,  Dwight,  is  a  practicing  physician  of 
Allegan),  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Allegan,  Mich.,  March  10,  1868.  In  1884  he 
graduated  from  the  high  school  of  his  native 
town,  after  which  he  spent  a  year  in  graduate 
work  in  the  same  school.  In  1887  he  matricu- 
lated in  the  University  of  Michigan,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  civil  engineering  in  1891  with 
the  degree  of  B.  S.  Returning  to  Allegan,  he 
worked  as  a  civil  engineer  there  until  February, 
1892,  when  he  came  to  Joliet,  accepting  a  position 
with  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad,  and 
continuing  in  construction  work  with  that  com- 
pany until  August,  1893.  At  the  latter  date  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  assistant  engineer  of  Joliet, 
under  O.  R.  Rauchfuss,  continuing  under  the  lat- 
ter's  successor,  George  W.  Brown,  until  1899. 
In  May  of  the  latter  year  he  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  streets  by  Mayor  Mount,  which  office 
he  has  filled  with  efficiency.  He  also  acted  as  as- 
sistant city  engineer  until  September,  1899,  when 
a  new  appointment  was  made.  As  superintendent 
he  has  been  able,  though  with  only  a  small  force  of 
men,  to  keep  the  streets  of  the  city  in  excellent 
condition,  and  has  received  much  praise  for  his 
efficient  work.     He  takes  an  interest  in  fraternal 


352 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


organizations  and  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  Knights  of  Khorissan  and 
Knights  of  Pythias.  In  religion  he  is  identified 
with  the  Episcopal  Church.  Since  coming  to 
Joliet  he  married  Jessie  G.,  daughter  of  Fred  M. 
Howk,  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  alderman  from 
the  seventh  ward.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
son,  Robert  Grant  Calkins. 


EWIS  J.  HAMMOND,  of  Joliet,  was  born 
|C  in  Clear  Creek,  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y., 
\  J  December  22,  1826,  a  son  of  James  and 
Ruby  (King)  Hammond.  He  was  one  of  six 
sons  and  daughters,  the  others  being  John,  of 
McGregor,  Iowa;  Ruby  A.,  who  married 
Alonzo  Grover,  and  occupies  the  old  homestead 
in  New  York;  Caroline,  Mrs.  Freeman  Towne, 
deceased;  William,  deceased,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war;  and  King  J.  The  last-named, 
who  was  a  highly  educated  man,  came  to  Joliet 
early  in  the  '40s  and  taught  school  here  for  some 
years.  Afterward  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Lock- 
port  school,  then  taught  in  Wilmington,  and  later 
was  the  first  teacher  in  the  Plainfield  Academy. 
For  several  years  he  was  county  superintendent 
of  schools.  His  next  enterprise  was  general 
merchandising  at  Plainfield,  where  he  did  a  large 
business.  Coming  from  that  place  to  Joliet  he 
was  prominent  in  mercantile  circles  here  for 
sometime.  He  died  May  5,  1895.  Twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  wife  was  Rosamond  W.  Randall,  a 
half-sister  of  Judge  Randall,  who  was  a  lawyer  of 
prominence  in  the  early  days  of  Joliet.  She  was 
a  niece  of  Chancellor  Walworth,  who  was  an  at- 
torney of  national  reputation,  and  whose  law- 
books are  regarded  as  an  authority  throughout 
the  entire  country.  His  second  wife  was  Julia 
Briggs.  Two  children  survive  him  by  his  first 
wife,  Mrs.  Rose  Pilcherand  Mrs.  Carrie  Rulifson, 
and  four  children  by  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Lida 
B.  Shaw,  wife  of  Dr.  John  Bliss  Shaw;  Willard 
K.,  of  Joliet;  Mrs.  Alice  Flinn,  of  St.  Paul;  and 
Dr.    Charles  L.  Hammond.     Mrs.  Julia  (Briggs) 


Hammond  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  She  became  a 
teacher  in  early  life,  and  was  a  Christian  woman 
of  rare  excellence  of  character,  honored  and  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  her. 

The  Hammond  family  was  founded  in  America 
by  three  brothers  who  came  from  England  to 
America  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Rhode 
Island.  The  daughter  of  one  of  the  brothers 
was  afterward  married  to  William  Penn.  Our 
subject's  grandfather,  Joseph  Hammond,  was 
born  at  Cramson,  Providence  County,  R.  I., 
March  9,  1767.  He  was  married  January  20, 
1793,  to  Anna  Talbot,  a  Scotch  lady.  Early  in 
the  '20s  he  moved  to  York  state.  The  last  four- 
teen years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  home  of 
his  son  James,  and  there  he  died  when  eighty 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  temperate  hab- 
its, never  using  tobacco  or  stimulants  in  any 
form.  His  Testament  was  his  constant  compan- 
ion, and  his  life  was  moulded  in  accordance  with 
its  teachings.  In  his  family  there  were  six  chil- 
dren, James,  John,  Nancy,  Daniel,  Joseph 
and  Eliza,  all  deceased  except  Eliza,  Mrs.  Amos 
Sage. 

James  Hammond  was  born  in  Foster,  Provi- 
dence County,  R.  I.,  January  14,  1794.  When 
he  was  fifteen  his  parents  removed  to  Norwich, 
Chenango  County,  N.  Y.  He  received  a  good 
education  and  became  an  expert  mathematician. 
For  forty  years  he  taught  in  public  schools. 
While  living  in  Norwich  he  married  Miss  King, 
who  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  County, 
Mass.,  September  29,  1797.  Early,  in  the  '20s 
he  moved  to  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  acquired  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  one- half 
mile  from  Clear  Creek.  Afterward  he  followed 
farming  in  addition  to  teaching,  but,  owing  to  his 
being  crippled  in  one  knee,  he  was  unable  per- 
sonally to  cultivate  his  place,  but  relied  upon 
hired  help.  As  justice  of  the  peace  his  counsel 
for  years  was  sought  by  the  people  of  his  locality. 
He  was  long  a  trustee  in  the  Baptist  Church. 
His  death  occurred  October  24,  1862. 

The  education  of  Lewis  J.  Hammond  was 
obtained  in  common  schools  and  at  Fredonia  and 
Randolph  academies.  When  he  was  twenty-one  he 
began  to  teach,  an  occupation  that  he  followed  for 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


353 


four  years  in  Cattaraugus  County,  at  Fredouia, 
Leon  Center  and  Randolph.  In  the  spring  of  1852 
he  came  to  Joliet,  and  during  the  summer  clerked 
in  his  brother's  store.  November  28  of  the  same 
year  he  married  Louisa  C.  Ashley,  who  was  born 
in  Martinsburg,  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.  Her 
father,  Cyrus  Ashley,  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist 
Church  for  sixty  years,  and  was  known  as  the 
"peacemaker."  She  was  for  seventeen  years  a 
teacher,  and  is  a  lady  of  talent,  Christian  influ- 
ence, and  practical  and  energetic  disposition. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hammond  taught  in 
the  Oswego  schools,  then  took  the  principalship 
of  Plainfield  academy,  his  wife  being  his  assist- 
ant. In  the  fall  of  1855  he  went  to  Iowa,  and, 
with  Deacon  Ashley,  bought  an  extensive  tract  of 
land  near  Cedar  Falls.  The  financial  panic  of 
1857  pressed  him  closely  for  funds,  and,  to  hold 
his  land,  he  returned  to  teaching.  For  five  years 
he  and  his  wife  taught  in  the  Cedar  Falls  schools, 
and,  meantime,  he  also  superintended  his  farm. 
In  1861  he  sold  his  land  and  turned  his  attention 
to  the  buying  and  shipping  of  live-stock  to  Chi- 
cago and  New  York,  in  which  he  continued  suc- 
cessfully for  twenty  years.  During  the  last  ten 
years  of  this  time  he  was  a  heavy  dealer  in  and 
shipper  of  dressed  pork,  shipping  to  Boston  and 
New  York.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Joliet,  and 
continued  buying  through  Minnesota,  Iowa, 
Kansas,  Missouri  and  Nebraska,  being  one  of  the 
most  extensive  shippers  in  the  west.  Finally,  in 
1881,  he  retired  from  the  business,  since  which 
time  he  has  given  his  attention  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  property  holdings.  Having  accumu- 
lated a  competency,  he  is  able  to  travel  as  incli- 
nation directs.  He  has  made  frequent  visits  to 
Florida, has  also  visited  Mexico  and  southern  Cali- 
fornia, as  well  as  other  points  of  climatic  attrac- 
tions or  historical  interest. 

The  only  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammond  is 
Ashley  King  Hammond,  who  has  been  remarka- 
bly successful  in  his  chosen  work.  He  is  adver- 
tising manager  of  the  St.  Louis  Republic,  a  very 
responsible  position,  and  one  that  he  fills  most 
creditably.  By  his  marriage  to  Miss  Jessie  R. 
Robinson  he  has  two  sons,  Ashley  K.  and  Lewis 
J.     The  only  daughter  of  Mr.  Hammond  is  Flor- 


ence May,  wife  of  Albert  Grinton,  confidential 
clerk  of  Samuel  Cupples'  Woodenware  Company, 
in  St.  Louis,  which  is  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the 
world. 

Mr.  Hammond  attends  the  Baptist  church  and 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  same.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  Master  Mason,  connected  with  the  blue 
lodge  of  the  order.  Although  very  active  in  the 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  always 
refused  any  nomination  for  office,  preferring  to 
devote  himself  wholly  to  his  private  interests. 


3OHN  J.  DEMPSEY,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  at  No.  321  Collins  street, 
Joliet,  was  born  near  Minooka,  Grundy 
County,  111.,  June  24,  1861,  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Julia  (Donovan)  Dempsey.  His  father,  who  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Grundy  County,  carried  on 
a  farm  near  Minooka  and  was  active  in  local 
affairs.  Among  the  offices  he  held  were  those  of 
pathmaster  and  commissioner.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1889,  six  years  after  the  demise  of  his 
wife.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  sons  and 
five  daughters.  When  our  subject  was  five  years 
of  age  the  family  removed  to  Clifton,  Iroquois 
County,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm  there, 
receiving  his  education  in  country  schools  and 
the  Chebanse  high  school.  After  leaving  school 
-  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  home  farm.  When 
he  was  twenty-four  he  went  to  Chicago,  where 
he  clerked  in  a  mercantile  house  for  a  year. 
During  the  next  five  years  he  was  engaged  in 
railroading  on  the  Illinois  Central  road.  Re- 
signing that  position,  he  became  an  engineer  on 
the  South  Side  street  railroad  of  Chicago,  where 
he  remained  for  a  year. 

Coming  to  Joliet,  in  October,  1889,  Mr.  Demp- 
sey started  in  business  for  himself,  and  has  since 
continued  at  his  present  site  on  Collins  street. 
Although  he  was  an  entire  stranger  to  the  peo- 
ple, it  was  not  long  before  his  reliable  methods  of 
doing  business  won  their  confidence  and  he  was 
thus    enabled   to   build   up   a    good  trade.      The 


354 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Democratic  party  has  in  him  a  very  active  and 
stanch  adherent.  For  seven  years  he  has  been  a 
delegate  to  the  party  conventions,  and  at  this 
writing  he  is  a  precinct  committeeman.  More 
than  once  his  name  has  been  mentioned  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  city  council;  and  it  is  certain, 
should  he  be  chosen  for  the  office,  every  duty  per- 
taining thereto  would  be  honestly  and  efficiently 
discharged.  In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic, 
belonging  to  St.  Mary's  Church. 

In  1 89 1  Mr.  Dempsey  built  a  two-story  frame 
residence  at  No.  105  Henry  avenue,  Ridgewood. 
Here  he  and  his  family  have  a  comfortable  home. 
He  was  married,  October  1,  1887,  to  Miss  Susie 
Conroy,  who  was  born  at  Channahon,  this 
county,  her  father,  Patrick  Conroy,  being  a 
farmer  and  merchant  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Demp- 
sey have  three  children,  Raymond,  Marguerite 
and  Florentine. 


ROBERT  PILCHER.  In  the  course  of  his 
active  business  career  Mr.  Pilcher  has  estab- 
lished a  reputation  for  reliability  and  for 
honorable  dealings  with  all.  Since  1892  he  has 
occupied  Pilcher's  block,  a  three-story  and  base- 
ment building,  50x100,  at  Nos.  203-205  Wash- 
ington street,  where  he  has  elevator  service,  elec- 
tricity and  other  conveniences.  He  has  built  up 
a  large  wholesale  business  in  express  and  wrap- 
ping paper,  wood  and  willow  ware,  twines,  etc., 
and  sells  mainly  in  Illinois,  where  four  traveling 
salesmen  are  constantly  on  the  road.  It  is  to 
such  men  as  he  that  Joliet  owes  its  high  standing 
as  a  commercial  center,  and  he  deservedly  ranks 
among  the  progressive  men  of  the  city. 

The  Pilcher  family  has  been  identified  with 
County  Kent,  England,  as  far  back  as  the  records 
can  be  traced.  Bayly  Pilcher,  a  native  and 
farmer  of  that  county,  was  the  first  to  seek  a 
home  in  another  land.  In  1852  he  brought  his 
family  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Wheat- 
land Township,   this  county,   two  and    one-half 


miles  from  Plainfield.  The  voyage  was  made  on 
a  sailing  vessel,  and  occupied  five  weeks  to  New 
York,  whence  the  family  proceeded  via  the  Hud- 
son, the  canal  and  lakes  to  Illinois,  joining  a 
relative  who  had  come  to  Illinois  the  preceding 
)-ear.  In  1854  Mr.  Pilcher  died  on  his  home 
place,  leaving  five  children,  of  whom  four  are 
now  living.  One  of  the  sons,  Frederick  R.,  a 
resident  of  Plainfield,  was  a  soldier  in  the  One 
Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war. 

Near  Folkstone,  County  Kent,  England,  Rob- 
ert Pilcher  was  born  June  7,  1849,  the  fourth 
child  of  Bayly  and  Keziah  (Austin)  Pilcher.  He 
was  reared  on  the  home  farm  until  eight  years  of 
age,  when  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  Plain- 
field,  and  attended  the  common  schools  and 
Northwestern  College  in  that  place.  In  186S  he 
came  to  Joliet  and  secured  a  clerkship  with  K.  J. 
Hammond,  remaining  in  the  same  position  for 
three  years.  In  1871  he  went  to  Sumner  County, 
Kans. ,  and  with  his  brother  Bayly  took  as  a  pre- 
emption three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  his  half 
of  which  he  improved,  remaining  there  for  three 
years.  On  his  return  to  Joliet  in  1874  he  re- 
sumed work  as  a  salesman,  but  soon  went  to 
Marseilles,  where  he  was  interested  in  a  paper- 
mill  for  a  year.  Returning  to  Joliet,  he  was  with 
Young  &  Riebling  for  two  years,  having  charge 
of  their  mill,  after  which  he  accepted  a  position 
as  superintendent  of  the  mill  at  Marseilles. 
Three  years  later,  in  1882,  he  came  back  to  Joliet, 
and  accepted  a  position  as  superintendent  of  F. 
Riebling's  mill.  When  Mr.  Riebling  failed,  in 
1886,  Mr.  Pilcher  leased  the  mill  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  wrapping  and  express  paper. 
In  1893  he  sold  the  mill  and  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent quarters,  in  order  to  secure  larger  accommo- 
dations for  his  steadily-growing  business. 

In  politics  Mr.  Pilcher  is  a  Republican,  and 
socially  he  is  conuected  with  the  Union  Club. 
He  was  married  iu  Ottawa,  111.,  to  Miss  N.  M. 
Anson,  who  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and  by 
whom  he  has  one  son,  Ray,  now  an  assistant  to 
his  father  in  the  office. 


UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


355 


GEORGE  LIVERMORE  VANCE. 


G)  HORGE  LIVERMORE  VANCE.  As  early 
I—  as  1700  the  Vance  family  was  established 
\Ji  in  Connecticut  from  the  north  of  Ireland. 
John  Vance  removed  from  Connecticut  to  Cale- 
donia County,  Vt.,  of  which  he  was  a  pioneer 
farmer.  His  son,  David,  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut in  1778,  and  for  many  years  served  as  a  cap- 
tain of  Vermont  militia,  also  for  fourteen  success- 
ive years  represented  his  district  in  the  state 
legislature.  He  died  in  Caledonia  County  at 
seventy-five  j-ears  of  age.  Next  in  line  of  de- 
scent was  Aaron,  a  native  of  Groton,  Caledonia 
County,  Vt.,  born  in  18 12,  and  by  occupation  a 
farmer.  It  was  he  who  founded  the  family  in 
the  west.  In  1S66  he  settled  at  Money  Creek, 
Houston  County,  Minn.,  where  for  years  he  cul- 
tivated a  farm,  but  is  now  living  retired  in 
Houston.  His  marriage  united  him  with  Lu- 
cinda  Tucker  (a  second  cousin  to  Whitelaw 
Reid),  who  was  born  in  Newbury,  Vt.,  and  is 
now  eighty-one  years  of  age.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jonas  Tucker,  who  was  a  farmer,  justice 
of  the  peace  and  prominent  business  man  of  his 
community,  and  who  married  Miss  Ann  John- 
ston, a  daughter  of  Gen.  Joseph  Johnston,  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  The  Johnstons  originated 
in  England. 

In  the  family  of  Aaron  and  Lucinda  Vance 
there  are  two  daughters  and  six  sons.  David 
E.,  an  attorney  of  Winona,  Minn.,  served  in  the 
Ninth  Vermont  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war, 
was  captured  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  afterward 
paroled;  William  A.  is  a  farmer  at  Houston, 
Minn.;  Albert  N.  carries  on  a  store  at  Decorah, 


Iowa;  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Dyer  lives  in  Houston, 
Minn. ;  Nicholas  W.  is  a  partner  of  Albert  N.  at 
Decorah;  Abbie  J.,  Mrs.  Vance,  lives  at  Money 
Creek,  Minn.;  and  Aaron  E.  is  in  Joliet.  The 
oldest  of  the  family  forms  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  at  Groton,  Vt.,  March 
13,  1S40.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he  began 
to  work  for  wages,  after  which  he  worked  in 
summers  and  attended  school  during  the  winter 
months.  From  eighteen  to  twenty-two  years  of 
age  he  taught  school,  after  which  he  studied  in 
Newbury  Academy. 

Going  to  Rutland,  Vt. ,  in  1862,  Mr.  Vance 
engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  for  two 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  went  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ,  where  he  was  given  a  clerkship  in 
the  war  department.  He  was  in  that  city  at  the 
time  Early  made  his  raid.  In  1867  he  was  made 
corresponding  clerk  in  the  law  department  of 
internal  revenue.  While  filling  this  position  he 
devoted  his  leisure  hours  to  the  study  of  law  in 
Columbia  College  law  school,  from  which  he 
graduated  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1870 
he  resigned  from  the  department  and  came  west, 
with  a  view  to  practicing  law.  However,  his 
plans  were  changed  and  he  engaged  in  business 
with  an  uncle  at  Money  Creek,  Minn.  Two 
years  later  he  came  to  Joliet  and  opened  a  furni- 
ture store,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Woods  & 
Vance.  The  panic  coming  on  before  he  had 
been  fairly  started  in  business  and  before  his 
credit  had  been  established,  he  lost  all.  Undis- 
mayed by  this  catastrophe,  he  took  up  the  work 
with  renewed    energy    and  afterward   met   with 


03c 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


constant  success.  Selling  out  the  business  after 
years  of  successful  effort,  in  1895  he  started  on  a 
tour  of  the  continent,  and  visited  points  of  inter- 
est in  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa,  going  up  the 
Nile  and  all  through  the  Holy  Laud.  The  vaca- 
tion of  four  mouths,  with  all  of  its  novel  incidents 
and  its  freedom  from  business  cares,  he  recalls  as 
the  happiest  time  of  his  life,  and  its  memory  is 
cherished  iu  his  heart.  On  his  return  to  Joliet 
he  was  obliged  to  take  the  business  back  and  has 
since  conducted  it,  occupying  the  Vance  block, 
a  three-story  and  basement  building,  60x66, 
which  he  built  in  18S9.  For  uiany  years  he  was 
vice-president  and  a  director  of  the  Will  County 
National  Bank  and  is  still  one  of  its  stock- 
holders. 

Politically  Mr.  Vance  is  a  free-silver  Republi- 
can. In  1S96  he  was  the  Democratic  and  Popu- 
list candidate  for  congress,  and,  while  failing  of 
election,  he  ran  ahead  of  his  ticket.  For  a  long 
time  he  was  a  school  inspector  and  for  three  years 
served  as  vice-president  of  the  board.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  Templar 
and  Medinah  Temple,  N.  M.  S.,  of  Chicago. 
Since  1S65  he  has  been  identified  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church  as  clerk,  deacon  and  trustee,  and  for 
years  he  held  the  position  of  Sunday-school 
superintendent.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Social  Union  of  Chicago  and  the  Board  of  Mana- 
gers of  the  Baptist  Young  People's  Union  of 
America.  Formerly  president  of  the  Will  Count3T 
Sunday-school  Association,  he  now  holds  the 
office  of  vice-president.  His  activity  in  Sunday- 
school  work  is  great.  He  is  an  ardent  believer 
in  the  good  accomplished  by  these  organizations 
and  has  not  only  given  them  his  financial  sup- 
port, but  liberally  of  his  time  as  well.  At  this 
writing  he  teaches  each  Sunday  in  the  Sunday- 
schools  at  his  church,  the  mission  and  the  state 
penitentiary,  and  he  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most 
successful  teachers  in  the  city. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Vance,  who  was  Eliza- 
beth K.  Fowler,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  died  in 
Joliet  iu  1873,  leaving  two  children:  George  A., 
who  is  teller  in  the  Will  County  National  Bank; 
and  Grace  F.,  a  graduate  of  the  Winona  (Minn.) 
Normal  School.     July    19,    1S77,   in  Joliet,   Mr. 


Vance  married  Jennie,  daughter  of  William 
Lewis,  and  a  native  of  England.  They  are  the 
parents  of  a  daughter,  Beulah,  who  graduated 
from  the  Joliet  high  school  in  1899,  and  who  read 
the  valedictory  on  the  occasion  of  the  commence- 
ment exercises. 


RENNETH  L.  PURDY,  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  and  coal  operator  of  Joliet,  was 
born  iu  Ontario,  Canada,  January  4.  1852, 
a  son  of  Lewis  W.  and  Catherine  (Wright) 
Purdy.  Of  a  family  of  twelve  children  he  is 
fourth  among  the  seven  survivors.  Of  the  oth- 
ers we  note  the  following:  Sophronia  L-  is  the 
wife  of  W.  Griffith,  a  merchant  at  Sydenham, 
Ontario;  Orvis  W.  is  a  business  man  of  Syden- 
ham; Almeda  J.  married  Horatio  Da}-,  a  wealthy 
mill  owner  and  landed  proprietor;  Mary  A.  is 
the  wife  of  Alfred  Hunter,  who  is  a  farmer  in 
Ontario  and  the  president  of  the  Agricultural  So- 
ciety of  Portland  Township;  Eulisa  M.  is  the 
widow  of  Harland  W.  Towusend,  who  was 
president  of  the  Standsted  University,  province 
of  Quebec;  and  Victor  M.  is  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister in  British  Columbia. 

Born  in  New  York  state  in  1816,  Lewis  W. 
Purdy  was  still  a  boy  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Ontario  and  settled  in  Kingston.  His 
occupation  was  that  of  a  farmer.  Early  in  life 
he  associated  himself  with  the  Methodists,  and 
afterward  give  of  his  time  and  money  freely  to 
the  work  of  that  denomination,  which  he  prac- 
tically established  in  Ontario.  With  others,  he 
formed  a  union  of  all  Methodist  churches  iu  Can- 
ada. For  years  he  was  trustee  of  Albert  Col- 
lege, a  Methodist  institution  at  Belleville,  Onta- 
rio. As  a  local  preacher  his  services  were 
constantly  in  demand.  In  local  politics  he  was 
also  active.  For  thirty-five  years  he  served  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  besides  which  he  held  other 
positions  of  trust.  His  death  occurred  Septem- 
ber 24,  1891.  His  father,  Hosea  Purdy,  who 
was  of  Scotch  liueage,  was  a  native  of  England 
and   immigrated   to  New  York,   thence  went  to 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


357 


Ontario,  where  he  spent  his  last  years  on  a  farm. 
He,  too,  was  an  ardent  worker  in  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  died  when  in  his  eighty-eighth 
year.  Our  subject's  mother  was  born  in  Sydney 
Township,  near  Belleville,  Ontario,  in  1824,  and 
died  September  10,  1898,  exactly  eight  years 
after  the  death  of  her  husband;  and  it  is  a  note- 
worthy fact  that  both  were  the  same  age,  to  a 
day,  at  the  time  they  died.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Scotland,  and  settled  in  Canada  in 
early  married  life.  Two  of  their  sons  became 
Methodist  ministers,  and  the  others  were  also  lead- 
ers in  that  denomination. 

In  the  common  schools  and  the  business  col- 
lege at  Belleville  our  subject  obtained  his  educa- 
tion. In  early  manhood  he  conducted  the  home 
farm,  after  which,  with  a  brother,  he  embarked 
in  the  lumber  business,  and  in  the  mining  of 
mica  and  phosphate  of  lime.  Withdrawing  from 
the  partnership,  in  March,  1890,  he  came  to 
Joliet,  where  he  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building.  In  1895  he  established  his  present 
coal  business,  which  has  grown  to  satisfactory 
and  profitable  proportions.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  and  Joliet 
Lodge  No.  112,  Knights  of  the  Globe. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Purdy,  in  1S76,  united 
him  with  Miss  Mary  E.  McRory,  a  native  of 
Sydenham,  Canada,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
McRory,  a  member  of  parliament  from  the  dis- 
trict of  Addington  for  many  years,  member  of 
the  council  for  three  years,  reeve  of  his  township 
for  eleven  years,  and  warden  of  his  county  for 
a  j-ear.  Six  children  were  born  to  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purdy.  Four  of  these  are  now 
living.  The  eldest,  Lillian  Gertrude,  is  the  wife 
of  Ernest  Sallenbach,  an  expert  plumber  with 
Strong,  Bush  &  Handwerk,  of  Joliet.  Wilson 
Winfred,  Ernest  Elmer  and  Ina  May  are  being 
given  excellent  educational  advantages  in  Joliet 
schools.  The  family  are  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Purdy  has  been  a  choir 
leader  in  most  of  the  Protestant  churches  of 
Joliet,  and  has  trained  the  largest  choirs  of  this 
city,  being  an  efficient  chorister.  He  is  a  gifted 
vocalist,    possessing  a  voice  with  a  remarkable 


range  that  enables  him  to  sing  any  part  from  the 
lowest  to  the  highest.  He  is  also  a  finished 
pianist,  and  has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  almost 
every  musical  instrument. 


IILLIAM  LOUIS  PETTY,  a  resident  of 
Joliet  since  1878,  was  nominated  in  the 
spring  of  1899  to  fill  a  vacancy  as  justice 
of  the  peace  of  Joliet  Township  and  at  the  elec- 
tion in  May  he  was  given  a  good  majorit3\  being 
elected  to  serve  until  the  spring  of  1901.  He  es- 
tablished his  office  in  the  Masonic  building  at 
No.  225  Jefferson  street,  and  has  since  given  his 
time  to  his  official  duties,  which  he  discharges  in 
a  manner  satisfactory  to  all  and  creditable  to  him- 
self. He  has  always  voted  the  Republican  ticket 
and  his  election  came  from  the  party  that  he  has 
so  faithfully  supported. 

Generations  ago  the  Pettit  family  came  from 
France  to  America,  settling  in  North  Carolina, 
where  the  name  was  changed  to  Petty.  Will- 
iam Petty,  Sr.,  a  planter  of  the  latter  state,  fol- 
lowed his  two  sons  to  the  north  and  took  up  a 
claim  in  Wabash  Count}',  Ind.  The  neighbor- 
hood where  they  settled  was  given  the  name  of 
Petty ville.  William  Petty,  Jr.,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  took  up  a  timber  tract  from  the  govern- 
ment in  Wabash  County  and  at  once  began  to 
clear  the  laud.  He  built  a  log  house  that  is  still 
standing.  After  a  time  he  removed  to  Delaware 
County,  the  same  state,  where  he  cleared  a  farm 
six  miles  from  Muncie,  and  in  time  his  place  be- 
came very  valuable  through  the  improvements 
he  made  upon  it.  His  death  occurred  in  1868, 
when  he  was  fifty-six  years  of  age.  Fraternally 
he  was  connected  with  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows. His  wife  was  Sidney  Rees,  who  spent  her 
entire  life  in  Delaware  County ;  her  father,  Mar- 
tin Rees,  a  native  of  Ohio,  settled  in  Delaware 
County  at  so  early  a  period  that  the  Muncie 
Indians  had  not  yet  retreated  to  haunts  further 
west. 

The  family  of  William  and  Sidney  Petty  con- 


353 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sisted  of  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living, 
namely:  Emma,  Mrs.  David  Jones,  of  Muncie; 
Louis;  John  A.,  of  Muncie;  Zeuo,  who  is  pastor 
of  the  Church  of  God  in  Muncie;  and  Charles,  a 
member  of  the  Eighteenth  United  States  In- 
fantry now  in  Manila.  At  the  home  place  near 
Muncie  our  subject  was  born  September  17, 
i860,  and  there  he  remained  until  eighteen  years 
of  age.  In  1878,  coming  to  Joliet,  he  secured  a 
clerkship  in  a  grocery  house,  where  he  continued 
for  eight  years.  He  was  then  appointed  by 
Mayor  McClaughrey  receiving  and  discharging 
officer  in  the  Illinois  state  penitentiary,  where  he 
remained  for  eight  consecutive  years.  On  re- 
signing he  started  in  the  grocery  business  for 
himself  at  No.  120  North  Chicago  street,  but 
after  a  year  sold  out  in  order  to  accept  an  ap- 
pointment as  bridewell  keeper  of  Joliet.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  latter  position  until  his  election  as 
justice  of  the  peace. 

Iu  Joliet  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Petty  to 
Miss  Lena  Reichert,  who  was  born  in  this  city. 
Her  father,  John  Reichert,  came  from  Germany 
to  this  city  in  an  earl}'  day  and  for  years  engaged 
in  business  on  Washington  street,  but  is  now  too 
feeble  to  continue  the  activities  of  earlier  years. 
The  five  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Petty  are: 
El  wood,  William  L.,  Elsie  Ethel,  Lena  and 
Jacob.  Fraternally  Mr.  Petty  is  connected  with 
Matteson  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
Joliet  Chapter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.,  also  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Universalist  Church. 


(TAMES  W.  MILLER,  who  holds  an  impor- 
I  tant  position  with  the  Pressed  Steel  Car 
G/  Company  in  Joliet,  was  born  in  Mercer 
County,  Pa.,  April  19,  1852,  a  son  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  A.  (Miller)  Miller.  He  was  one  of 
six  children,  of  whom  five  survive,  those  beside 
himself  being  John  E.,  who  is  employed  as  en- 
gineer with  the  Pressed  Steel  Car  Company; 
Frank  A.,  a  machinist  in  Oshkosh,  Wis.;  Mag- 


gie A.,  wife  of  C.  W.  Smith,  of  Joliet;  and  Lil- 
lie  J.,  who  married  A.  S.  Patterson,  also  of 
Joliet.  The  sons  are  well  known  by  reason  of 
their  mechanical  skill,  a  talent  which  they  inher- 
ited from  their  father.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  iu  1S22,  and  through  his 
own  efforts  acquired  a  practical  education.  From 
an  early  age  he  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
machinist's  trade.  He  arrived  in  America  in 
1845,  with  fifty  cents  in  his  possession.  Going 
to  an  iron  manufacturing  town  in  Mercer  County, 
Pa.,  he  secured  employment  at  his  trade.  In 
1857  ne  removed  from  that  place  and  settled  in 
Morris,  111.,  where  he  opened  a  machine  shop. 
Scarcely  three  years  later,  however,  he  lost  every- 
thing by  fire.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army  and  was  made  captain  of  the  fusileers,  a 
compan}-  of  skilled  mechanics  for  bridge  build- 
ing. After  six  mouths  he  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service.  Shortly  afterward  he  enlisted  in 
the  navy,  and  was  made  chief  engineer  of  the 
"  General  Bragg,"  also  held  a  similar  position  on 
other  Union  warships.  He  was  present  at  the 
blockade  of  Vicksburg  and  many  engagements 
with  southern  forces.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  Mor- 
ris. Again  opening  a  machine  shop,  he  resumed 
the  pursuits  of  private  life.  Two  years  later  he 
was  appointed  chief  engineer  of  the  Illinois  state 
penitentiary,  which  important  position  he  held 
continuously  for  twenty-two  years,  retiring  from 
active  work  in  1890.  For  years  he  was  active  in 
the  Republican  party  and  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  Iu  religion  he  was  a  Presbyterian. 
His  death  occurred  in  1895.  His  wife,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  city  and  year  as  himself,  is  still 
living,  and  is  active  and  strong  for  one  of  her 
age. 

When  nineteen  years  of  age  our  subject  ap- 
prenticed himself  to  the  machinist's  trade.  In 
1S73  he  was  appointed  assistant  chief  engineer  of 
the  Illinois  state  penitentiary,  and  served  iu  that 
capacity  for  eight  years.  Following  this  he  was 
for  three  years  employed  as  engineer  for  the  Ash- 
ley Wire  Company.  In  1SS5  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Texas,  and  for  four  months  was 
employed  as  traction  engineer  for  C.  Aultman  & 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


359 


Co.  Later  he  took  a  trip  through  the  west, 
spending  some  months  in  California.  On  his  re- 
turn to  Texas  he  took  the  management  of  an 
ice  factory  for  parties  in  Colorado  City.  In  1887 
he  came  back  to  Joliet.  Two  years  later  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Pressed  Steel  Car  Com- 
pany as  engineer.  His  ability  was  soon  acknowl- 
edged, and  he  was  gradually  given  charge  of  the 
works.  In  1893  he  was  made  superintendent  of 
the  night  department,  which  position  he  still 
holds.  It  is  said  by  those  who  know  him  best, 
that  there  is  no  finer  machinist  in  Joliet.  All  of 
his  work  is  systematically  planned  and  methodi- 
cally conducted.  Through  his  skill  as  a  ma- 
chinist he  is  admirably  qualified  to  superintend 
the  plant  efficiently  and  satisfactorily. 

Though  not  active  in  politics,  Mr.  Miller  is  a 
stanch  Republican.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
In  1876  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Frances  S.  Williams,  who  was  born  in  Minne- 
sota, and  received  her  education  principally  in 
Minneapolis.  Her  father,  Thomas  Williams,  a 
native  of  England,  for  many  years  carried  on  a 
meat  market  in  Joliet,  and  was  one  of  the  pros- 
perous business  men  of  the  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely: 
Addis  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  Joliet  high  school; 
Alice  M.,  who  is  studying  art  in  Kansas  City; 
Francis  J.,  a  graduate  of  the  Joliet  high  school; 
Lillian  M.  and  Alger. 


EHARLES  E.  CARTER.  In  the  years  that 
have  elapsed  since  Mr.  Carter  first  came  to 
Joliet  there  has  been  a  marked  development 
of  the  city's  commercial  and  manufacturing  inter- 
ests, and  he  has  witnessed  the  growth  of  local 
enterprises  with  the  keenest  penetration  as  to 
future  prosperity.  When  he  arrived  here,  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  he  had  himself  but  recently 
left  the  army  and  had  endured  the  hardships  and 
dangers  of  a  soldier's  life.  As  he  was  brave  and 
loyal    in    service,    so  he  has   since  been  public- 


spirited  as  a  citizen.  In  the  various  occupations 
he  has  followed  it  has  been  said  of  him  that  he 
invariably  proved  himself  to  be  honest  and  relia- 
ble. In  1892  he  started  a  greenhouse  at  No.  601 
Collins  street  and  afterward  built  two  others,  in 
order  to  accommodate  his  growing  business  in  the 
propagation  of  plants  and  the  sale  of  flowers. 

The  Carters  are  an  old  Maine  family.  Charles 
E.  was  born  in  Hallowell,  that  state,  and  was  the 
oldest  of  three  sous,  two  of  whom  attained  man- 
hood. His  brother,  Eugene  B.,  enlisted  in  the 
First  Maine  Cavalry  during  the  Civil  war  and 
died  while  at  the  front.  The  father,  B.  J.,  who 
was  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  Hallowell,  mar- 
ried Louisa  F. ,  daughter  of  Timothy  Stevens, 
who  moved  from  New  Hampshire  to  Maine  and 
settled  on  a  farm.  She  was  born  in  Maine  and 
died  in  Joliet  in  July,  1898,  when  eighty- four 
years  of  age.  In  the  village  where  he  was  born, 
June  4,  1842,  Charles  E.  Carter  grew  to  man- 
hood, meantime  studying  in  the  public  schools 
and  an  academy.  When  he  was  a  small  child  his 
father  died,  and  in  1853  his  mother  was  again 
married,  her  second  husband  dying  in  1858. 

In  September,  1861,  Mr.  Carter  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  First  Maine  Cavalry,  which  was 
mustered  in  at  Augusta,  Me.,  and  wintered  in 
that  state,  joining  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
in  March,  1862.  Not  long  afterward  he  was 
taken  ill  and  sent  to  the  hospital,  where  he  re- 
mained until,  on  account  of  physical  disability, 
he  was  discharged  October  20,  1862.  After  a 
short  visit  in  Maine  he  settled  in  this  count)'  in 
March,  1S63,  and  for  a  few  months  worked  on  a 
farm,  after  which  he  took  a  course  in  the  Chicago 
Commercial  College.  On  his  return  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Campbell  &  Carter,  but 
after  a  year  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business.  In  1866  he  started  across  the  plains 
with  an  ox-team  from  Iowa  to  Virginia  City, 
Mont. ,  following  the  Powder  River  route  through 
the  Big  Horn  country.  The  next  year  that  route 
had  to  be  abandoned  on  account  of  Indian  hostil- 
ities, and  at  the  time  he  crossed  via  that  route  the 
Indians  stampeded  stock-trains  ahead  and  behind 
of  him.  He  encountered  many  dangers  in  the 
trans-Mississippi     region,     but     passed     safely 


36° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


through  them  all.  He  remained  only  a  short 
time  in  the  west,  his  mother's  ill-health  causing 
him  to  return  to  Illinois.  The  trip  back  was 
made  from  Fort  Benton  by  flat-boat  to  Sioux 
City,  Iowa,  where  he  took  the  train  for  Joliet. 

During  the  first  two  years  after  his  return  to 
this  city  Mr.  Carter  carried  on  a  roofing  business. 
Next  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Mexico,  Mo. 
Again  coming  back  to  Joliet,  he  began  gardening 
on  a  small  farm  adjoining  the  city,  remaining 
there  for  eight  years.  In  December,  1S80,  he 
accepted  a  position  as  time-keeper  for  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company,  with  whom  he  remained,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year,  until  January,  189S, 
being  chief  time-keeper  twelve  years,  and  keeping 
the  time  of  more  than  two  thousand  men.  He 
finally  resigned,  in  order  to  devote  his  attention 
to  the  florist's  business,  which  he  had  started  six 
years  before.  On  the  Republican  ticket  he  was 
elected  alderman  from  the  first  ward,  which  office 
he  filled  for  two  years.  In  religion  he  is  a  Uni- 
versalist.  For  two  years  he  was  secretary  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Steel  Works  Club,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  first  members.  He  is 
connected  with  Bartleson  Post  No.  6,  G.  A.  R. 
While  living  in  Missouri  he  married  Miss  Annette 
Evarts,  who  was  born  in  New  York.  Of  their 
children,  Ada  and  Wilber  died  at  the  age  of  four 
and  ten  years;  Alice,  Mrs.  Harris,  resides  in 
Joliet;  May  L.  and  Harry  are  at  home,  the 
former  assisting  in  the  greenhouse. 


30HN  R.  HERATH,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Joliet  and  assistant  supervisor  of  the 
county,  was  born  in  Bayreuth,  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, August  24,  1858,  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Magdalena  (Kueffner)  Herath,  natives  of  the 
same  place.  His  father,  who  was  a  merchant, 
and  for  eight  years  burgomaster,  died  in  his 
native  town  when  fifty  years  of  age.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  old  and  influential 
families  of  their  province.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  all  but  one  of  whom  are 
living,  five  being  in  America  and  one  in  Ger- 
many.    Of  the  three  sons  in  the  United  States, 


Albert  and  John  reside  in  Joliet,  and  Henry  is 
engaged  in  the  agricultural  implement  business 
in  Goodland,  Ind. 

At  an  early  age  our  subject  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  grocery  business  by  clerking  in 
his  father's  store.  Crossing  the  ocean  in  1874, 
he  came  to  Will  County,  111.,  and  worked  on  a 
farm  owned  by  his  uncle,  Conrad  Herath,  who 
had  settled  here  about  1855.  During  the  two 
years  that  he  worked  for  D.  C.  Searles,  of  Troy 
Township,  he  was  given  $28  per  annum  and  his 
board,  and  had  the  privilege  of  attending  school 
during  winters.  Later  he  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and  for  one  year  was  night  watchman 
at  the  state  penitentiary,  at  the  same  time  taking 
a  commercial  course  in  Joliet  Business  College. 
For  three  years  he  was  employed  as  converter  in 
the  mills  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company.  His  next 
position  was  that  of  clerk  in  a  grocery.  In  18S6 
he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Holmstrom  & 
Herath,  on  Washington  street,  but  after  ten 
months  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  he 
resumed  work  with  his  former  employer.  Four 
months  later  he  opened  a  grocery  at  his  present 
location,  No.  109  Jefferson  street,  and  in  a  short 
time  took  a  cousin  into  partnership,  the  title  be- 
coming Herath  &  Herath.  When  the  site 
formerly  occupied  by  his  old  employer,  Mr.  Eck- 
land,  was  vacated,  he  rented  the  store,  and  con- 
tinued there  for  eighteen  months,  then  sold  to  his 
cousin  and  started  a  store  across  the  street.  Five 
years  later  this  corner  being  again  vacated  he 
returned  here,  remodeling  the  building,  which 
consists  of  three  stories,  22x80  feet  in  dimensions. 
In  addition  to  a  retail  business  he  also  does  some 
jobbing  and  deals  in  provisions.  To  deliver  his 
orders  he  runs  two  wagons.  Being  reliable  in  his 
dealings  and  reasonable  in  prices,  he  has  built  up 
a  large  and  valuable  trade  among  the  people  of 
the  city. 

At  No.  709  Exchange  street  Mr.  Herath  owns 
and  occupies  an  attractive  residence, which  is  one 
of  Joliet's  many  comfortable  homes.  He  was 
married  in  Joliet  to  Miss  Regina  Sartori,  daugh- 
ter of  Rudolph  Sartori,  who  was  a  nephew  of  a 
French  count,  and  a  native  of  Alsace,  but  an 
early  settler  of  Joliet. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


361 


In  politics  Mr.  Herath  is  a  stanch  Republican. 
With  no  solicitation  on  his  part  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  assistant  supervisor  and  elected  in  the 
spring  of  1896.  Two  years  later  he  was  re- 
elected, receiving  one  hundred  and  fifty  more 
votes  than  any  other  candidate  for  the  office. 
While  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  he 
was  chairman  of  the  bridge  committee  at  the  time 
of  the  building  of  two  good  bridges  in  the  county. 
In  his  work  as  an  officer  he  has  shown  himself 
a  friend  of  the  workiugman.  He  has  also  been 
very  accurate  and  careful  in  all  official  work,  aim- 
ing to  carry  on  the  county  business  with  as  great 
care  as  his  own.  While  he  is  not  connected  with 
any  denomination,  he  is  liberal  in  his  gifts  to  re- 
ligious movements  and  is  a  friend  of  all  churches. 
He  is  a  member  of  thejoliet  Grocerymen's  Asso- 
ciation, and  is  serving  upon  its  executive  com- 
mittee. Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


HUBERT  A.  STEVENS,  city  engineer  of 
Joliet,  was  born  in  Cedar  County,  Iowa, 
March  10,  1864.  In  1866  his  parents  moved 
to  Chicago,  and  he  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in 
that  city.  He  attended  the  Chicago  schools, 
graduating  from  high  school  in  that  city  in  the 
class  of  1880.  He  entered  the  University  of 
Illinois  and  graduated  from  the  college  of  civil 
engineering  in  1884.  Soon  after  his  graduation 
at  Champaign  he  received  an  appointment  as  an 
assistant  engineer  on  the  government  force  em- 
ployed in  the  Mississippi  river  improvement  work, 
and  he  remained  on  this  work  for  about  a  year 
and  a-half,  becoming  familiar  with  the  different 
phases  of  river  and  harbor  work.  He  was  sta- 
tioned first  at  Memphis,  Tenn. ,  and  afterward  at 
Portage,  Wis. 

After  the  completion  of  the  government  sur- 
veys at  these  points  Mr.  Stevens  had  charge  for 
the  contractors  of  the  construction  of  the  Wis- 
consin Central  railroad  bridge  across  the  Chicago 
river,  and  was  afterwards  in  charge  of  the  in- 
spection  of  material  for  that  road  in  South  Chi- 


cago. He  was  offered  and  accepted  the  position 
of  engineer  of  the  North  Chicago  Street  Rail- 
road Company  during  the  time  that  the  change 
was  being  made  from  horse  to  cable  as  a  motive 
power.  He  had  full  charge  of  the  construction 
work  in  putting  in  the  cable  lines  on  the  entire 
North  side  system.  This  work  took  about  two 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  city  engineer  of  Chicago,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  all  the  municipal  improvements 
on  the  North  side  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  He 
held  this  position  nearly  seven  years,  serving  un- 
der Mayors  Carter  Harrison,  Sr.,  Roche,  Cregier, 
Washburne  and  Hopkins. 

In  1896  Mr.  Stevens  went  into  business  for 
himself,  handling  the  engineering  department  in 
connection  with  the  firm  of  Mariner  &  Hoskins, 
chemists  and  engineers.  Poor  health  at  this 
time  compelled  him  to  abandon  his  work  tempo- 
rarily, and  many  months  were  spent  traveling 
through  this  country,  Mexico  and  Canada.  In 
1899  he  was  appointed  city  engineer  of  the  city 
of  Joliet,  and  held  that  position  during  the  time 
when  the  drainage  canal  was  being  constructed 
through  this  section.  In  that  position  he  became 
thoroughly  familiar  with  many  of  the  most  diffi- 
cult engineering  problems  connected  with  that 
great  work.  In  the  different  positions  that  he  has 
held  he  has  had  a  splendid  opportunity  to  become 
conversant  with  a  wide  range  of  engineering 
work  of  different  kinds,  and  he  has  been  quick 
to  take  advantage  of  this  experience.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  western  society  of  engineers,  and 
the  Illinois  society  of  engineers  and  surveyors, 
and  is  also  connected  with  various  local  clubs. 

June  18,  1890,  he  married  Miss  Hattie  B., 
daughter  of  Hon.  M.  B.  Thompson, of  Urbana, 
111.     They  have  two  sons,  Vernon   and  Richard. 

Charles  W.  Stevens,  father  of  Mr.  Stevens, 
was  a  native  of  Exeter,  N.  H.,  and  married  Miss 
Lucy  L.  Allen,  of  Boston,  Mass.  Shortly  there- 
after he  moved  to  Iowa,  and  gained  his  start  in 
life  by  farming.  Although  unfamiliar  with  prac- 
tical agriculture,  the  condition  of  the  times  were 
such  that  he  met  with  remarkable  success.  A 
fortunate  venture  in  raising  a  large  acreage  of 
onions,  when  throughout  the  country  there  hap- 


362 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


pened  to  be  a  great  scarcity  of  that  vegetable, 
gave  him  the  needed  capital  to  enable  him  to  en- 
gage in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1866  he  settled 
in  Chicago,  where  he  opened  a  wholesale  photo- 
graphic supply  house,  soon  building  up  a  trade 
which  extended  all  over  the  central  and  western 
states.  Burned  out  by  the  fire  of  187 1  and  losing 
everything,  yet  with  a  credit  untarnished  he  was 
able  in  ten  days'  time  to  open  his  doors  again 
with  a  larger  and  better  stock  of  goods  than  Chi- 
cago had  ever  seen,  months  before  any  of  his 
competitors  got  on  their  feet.  For  twenty  years 
he  remained  in  business,  and  on  his  retirement 
he  continued  to  make  Chicago  his  home,  until 
his  death  in  1890.  A  man  of  great  energy  and 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  he  built  up  a  busi- 
ness reputation  of  the  highest  order,  and  met  a 
financial  success  his  talents  richly  merited.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member 
of  many  fraternal  societies,  being  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias. His  wife,  a  true  woman  and  loving  help- 
mate, did  not  long  survive  him.  They  left  two 
children,  one  a  daughter,  Shirley,  being  now  the 
wife  of  F.  A.  Gritzner,  of  Chicago. 


Martin  B.  Thompson,  father  of  Mrs.  Stevens, 
made  during  his  lifetime  an  enviable  record  as  a 
soldier,  lawyer  and  statesman.  As  a  soldier, 
when  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  and  remained  at  the  front  until  the  close 
of  the  conflict,  working  his  way  from  the  ranks 
to  a  captaincy.  As  a  lawyer  he  served  as  public 
prosecutor  for  the  Sixteenth  judicial  district  for 
four  years,  which  was  followed  by  a  term  as 
state's  attorney  for  Champaign  County.  During 
the  eight  years  he  served  as  prosecutor  he  ac- 
quired a  knowledge  of  criminal  law,  that  together 
with  his  great  natural  talent,  made  him  a  formid- 
able antagonist  on  either  side  of  a  criminal  case. 
As  a  statesman  he  represented  the  Thirtieth  dis- 
trict in  the  senate,  being  an  active  and  influential 
Republican,  and  a  stanch  supporter  of  Logan, 
Oglesby  and  other  early  Republican  leaders  in 
Illinois.  As  a  state  senator  he  rendered  the  same 
faithful  efficient  service  characteristic  of  him  in 
every  position.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Stevens, 
was  a  girl  of  greatest  assistance  to  him  in  his  po- 
litical life,  and  displayed  judgment  and  tact  in 
the  many  responsibilities  of  the  work.  For  sev- 
eral terms  she  held  office  as  postmistress  of  the 
state  senate. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


363 


WILLIAM   H.  BRYANT. 


(ILLIAM  H.  BRYANT,  who  is  a  well- 
known  contractor  and  builder  of  Joliet,  has 
carried  on  a  successful  business  in  his 
chosen  occupation,  first  as  a  partner  with  W.  H. 
Palmer,  but  since  June,  tSg7,  alone.  Among  his 
contracts  may  be  mentioned  those  for  the  Evangel- 
ical Church  at  Jackson,  111. ;  the  Ridgewood  Bap- 
tist and  Central  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Joliet; 
Congregational  Church  of  Oswego,  111. ,  and  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  New  Lenox,  111.; 
also  the  Keltie  and  Vincent  blocks,  the  mounting- 
shop  of  the  Joliet  stove  works,  the  Joliet  Trans- 
fer storage  warehouse,  and  the  residences  of  H. 
M.  Snapp,  C.  E.  B.  Cutler,  J.  C.  Merrill,  F.  H. 
Merrill  and  the  Rachel  flats.  Besides  taking 
contracts,  he  has  furnished  plans  for  many  of  his 
buildings.  In  all  of  his  work  he  is  assisted  by 
his  wife,  who  is  quite  successful  in  drafting,  and 
thus  helps  him  materially  in  his  plans.  He  is 
president  of  the  Joliet  Builders'  Association, 
which  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  organizing. 
Near  Sherbrooke,  Compton  County,  Canada, 
Mr.  Bryant  was  born  November  15,  1863,  a  son 
of  G.  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Burns)  Bryant,  natives 
respectively  of  Argenteuil  aud  Terre  Bonne  Coun-- 
ties,  Canada.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John 
Bryant,  who  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  of 
Scotch  and  English  descent,  emigrated  to  Canada 
at  twenty  years  of  age,  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  the  lumber  business.  A  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  G.  G.  Bryant  stood  high  among 
the  people  of  Sherbrooke,  of  which  place  he  was 
mayor  for  two  terms,  councilor  several  terms, 
and  a  member  of  the  school  board. 

When  young    he   learned    the    carpenter    and 

18 


millwright's  trade.  Afterward,  in  addition  to 
superintending  his  farm,  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  and  in  the  building  busi- 
ness, first  near  and  afterward  in  Sherbrooke.  He 
had  only  two  children,  and  one  of  these,  a  daugh- 
ter, died  at  thirteen  years.  The  son,  who  was 
the  older  of  the  two,  was  ten  at  the  time  the 
family  settled  in  Sherbrooke,  and  from  that  time 
he  assisted  his  father  in  building.  In  1876  he 
went  to  the  lumber  woods  of  Maine,  where  he 
worked  for  a  year,  and  then  worked  in  a  lumber, 
planing,  sash  and  door-mill  at  Stewartstown, 
N.H.,  until  1878.  After  spending  six  months 
on  a  farm  near  Canaan,  Vt.,  he  went  to  New  York, 
and  until  1881  remained  in  St.  Lawrence,  Frank- 
lin and  Clinton  Counties,  being  employed  mostly 
in  milling,  but  spending  one  season  at  the  car- 
penter's trade.  In  October,  1887,  he  came  west 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Joliet,  where  he  entered  the 
mill  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company.  Through  the 
influence  of  a  friend,  Mr.  Spencer,  who  was 
foreman,  he  secured  a  position  in  the  converting 
department,  where  he  remained  for  fifteen  months. 
While  there  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr. 
Garvin,  who,  upon  being  appointed  warden  of 
the  state  penitentiary,  selected  Mr.  Bryant  as  a 
keeper  there.  For  two  years  he  held  the  position 
and  then  resigned,  turning  his  attention  to  car- 
pentering. In  the  fall  of  1891  he  began  contract- 
ing and  building,  in  which  he  has  since  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged.  In  189511c  was  chosen  assist- 
ant supervisor  of  Joliet,  and  two  years  later  was 
re-elected,  serving  for  two  terms,  during  which 
time  he  was  chairman  of  the  school  and  miscel- 
laneous committees.     Several  times  he  has  served 


364 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


as  a  member  of  the  Republican  county  committee, 
and  also  on  the  city  and  township  committees. 

Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  Joliet  lodge  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows,of  which  he  is  past  master,  and  which  he  rep- 
resented in  the  grand  lodge  of  Illinois  for  four 
terms.  When  he  came  to  Joliet  he  identified  him- 
self with  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church.  Later 
he  assisted  in  organizing  a  circle  of  the  King's 
Sons,  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  building 
up  the  King's  Sons'  chapel  in  Joliet,  in  which  he 
has  since  been  an  active  worker,  and  is  now  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school. 

Mr.  Bryant  was  married  in  Joliet,  October  21, 
1890,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Hunter,  who  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  parentage.  She  was  educated  in  England 
and  crossed  the  ocean  to  the  United  States  at  the' 
age  of  sixteen  years,  coming  direct  to  Joliet.  She 
is  an  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  is  also  actively  engaged  in  the  service  of  the 
King's  Sous'  chapel,  where  her  influence  for  good 
is  felt  bv  all. 


EHARLES  H.  CONKLING,  secretary  of  the 
Mutual  Loau  and  Building  Association,  at 
No.  222  Jefferson  street,  Joliet,  is  a  member 
of  a  family  that  has  been  long  and  prominently 
connected  with  American  history.  His  great- 
grandfather came  to  this  country  accompanied  by 
a  brother,  whose  grandson,  Roscoe  Conkling, 
gained  national  fame  as  a  legislator  and  states- 
man. Henry  M.,  father  of  Charles  H.,  was  born 
in  Ohio,  but  while  still  a  young  man  he  moved 
to  Indiana,  and  became  interested  in  milling  and 
in  the  hardware  business.  On  the  Whig  ticket 
he  was  a  candidate  for  count}-  treasurer  and  ran 
ahead  of  his  ticket,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small 
majority.  As  a  Mason  he  was  active  and  at- 
tained a  high  rank.  In  religion  he  was  a  Pres- 
byterian. After  he  settled  in  Indiana  he  re- 
turned to  Ohio  and  there  married  Harriet  X. 
Martin,  who  was  one  of  the  two  direct  heirs  of 
the  old  Trinity  Church  property  in  the  heart  of 
New  York  City.     This  matter  was  iu  the  hands 


of  Roscoe  Conkling  at  the  time  of  his  death,  with 
fair  prospects  of  success,  but  since  then  nothing 
has  been  done. 

After  some  years  in  Indiana  Henry  M.  Conk- 
ling removed  to  Chicago  and  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Conkling  Bros.  &  Co.  At  the  time 
of  the  fire  the  firm  suffered  a  heavy  loss.  In 
1873  he  moved  to  Morris,  where  he  conducted  a 
distillery  for  three  years.  From  1876  to  1879  he 
was  proprietor  of  the  Robertson  house  in  Joliet. 
He  then  went  to  California  and  spent  three  years 
in  San  Francisco,  hoping  that  the  change  might 
restore  him  to  health.  His  hope  was  realized  and 
he  returned  to  Illinois  hale  and  hearty,  but 
shortly  after  died  of  pneumonia  iu  Chicago,  the 
date  of  his  death  being  December  1,  1881.  His 
remains  were  interred  in  the  Joliet  cemetery,  and 
by  his  side  rests  his  wife,  who  passed  away  in 
January,  1894.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  three  now  living:  Ella  F.,  Mrs.  Pin- 
ney,  of  Chicago;  Charles  H.,  and  Mrs.  Grace  X. 
Spritzman,  of  Holland,  Mich. 

While  his  parents  were  living  in  Cambridge 
City,  Wayne  County,  Ind. ,  November  1,  1853, 
the  subject  of  this  article  was  born.  He  was  a 
student  in  school  from  six  to  seventeen  years  of 
age.  After  removing  to  Chicago  he  assisted  his  ' 
father  in  business  until  the  time  of  the  great  fire, 
and  then  he  became  shipping  clerk  for  Field  & 
Leiter.  He  accompanied  the  family  to  Morris 
and  assisted  his  father  as  bookkeeper  there,  later 
coming  with  him  to  Joliet.  In  18S0  he  entered 
the  Will  County  National  Bank  as  teller,  re- 
maining there  for  three  years,  when  he  went  to 
Chicago  to  take  charge  of  an  office  for  some 
friends  who  had  started  a  commission  business  in 
the  stockyards.  When  Colonel  Shurts  assumed 
the  control  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Duncan 
hotel  he  appointed  Mr.  Conkling  its  manager,  a 
position  that  he  filled  until  he  was  solicited  by 
the  directors  of  the  Mutual  Loan  and  Building 
Association  to  assume  its  secretaryship.  At  that 
time  (1886)  the  company  was  eighteen  months 
old  and  its  loans  amounted  to  about  $19,000.  At 
the  time  of  the  panic  they  had  loans  to  the 
amount  of  $1,000,000,  and,  in  spite  of  the  heavy 
drain  upon  them,  were  able  to  go  through  that 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


365 


trying  period  safely.  Their  loans  now  amount 
to  about  $800,000.  Since  accepting  the  position 
of  secretary  Mr.  Conkling  has  given  his  time  to 
the  office,  and  it  is  largely  due  to  his  conserva- 
tive yet  shrewd  management  that  the  company's 
affairs  have  been  so  prosperous.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  state 
league.  For  some  years  he  engaged  in  the  fire 
insurance  business,  and  he  is  now  interested  as  a 
stockholder  in  the  Union  steam  laundry.  He 
has  built  two  residences,  the  first  one  of  which  he 
sold,  and  he  now  owns  and  occupies  a  modern 
and  beautiful  house  at  No.  119  South  Center 
street. 

While  Mr.  Conkling  cannot  be  called  a  parti- 
san nor  a  politician,  yet  he  is  active  in  politics 
and  a  warm  advocate  of  the  Democratic  party; 
inheriting  from  his  ancestors  qualities  that  fit 
him  for  public  service  he  nevertheless  has  no 
desire  to  become  an  official,  and  aside  from  the 
position  of  township  collector  has  never  been  a 
candidate  for  office.  He  held  the  position  of  col- 
lector for  two  terms  and  rendered  satisfaction  to 
all  concerned  while  filling  the  place.  Often  he 
has  been  a  delegate  to  conventions.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  a  num- 
ber of  fraternal  insurance  associations.  At  Mor- 
ris in  1874  he  married  Jennie  A.  Hynds,  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  Patrick  Hynds,  a  well-known  jurist 
and  attorney  of  Morris.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conkling 
have  two  daughters,  Mary  E.  and  Pink,  both 
graduates  of  Notre  Dame,  and  accomplished 
musicians. 


^JEORGE  PALMER,  superintendent  of  the 
l_  merchant  mill  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Cora- 
V«/|  pany,  entered  the  company's  mill  at  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.,  November  1,  1891,  as  foreman  of 
the  roll  turning  shop.  He  continued  in  that 
capacity  for  about  four  years,  when  he  was  pro- 
moted to  be  superintendent  of  the  merchant  mill 
in  that  city.  In"  1897  he  was  transferred  to  a 
similar  position  in  the  Joliet  works,  where  he  has 
since  had  supervision  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 


hands,  the  most  of  these  being  skilled  laborers. 
He  is  familiar  with  every  detail  of  his  department 
and  shows  the  greatest  efficiency  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  same. 

Thomas  Palmer,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  England,  but  grew  to  manhood  in  Scotland, 
where  he  learned  the  iron  and  steel  business. 
Coining  to  the  United  States,  he  settled  in  New 
Jersey,  where  he  was  employed  in  iron  works. 
From  there  he  went  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  next  to 
Ballardvale,  the  same  state,  and  then  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  in  each  of  which  places  he  was  em- 
ployed as  superintendent  of  iron  works.  In 
Cleveland  he  built  and  superintended  the  North 
Ohio  Company's  mill  and  later  was  connected 
with  the  Cleveland  Rolling  Company's  mill.  He 
is  now  living  retired  in  that  city.  He  married 
Margaret  Reid,  who  was  born  near  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  and  came  to  America  with  her  father, 
William  Reid,  a  carpenter  and  builder.  She  is  a 
Presbyterian  in  religion  and  a  lady  of  many  esti- 
mable qualities  of  character.  In  the  family  of 
Thomas  Palmer  and  wife  there  were  seven  chil- 
dren, all  but  one  of  whom  are  still  living.  Will- 
iam is  superintendent  of  the  steel  works  of  the 
Cleveland  rolling  mills,  now  owned  by  the 
American  Steel  and  Wire  Company;  and  Thomas 
is  with  the  same  company  at  Beaver  Falls,  Pa., 
where  he  is  employed  as  a  roll  turner. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Troy, 
N.  Y. ,  November  2,  1853.  He  was  eleven  years 
of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  his  education  was  obtained  there  and 
in  Ballardvale,  Mass.  In  1870  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  roll  turner's  trade,  at  which  he 
served  for  three  years,  and  afterward  worked  at 
the  trade  in  the  Cleveland  rolling  mills  for  some 
years.  From  there  he  went  to  Beaver  Falls,  Pa., 
as  foreman  of  a  mill,  which  position  he  held  for 
four  years,  and  later  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
mill  for  two  years.  November  1,  1891,  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  foreman  of  the  roll  turning 
shop  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  in  Milwaukee, 
Wis.  Four  years  later  he  was  promoted  to  be 
superintendent  of  the  merchant  mill  at  that 
place,  and  in  1897,  as  before  stated,  came  to  Joliet 
in    a    similar   capacity.      He   is  a    reliable   and 


366 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


efficient  workman,  and  has  won  and  retained  the 
confidence  of  the  members  of  the  company,  with 
which  he  has  been  since  1891. 

Politically  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  Republican.  He 
was  raised  a  Mason  in  Lake  Lodge  No.  189, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Milwaukee,  and  later  became 
connected  with  Wisconsin  Chapter  No.  7,  R.  A.  M. 
Before  leaving  Cleveland  he  was  married  there  to 
Alice,  daughter  of  Joseph  Brainard,  who  was  a 
member  of  an  old  Connecticut  family.  Mrs. 
Palmer  was  born  and  educated  in  Cleveland  and 
by  her  marriage  has  five  children,  namely:  Mar- 
garet, who  is  an  accomplished  musician;  George 
D wight,  a  student  in  the  Joliet  high  school; 
William,  Sarah  and  Catherine,  at  home. 


|ILLIAM  E.  SPEARS,  who  has  been  one 
of  the  well-known  contractors  and  builders 
in  Joliet,  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland, 
March  7,  1831.  When  seven  years  of  age  he  was 
taken  by  an  uncle  to  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  there 
spent  the  next  ten  years.  In  July,  1849,  he 
landed  in  New  York  City,  after  a  voyage  of  nine 
weeks  and  three  days  on  the  "John  Carr, "  and 
for  five  years  he  was  employed  in  that  city, 
meantime  learning  the  trade  of  carpentering  and 
boxmaking.  In  the  spring  of  1854  he  came  to 
Joliet,  and  for  ten  years  followed  his  trade  in  this 
city.  In  1864  he  became  a  member  of  the  con- 
tracting firm  of  Switzer,  Spears  &  Blaser,  which 
continued  in  business  for  eighteen  years,  mean  • 
time  operating  on  an  extensive  scale  both  in  the 
city  and  surrounding  country,  and  having  the 
contracts  for  the  building  of  many  bridges  and 
important  structures.  Since  the  partnership  was 
dissolved  Mr.  Spears  has  continued  in  the  same 
business  independently.  He  had  the  contract  for 
Hyde's  large  elevator  in  this  city,  as  well  as  other 
elevators,  and  put  up  three  bridges  in  Troy  Town- 
ship across  the  Dupage  River,  also  the  Red  mill 
and  the  segments  for  Hickory  Creek  bridge  on 
Chicago  street. 
July  12,  1859,  Mr.  Spears  married  Miss  Mary 


Furlong,  who  was  born  in  County  Wexford,  Ire- 
land. They  became  the  parents  of  eight  children. 
Mary  Agnes,  the  eldest,  married  David  Curtis,  a 
merchant  of  Joliet;  Hugh  E.  is  deceased;  Sam- 
uel C,  a  contractor  in  Springfield,  had  the  con- 
tract for  the  Tin  Plate  and  Spring  mills  in  Joliet; 
William  James  is  a  carpenter  in  Chicago;  John 
Wallace,  a  talented  musician,  is  now  taking  a  two 
years'  course  of  study  in  Berlin;  Charles  R.  is 
janitor  of  the  Joliet  schools;  George  Richard  is  a 
contractor  in  this  city;  and  Robert  B.,  the  young- 
est of  the  family,  is  a  partner  of  his  brother 
George.  Mrs.  Spears,  who  was  born  in  1836,  was 
thirteen  at  the  time  of  crossing  the  ocean  to  Amer- 
ica, and  sixteen  when  she  came  to  Joliet. 

When  younger  in  years  Mr.  Spears  took  a  part 
in  local  politics  and  was  a  leading  Republican, 
serving  as  a  delegate  to  county  conventions,  and 
aiding  the  work  of  the  party.  For  one  term  he 
served  as  an  alderman,  and  he  also  was  judge  of 
elections.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Joliet 
Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  with  which  he  has 
been  connected  since  1861 ;  and  he  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Joliet  Chapter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.  In  religion 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


Gl  NTHONY  M.  SCHEIDT,  a  business  man  of 
LI  Joliet,  was  elected  alderman  from  the  third 
/  I  ward  in  1898  on  the  independent  ticket,  de- 
feating the  Democratic  nominee  by  a  majority  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-five,  which  was  the  first 
instance  of  a  Democratic  defeat  in  this  ward. 
During  the  first  year  of  his  service  on  the  board 
he  was  chairman  of  the  street  committee.  At  this 
writing  he  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  cul- 
verts, bridges  and  sewers,  and  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  health;  also  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittees on  public  improvements  and  west  side 
streets.  While  his  election  was  on  an  indepen- 
dent ticket,  he  has  always  been  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat and  has  wielded  an  influence  among  the 
members  of  his  party.  He  has  frequently  been  a 
member  of  the  city  central  committee,  and  is  now 
connected  with  the  county  committee. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


367 


The  father  of  our  subject,  Michael,  son  of  An- 
thony Scheidt,  was  born  in  Alsace,  now  a  part  of 
Germany,  and  was  a  member  of  an  old  Alsatian 
family.  In  early  manhood  he  came  to  America, 
and  during  the  '40s  settled  in  Joliet,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  joining  his  brother, 
Anthony,  who  had  preceded  him  and  was  in 
charge  of  the  Chicago  house  on  North  Bluff 
street.  For  twenty  years  Michael  Scheidt  con- 
ducted that  hotel,  but  finally  retired  from  busi- 
ness cares.  He  died  in  this  city  in  January,  1S84, 
when  almost  fifty  years  of  age.  For  two  terms 
he  served  as  alderman  from  what  is  now  the  third 
(then  the  second)  ward,  which  his  son  now  rep- 
resents. He  married  Theresa  Hosinger,  who  was 
born  in  Alsace,  and  in  infancy  was  brought  to 
Joliet  by  her  parents.  Her  father,  Joseph,  brought 
the  family  via  wagon  from  Chicago  to  Naperv.ille, 
and  a  year  later  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  opened 
quarries  and  engaged  in  stone  cutting,  contracting 
and  building.  He  had  a  number  of  sub-contracts 
on  the  Michigan  and  Illinois  canal.  When  ad- 
vanced in  years  he  retired  from  business,  but  he 
continued  to  reside  in  Joliet  until  he  died.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Scheidt,  is  living  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  this  city.  She  had  seven  children,  viz.: 
A.  M.;  Joseph,  who  died  in  Joliet;  John,  who 
lives  in  Freeport,  111.;  Otto,  a  jeweler  in  Joliet; 
George,  of  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  Albert,  who  is 
with  his  oldest  brother;  Julia,  who  died  in  girl- 
hood; and  Emilia,  who  is  with  her  mother. 

In  Joliet,  where  he  was  born  May  6,  1864,  our 
subject  received  his  education  in  private  schools. 
He  learned  the  pattern-maker's  trade  in  the  Joliet 
stove  foundry,  where  he  was  employed  for  three 
years.  In  1882  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  clothing 
and  boot  and  shoe  store,  where  he  gained  a  thor- 
ough idea  of  the  business  in  all  of  its  details. 
After  ten  years  he  embarked  in  business  for  him- 
self, opening  a  clothing  and  gents'  furnishing 
store  and  for  some  time  being  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Scheidt  &  Harmon.  In  1897  ne  Pur~ 
chased  his  partner's  interest,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  alone.  His  store  is  at  No.  313  Jefferson 
street,  and  is  stocked  with  a  complete  line  of 
clothing  and  gents'  furnishing  goods.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Shooting  Society,  and  is  financial 


secretary  of  the  Order  of  Foresters.  In  religion 
he  is  connected  with  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  His  marriage  in  Lemont,  111.,  united 
him  with  Miss  Sarah  Gerharz,  who  was  born  in 
that  town.  They  have  one  child,  a  son,  Cyril 
Francis  Scheidt. 


E LINTON  E.  B.  CUTLER.  In  the  capacity 
of  supervisor  it  has  been  the  aim  and  effort 
of  Mr.  Cutler  to  advance  the  progress  of 
Joliet  and  promote  the  interests  of  his  fellow-citi- 
zens. At  the  time  of  his  appointment  to  this 
office  he  was  the  youngest  man  ever  appointed 
or  elected  to  a  similar  position  in  the  state,  and 
the  fact  that  the  appointment  came  from  the  town 
board,  with  a  majority  of  Republican  members, 
while  he  was  known  to  be  one  of  the  most  active 
Democrats  in  the  county,  is  in  itself  a  tribute  to 
his  ability  and  recognized  worth.  The  long 
illness  of  his  predecessor,  Henry  Spangler,  whose 
assistant  he  had  been,  threw  upon  him  the  entire 
responsibility  of  the  office  for  some  time  before 
he  was  selected  to  occupy  the  position;  and  it 
was  the  ability  displayed  by  him  in  the  conduct 
of  affairs  that  led  the  board,  upon  the  death  of 
Mr.  Spangler,  to  appoint  him  the  latter's  suc- 
cessor, in  January,  1897.  In  the  spring  of  1898 
he  was  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for 
the  office  and  was  elected  for  two  years,  receiving 
a  majority  of  three  hundred  and  two  votes.  For 
some  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  most  active 
Democrats  in  his  city,  audit  was  largely  through 
his  efforts  that  the  younger  element  of  Democ- 
racy was  organized  and  received  proper  recogni- 
tion in  the  party.  He  was  a  prominent  candi- 
date for  membership  on  the  state  central  com- 
mittee, but  withdrew  in  favor  of  John  B.  Mount, 
the  present  mayor  of  Joliet.  Frequently  he  has 
served  as  a  delegate  to  state  conventions  of  his 
party.  He  was  reared  in  the  Republican  faith, 
but  on  attaining  manhood  and  making  a  study 
of  the  issues  of  the  age,  he  gave  his  influence  to 
the  party  that  declared  for  free  trade  and  free 
silver.      His  interest  in  politics  is  keen;  yet,   as 


368 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


an  office  holder,  lie  has  avoided  a  spirit  of  nar- 
row partisanship,  but  has  endeavored  to  do  his 
duty  honorably  and  impartially.  He  believes  in 
justice,  consistency  and  the  following  of  the  law. 
As  a  member  of  the  board  he  has  always  striven 
to  act  with  fairness  toward  all.  One  of  his  most 
important  acts  was  the  introducing-  of  a  resolution 
providing  that  all  work  on  county  buildings  or 
under  county  control  should  be  done  by  union 
citizen  labor;  while  the  resolution  was  lost,  its 
spirit  showed  that  he  aimed  to  promote  the  inter- 
ests of  the  laboring  men  of  his  county.  Besides 
acting  as  supervisor  he  is  also  overseer  of  the 
poor. 

The  Cutler  family  descends  from  four  brothers 
who  crossed  in  the  "Mayflower."  Three  of 
these  were  married,  and  one  a  bachelor.  The 
descendants  of  the  three  are  numerous  in  New 
England  and  New  York.  Lyman  Cutler,  a  na- 
tive of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  the  son  of  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier,  himself  served  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  removed  to  Vermont,  thence  to  Che- 
nango County,  N.  Y.,  and  later  to  Sandusk3r, 
Ohio,  finally  removing  to  Chicago.  He  married 
Miss  Hamilton,  daughter  of  a  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier, of  Scotch  descent.  Their  son,  Azro  C, 
was  born  in  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  and  at 
thirteen  years  of  age  ran  away  from  home,  work- 
ing his  way  via  the  lakes  to  Chicago.  After- 
ward he  followed  the  lakes  for  many  years. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  raised  a  company  and 
also  enlisted  for  personal  service,  but  was  re- 
jected. Later  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
lumber  and  shingles  in  Michigan,  after  which  he 
manufactured  brick  in  Chicago  and  then  engaged 
in  mining  in  Colorado.  In  1869  he  bought  a 
farm  in  Homer  Township,  this  county,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1S94,  when,  on  account  of  ill 
health,  he  rented  the  place  and  came  to  Joliet. 
For  eight  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
police  force.  During  the  early  days  he  crossed 
the  plains  a  number  of  times  to  Colorado,  and 
was  in  the  Plum  Creek  massacre  in  that  state. 
While  in  the  west  he  was  sergeant-of-arms  in 
the  Colorado  legislature.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Miller,  who  was  born  in  Chicago  of  Swiss  par- 
entage, and  was  reared  in  Homer  Township,  this 


county.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  children, 
of  whom  the  younger  is  Ida  L.,  a  teacher  in  the 
Joliet  public  schools.. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Homer 
Township  July  3,  1871.  He  completed  the  studies 
of  the  Joliet  grammar  schools  and  then  spent  two 
years  in  the  high  school.  In  1891  he  began  to 
teach  in  his  home  district,  and  for  two  years  fol- 
lowed teaching.  In  the  fall  of  1893  he  began  to 
study  law  with  Donahoe  &  McNaughton.  De- 
cember 12,  1894,  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at  Val- 
paraiso, from  which  he  graduated  June  5,  1895, 
with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  Ma}-  22  of  the  same 
year  he  passed  a  rigid  examination  creditably  at 
Ottawa  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Illinois. 
In  1896  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for 
township  clerk,  his  opponent  being  one  of  the 
strongest  men  in  the  town,  notwithstanding 
which  fact  he  reduced  the  usual  Republican  ma- 
jority of  five  hundred  to  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
one.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

June  16,  1897,  Mr.  Cutler  married  Miss  Maude 
Emmet,  who  was  born  in  Wilmington,  this 
county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  Emmet,  a 
pioneer  of  this  place. 


HERBERT  W.  SPENCER,  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  the  converting  department  of  the 
Illinois  Steel  Company,  was  born  in  Bureau 
County,  111.,  November  15,  1S60,  a  son  of  Simeon 
and  Sophia  (Stone)  Spencer,  natives  of  Windham 
County,  Vt.  His  father,  who  learned  the  mill- 
wright's trade  in  youth,  came  to  Illinois  in  1857 
and  settled  near  Mendota,  where  he  engaged  in 
carpentering  and  building.  When  the  first  call 
came  for  volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  Union  at 
the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  responded  and 
enlisted  to  fight  in  defense  of  the  stars  and  stripes, 
serving  in  Company  K,  Twelfth  Illinois  Infantry, 
until  the  expiration  of  the  period   of  enlistment. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


369 


In  1864  he  settled  on  section  30,  Troy  Township, 
Will  Count}-,  where  he  cleared  a  fine  farm  from 
the  raw  prairie.  He*  resided  on  that  place  until 
1SS2,  when  he  removed  to  Huron,  S.  Dak.,  and 
embarked  in  farm  pursuits  near  that  town.  Re- 
turning to  Illinois  in  1887  he  settled  in  Joliet, 
where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death,  five  years 
later,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Frater- 
nally he  was  a  Mason.  His  wife,  who  is  still 
living  in  Joliet,  was  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Stone, 
a  farmer  in  Vermont,  but  who  died  in  Massachu- 
setts; he  married  Anna  Gilbert,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  a  Connecticut  family.  The  family  of  Sim- 
eon Spencer  comprised  two  daughters  and  two 
sons,  namely:  Mrs.  Alma  Blodgett,  of  Joliet; 
Orsamus  L-;  Carrie,  wife  of  I.  M.  Lish,  of  Liv- 
ingston County,  111. ;  and  Herbert  W.  The  older 
son  became  an  employe  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Com- 
pany in  1872,  and  after  a  time  was  promoted  to 
be  night  superintendent  of  the  converting  depart- 
ment, which  position  he  was  holding  at  the  time 
of  his  death  in  1892.  He  was  active  in  local 
affairs  and  represented  the  first  ward  on  the  board 
of  aldermen.  In  Masonry  he  attained  the  Knight 
Templar  degree. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Troy  Township  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  passed  the  years  of  his  boy- 
hood. For  a  time  he  attended  the  college  at 
Morris,  111.  When  the  family  removed  to  South 
Dakota  in  1882  he  accompanied  them  and  en- 
gaged in  the  real-estate  and  building  business  at 
Huron.  For  three  years  he  was  supervisor  of 
Lake  Byron  Township.  In  1887  he  came  to 
Joliet  and  entered  the  converting  department  of 
the  Joliet  (later  the  Illinois)  Steel  Company, 
where  for  five  years  his  work  was  that  of  lining 
ladles.  In  1893  he  was  made  foreman  of  the  de- 
partment and  in  1896  was  promoted  to  be  night 
superintendent,  which  position  he  has  since  filled. 

In  Newton,  Kans.,  November  19,  1879,  Mr. 
Spencer  married  Miss  Sarah  T.  Hall,  who  was 
born  in  Morris,  111.,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  T.  and 
Abigail  (Merrill)  Hall.  Her  grandfather,  Dr. 
Archibald  Hall,  a  graduate  of  medicine,  practiced 
successfully  for  years  in  Connecticut,  where  he 
died.  Her  father  removed  from  Connecticut  to 
Illinois  in  1844,  being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 


of  Morris,  where  he  carried  on  a  grocery  business. 
His  wife  was  born  in  New  York  state  and  died 
there  while  visiting  relatives.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  daughters:  Hattie,  who  is  the  wife 
of  T.  M.  Jeffries,  of  Janesville,  Wis.;  and  Sarah 
T. ,  Mrs.  Spencer.  The  latter  graduated  from 
Mount  Carroll  Seminar}-  and  afterward,  until  her 
removal  to  Kansas,  engaged  in  educational  work 
in  Grundy  and  Kendall  Counties.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Spencer  have  four  children,  namely,  Hattie  S., 
Frances  O.,  G.  Cyril  and  Arline  S. 

As  a  member  of  the  township  and  county  cen- 
tral committees  of  the  Republican  party,  Mr. 
Spencer  has  been  active  in  local  politics.  From 
1889  to  1893  he  served  as  assistant  supervisor, 
meantime  being  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
the  assessment  of  city  lots  and  a  member  of  other 
committees.  At  the  time  of  the  rebuilding  of  the 
jail  and  the  building  of  the  administration  hall  he 
served  as  secretary  of  the  committee  having  the 
work  in  charge.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  Mi- 
nooka,  111.,  in  1880,  and  is  now  connected  with 
Mount  Joliet  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Interested 
in  everything  tending  to  promote  the  interests  of 
workingmen,  he  has  been  active  in  labor  organi- 
zations. He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
Amalgamated  Association  of  Iron  and  Steel 
Workers,  and  served  for  several  terms  as  presi- 
dent of  Mutual  Lodge  No.  12.  For  three  years 
he  held  office  as  deputy  vice-president  of  the 
fourth  district,  embracing  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
Michigan,  Minnesota  and  Missouri.  He  was 
president  of  the  Trades  and  Labor  Council  of 
Joliet  for  one  term,  and  a  member  of  the  council 
for  several  terms. 


[7  ELTON  DRAUDEN.  Those  of  our  Ger- 
r^  man-American  citizens  who  have  found 
I  homes  in  Will  County  have  had  no  reason 
to  regret  their  change  of  location.  With  scarcely 
an  exception  they  have  worked  out  for  them- 
selves here  a  degree  of  success  that  would  have 
been  impossible  in  the  old  country.  Among 
those  who   have   become   prosperous  farmers  is 


37° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Drauden,  who  is  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Plainfield  Township.  He  was  born  in  Prussia 
June  27,  1837,  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Margaret 
Drauden.  He  was  only  seven  years  of  age  when 
his  father  died,  and  thus  from  an  early  period  he 
was  obliged  to  be  self-supporting.  While  he  was 
still  a  mere  lad  he  determined,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, to  seek  a  home  and  fortune  in  the  new 
world,  of  which  he  had  heard  so  much.  He  was 
eighteen  when  he  left  his  native  land  and  set  sail 
for  a  foreign  shore.  From  Antwerp  he  sailed  to 
Liverpool,  and  thence,  after  a  delay  of  one  week, 
started  for  New  York,  where  he  landed  after  a 
voyage  of  twenty-eight  days.  From  the  city  of 
New  York  he  proceeded  a  little  to  the  northwest, 
settling  on  a  farm  in  the  state  of  that  name, 
where  he  remained  for  five  years.  He  then 
sought  Illinois,  settling  in  Will  County,  of  which 
he  has  since  been  an  energetic  farmer.  Having 
little  money,  he  was  at  first  unable  to  purchase  a 
farm  here,  but  after  operating  for  a  few  years  as  a 
renter  and  meantime  carefully  hoarding  his  earn- 
ings, he  purchased  one  hundred  acres,  forming  a 
part  of  his  present  homestead.  From  the  first  he 
met  with  success.  He  gave  his  attention  largely 
to  the  raising  of  cereals,  although  he  also  success- 
fully engaged  in  raising  hogs  and  carried  on 
dairying,  both  of  which  he  continues,  though  on 
a  smaller  scale  than  of  former  years.  The  stock 
he  raises  are  mostly  for  his  own  use.  A  glance 
at  his  place  shows  him  to  be  a  thrifty  farmer.  It 
is  his  aim  to  keep  his  buildings  and  fences  in 
good  condition  and  his  land  under  first-class  cul- 
tivation.    All  of  the  buildings  on  the  farm  were 


put  up  by  him.  In  1892  he  erected  the  residence 
now  occupied  by  the  family  and  in  1897  built  a 
substantial  and  commodious  barn,  with  ample 
facilities  for  the  storage  of  grain  and  shelter  of 
stock.  Though  he  is  now  well-to-do  and  might 
retire  from  active  labors  should  he  so  desire,  he  is 
of  so  active  a  nature  that  he  is  happiest  when 
busiest,  hence  he  continues  the  personal  manage- 
ment of  his  property. 

When  a  boy  in  Germany  Mr.  Drauden  had  im- 
planted in  his  heart  by  his  parents  the  religion  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and,  in  all  the 
changes  and  vicissitudes  of  the  after-years  he  has 
remained  true  to  its  doctrines,  being  now  con- 
nected with  St.  John's  Church  in  Joliet.  Politic- 
ally he  votes  with  the  Democrats.  He  has  met 
with  the  success  which  he  so  richly  deserves  and 
to  which  his  industry  has  entitled  him.  To  his 
original  purchase  of  one  hundred  acres  he  added 
sixty  acres  and  later  bought  another  one  hundred- 
acre  tract,  these  several  purchases  being  of  valu- 
able farm  laud. 

During  his  residence  in  New  York  Mr. 
Drauden  was  married,  in  Syracuse,  August  24, 
1861,  to  Miss  Paulina  Aller,  a  native  of  Germany. 
The}-  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  two 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Those  now  living  are: 
Lizzie,  wife  of  John  Baltz,  of  Troy  Township; 
Lillie,  wife  of  Michael  Eich,  of  Joliet;  Maggie, 
at  home;  Katie,  wife  of  Nicholas  Eich,  of  Joliet; 
and  Walter,  who  is  with  his  parents.  During  the 
last  years  of  her  life  Mrs.  Drauden's  mother 
found  a  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drauden,  and 
here  she  died  in  the  fall  of  1876. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


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GKNEAI/DGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


37' 


MRS.  FRANCES   M.  VANDERHOOF. 


V  A  RS.  FRANCES  M.  VANDERHOOF,  who 
V  came  to  Joliet  in  October,  1852,  and  was 
(f)  one  of  the  pioneer  business  women  of  this 
city,  is  a  native  of  County  Cork,  Ireland.  Her 
father,  John  Ryan,  who  was  born  in  County 
Limerick,  a  son  of  John  and  Ann  (McGrath) 
Ryan,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Ire- 
land, remaining  in  that  country  until  he  died  at 
forty-two  years.  He  married  Dorothea  Roche, 
whose  father,  Dr.  Thomas  Roche,  was  a  physi- 
cian in  Ireland,  and  her  mother  belonged  to  the 
old  English  family  of  Haines.  Mrs.  Dorothea 
Ryan  died  at  middle  age.  Of  her  twelve  chil- 
dren all  but  three  attained  years  of  maturity. 
The  first  members  of  the  family  to  settle  in 
America  were  Mrs.  Vanderhoof  and  Mrs.  Kava- 
nagh,  of  Chicago,  and  later  three  other  sisters 
and  a  brother  crossed  the  ocean. 

It  was  during  1852  that  Mrs.  Vanderhoof, 
accompanying  her  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Kava- 
nagh,  left  her  old  home  in  Ireland  to  come  to  the 
United  States.  She  had  expected  to  sail  on  the 
steamer  "City  of  Glasgow,"  but,  arriving  at  the 
port,  found  it  had  started.  She  therefore  took  a 
sailing  vessel,  "George  Washington,"  Captain 
Cummings,  and  after  a  voyage  of  twenty-one 
days  landed  in  New  York.  Thence  she  pro- 
ceeded to  Chicago,  and  in  the  same  year  came  to 
Joliet.  In  December,  1861,  she  became  the  wife 
of  Robert  Hill,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came 
in  early  manhood  to  Joliet,  where  he  died  in 
April,  1865.  He  had  a  brother,  John  W.  Hill, 
who  still  lives  in  Joliet.  Of  this  marriage  two 
children  were  born,  but  the  son,  Richard  R., 
died  at  two  years  of  age.  The  daughter,  Helena 
Frances,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  B.  Strong,  of  this 
city,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Marion  Matilda 
Strong. 


The  second  marriage  of  our  subject,  in  July, 
1875,  united  her  with  Levi  Vanderhoof,  who  was 
born  in  Franklin,  Summit  County,  Ohio,  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm  there.  Some  time 
during  the  '50s  he  came  to  this  county  and  im- 
proved a  farm  lying  just  east  of  Joliet,  where  for 
some  time  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
Later  he  started  in  the  grocery  business  with  J. 
Fred  Wilcox.  He  died  July  21,  1886,  when 
sixty-two  years  of  age.  In  politics  he  voted  with 
the  Democrats,  and  for  two  terms  held  the  office 
of  assessor. 

For  one  winter  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Kavanagh,  a 
sister  of  Mrs.  Vanderhoof,  clerked  for  ex- 
Governor  Matteson  in  Joliet.  Subsequently  the 
sister's  started  in  the  millinery  business  on  Jeffer- 
son street,  where  the  postoffice  now  stands.  They 
continued  together  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Kava- 
nagh, in  1870,  after  which  they  went  to  Chicago. 
In  1S72  Mrs.  Vanderhoof  returned  to  Joliet  and 
resumed  business  at  the  old  location.  She  car- 
ried on  a  large  and  profitable  trade  until  1884, 
when  she  sold  the  business,  and  later  she  also 
disposed  of  the  building.  In  1885  she  erected 
the  residence  which  she  has  since  occupied,  and 
this  she  owns,  in  addition  to  other  valuable  prop- 
erty. She  possesses  considerable  business  ability, 
and  by  its  exercise  she  has  accumulated  her  pres- 
ent possessions.  In  religious  belief  she  favors 
Methodist  doctrines  and  usually  attends  the  serv- 
ices of  that  church. 


(ILLIAM    H.    HULSHIZER,     lessee    and 
manager  of  the  Joliet  theatre,  was  born  in 
Finesville,  N.  J.,  December  25,  1854,  ason 
of  Richard  L.  and  Margaret  (Fraley)  Hulshizer, 


372 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


also  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  members  of  old 
families  of  that  state  who  came  there  from  Ger- 
many. His  father,  who  is  still  living,  resides 
near  Phillipsburg  and  is  engaged  in  the  coal 
business.  Of  his  eleven  children  five  are  living, 
three,  William  H.,  John  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Henry, 
being  residents  of  Joliet.  Our  subject,  who  is 
sixth  among  the  children,  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town.  In  1879  he  went  to 
Omaha  aad  there  became  interested  in  the  flour 
business.  After  a  time  he  entered  the  employ  of 
H.  J.  Lee  &  Co.  (now  the  Lee,  Glass  &  And- 
reesen  Hardware  Company).  Beginning  in  a 
humble  position  he  soon  worked  his  way  to  a 
place  of  responsibility  and  for  some  years  acted  as 
buyer  for  the  company.  He  resigned  in  order  to 
form  a  connection  with  a  large  and  important 
business  concern,  the  Omaha  Hardware  Com- 
pany, which  he  assisted  in  organizing  and  of 
which  he  became  secretary  and  buyer.  The 
company  entered  business  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $500,000,  but  after  little  more  than  two 
years  the  stock  and  building  were  destroyed  by 
fire,  entailing  a  heavy  loss. 

In  the  fall  of  1892  Mr.  Hulshizer  caine  to 
Joliet,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  At 
first,  however,  he  was  not  connected  with  the 
business  interests  of  this  city,  but  carried  on  a 
brokerage  and  commission  business  in  Chicago, 
finally  retiring  from  the  same  in  order  to  devote 
his  time  wholly  to  the  management  of  the  Joliet 
theatre.  This  theatre  was  opened  in  1891  and 
contains  all  the  modern  improvements,  including 
a  fine  stage  with  good  scenery  and  other  equip- 
ments. The  building  has  a  capacity  of  fourteen 
hundred.  The  experience  which  he  has  gained 
during  the  seasons  he  has  managed  the  theatre 
qualifies  him  for  a  still  greater  success  iu  the 
future.  While  in  Omaha  he  married  Helen  H., 
daughter  of  Captain  McConnell,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war.  She  was  born  in  Chicago  but  was 
reared  in  Washington,  D.  C,  where  her  father 
held  a  position  in  the  pension  department.  One 
child  blesses  their  marriage,  Edna. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hulshizer  is  a  Republican. 
He  was  the  first  secretary  of  the  lodge  B.  P.  O.  E. , 
and  is  a  member  of  the  grand  lodge  of  the  United 


States.  The  Knights  of  Pythias  number  him 
among  their  members,  as  do  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  Union  Club,  Canadian  and  Illi- 
nois Orders  of  Foresters,  and  he  is  treasurer  of 
the  latter  organization. 


HENRY  HENSCHEN.  It  is  through  energy 
and  determination  that  Mr.  Henschen  has 
met  with  success  iu  business.  He  is  a  well- 
known  hardware  merchant  of  Joliet,  where  he 
was  born  September  30,  1862,  and  where  his  life 
has  thus  far  been  spent.  His  father,  August, 
was  born  in  Saxony  and  followed  the  stone- 
cutter's trade  both  in  his  native  land  and  in 
Joliet,  where  he  settled  during  the  '50s.  He  is 
still  living  in  this  city  and  makes  his  home  on 
North  Ottawa  street,  but  for  some  years  has  been 
retired  from  active  labors.  He  married  Margaret 
Wilkins,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  at  an 
early  age  came  to  Manhattan  Township,  this 
county,  with  her  father,  Peter  Wilkins,  a  farmer. 
Of  nine  children  born  to  the  marriage  four  are 
living,  Henry  being  the  eldest  of  these.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Joliet  schools.  At  eighteen  years 
he  was  apprenticed  to  the  trades  of  tinsmith  and 
plumber.  His  first  work  was  of  the  most  hum- 
ble nature,  for  he  was  put  to  blacking  stoves  and 
taking  care  of  the  stock.  Later  he  worked  at 
the  bench.  When  his  apprenticeship  was  com- 
pleted he  worked  at  his  trade  for  Mr.  Barrett  and 
John  Kammerman,  rising  by  force  of  ability  and 
faithfulness  until  he  held  a  remunerative  position 
of  responsibility. 

On  starting  in  business  for  himself  Mr.  Hen- 
schen opened  a  store  at  No.  113  North  Bluff 
street  and  continued  in  that  location  for  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1899  he  completed  the 
building  which  he  had  been  erecting  at  No.  109 
North  Bluff  street.  This  is  a  three-story  and 
basement  brick  structure  25x80  feet,  all  of  which 
he  occupies,  using  the  basement  for  plumbing, 
the  first  floor  for  stoves  and  tinware  and  the  re- 
mainder for  the  storage  of  heavy  hardware.      He 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


373 


has  built  up  a  fine  trade  in  the  plumbing  busi- 
ness and  has  been  given  the  contracts  for  the 
plumbing  in  some  of  the  best  residences  in  the 
city  and  in  a  number  of  public  buildings,  includ- 
ing the  Orphans'  Home.  Besides  his  business 
he  was  for  fifteen  years  connected  with  the  city 
fire  department,  but  his  business  duties  en- 
grossed his  attention  to  such  an  extent  that  he 
resigned.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  in  religion  has  always  been  in  sympathy  with 
Lutheran  doctrines.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Court  of  Honor. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Henschen  took  place  in 
Joliet  and  united  him  with  Miss  Louisa  Homes, 
whose  parents  were  pioneers  of  Mokena,  this 
county,  where  she  was  born.  Three  sons  have 
been  born  of  their  union,  Lawrence  Henry, 
Arthur  L-  A.  and  Elmer  Henschen. 


EAPT.  FRED  W.  PEARSON,  who  won 
distinction  through  his  honorable  service 
in  the  Spanish-American  war,  enlisted  in 
1881  in  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Na- 
tional Guard,  and  was  assigned  to  Company  B. 
Step  by  step  he  won  his  way  from  the  ranks 
through  the  various  commissioned  offices.  After 
having  served  creditable  as  second,  then  as  first, 
lieutenant  for  some  time,  in  1894  he  was  com- 
missioned captain  of  Company  B,  and  three  years 
later  he  was  re-elected  to  the  office.  At  times  of 
strikes  his  company  was  called  to  the  front,  where 
the  men  served  faithfully  and  well.  Immediately 
upon  the  opening  of  the  war  with  Spain  he  of- 
fered his  services  to  our  country,  and  his  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  military  tactics  rendered  his 
services  especially  valuable.  Governor  Tanner 
commissioned  him  captain  of  Company  B,  Third 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  the  first 
company  mustered  into  that  regiment.  May  16, 
1898,  he  was  ordered  with  his  regiment  to 
Chickamauga,  Ga.,  and  on  the  22d  of  July  pro- 
ceeded to   Newport   News,  embarking  there  for 


the  West  Indies  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month. 
He  was  the  first  of  the  volunteers  to  laud  in 
Porto  Rico,  having  gone  ashore  in  one  of  the 
native  skiffs  on  the  2d  of  August;  his  prompt- 
ness in  landing  enabled  him  to  readily  form  his 
company,  which  was  the  first  in  line.  He  led 
the  men  through  the  campaign  on  the  island, 
taking  part  in  the  advance  on  Guayama  and  San 
Juan.  However,  on  the  13th  of  August, the  gov- 
ernment ordered  all  hostilities  to  cease,  as  Spain 
had  made  overtures  for  peace.  Company  B  then 
went  into  camp  near  Guayama,  remaining  there 
until  ordered  home.  They  were  the  last  of  the 
volunteers  to  leave  the  island,  sailing  for  the 
United  States  November  2,  and  landing  in  New 
York  a  few  days  later,  whence  they  proceeded  to 
Chicago  and  Joliet,  and  were  mustered  out  in  the 
latter  city  and  honorably  discharged  from  the 
service  January  24,  1899.  During  the  entire 
period  of  service  only  one  man  of  the  company 
was  lost,  and  he  died  of  typhoid  fever  before 
leaving  Porto  Rico.  After  the  return  from  the 
front  Company  B  was  re-organized  and  assigned 
to  the  Third  Regiment,  I.  N.  G.,  with  Captain 
Pearson  as  its  commanding  officer,  but  during 
the  same  year  it  disbanded. 

The  Pearson  family  was  established  in  New 
England  and  originated  in  Scotland.  James 
Pearson,  a  farmer  of  Vermont,  served  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and  town  clerk  of  Rutland.  His 
son,  James  R.,  a  native  of  Rutland,  removed  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Joliet,  where  he  conducted 
a  planing  mill  on  South  Bluff  street  for  C.  E. 
Ward  &  Co.  After  having  carried  on  that  busi- 
ness for  a  long  time  he  was  appointed  keeper  at 
the  Illinois  state  penitentiary,  a  position  that  he 
held  for  ten  years.  He  is  now  living,  retired 
from  business  cares,  and  still  makes  his  home'  in 
Joliet.  By  his  marriage  to  Sarah  J.  Churchill,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  he  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  of  whom  the  survivors  are  Fred  W. 
and  Charles  R. 

Captain  Pearson  was  born  in  Joliet  May  20, 
1866,  and  has  always  resided  in  this  city.  When 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  entered  what  is  now  the 
Republican  printing  office,  where  he  worked  for 
three  years.      He  then  completed  his  high-school 


374 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


studies,  graduating  in  1884.  Afterward  he  be- 
came a  compositor  on  the  Joliet  News,  continu- 
ing as  such  until  1S89,  when  he  was  made  fore- 
man in  the  composing  room,  and  later  he  was 
given  charge  of  the  operating  of  a  type-setting 
machine.  In  politics  he  believes  thoroughly  in 
Republican  principles.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Globe  and  Mount  Joliet  Lodge 
No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  belongs  to  the 
Veteran  Association,  I.  N.  G.  He  was  married, 
in  Joliet,  to  Miss  Jennie  Johnson,  daughter  of 
the  late  R.  S.  Johnson,  who  came  to  this  city 
from  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Pearson,  with  their  sous,  Charles  H.  and 
Fred  R.,  reside  on  Allen  street. 


0AVID  H.  LENTZ,  general  manager  of  the 
McKenna  steel  plant  in  Joliet,  and  consult- 
ing engineer  of  the  Sellard  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Chicago,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
December  13,  1847,  a  S011  °f  John  and  Caroline 
(Will)  Lentz.  His  father,  who  was  a  native  of 
Alsace,  France,  was  brought  to  America  in  1824 
by  his  father,  John  Lentz,  Sr. ,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  became  a  pioneer  in 
the  manufacture  of  glass  and  for  many  years  car- 
ried on  business  at  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  While 
visiting  in  the  west  in  1880  he  was  killed  at  Ot- 
tawa, 111.,  in  an  accident  on  the  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  fifth  among 
eight  children.  He  had  few  educational  advan- 
tages, this  being  caused  by  his  father's  failure  in 
business  through  the  endorsement  of  notes  for 
others.  When  he  was  thirteen  his  mother  died 
and  soon  afterward  he  started  out  for  himself. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  a  machinist  in  Pittsburg 
and  afterward  acquired  a  knowledge  of  roll  turn- 
ing. He  also  took  up  the  study  of  drawing,  of 
which  he  made  such  a  success  that  he  has  de- 
signed and  drawn  plans  for  a  number  of  plants. 
Through  his  energy  and  industry  he  was  pro- 
moted to  be  foreman  in  charge  of  the  rolling;  mill 


machinery,  a  position  that  he  held  for  eleven 
years.  In  1878  he  went  to  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  roll  turning  for  the 
Indianapolis  Rolling  Mill  Company.  After  two 
years  with  the  company  he  was  appointed  de- 
signer and  constructor  of  the  new  steel  rail  mill 
erected  by  the  firm.  All  of  the  drawings  for  this 
mill  were  made  by  him. 

■In  1882  Mr.  Lentz  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and 
took  charge  of  the  Albany  iron  works  department 
of  the  Albany  &  Rensselaer  Iron  Company, 
where  he  had  charge  of  more  than  twelve  hun- 
dred men.  His  successful  management  of  his 
department  proved  that  he  was  fitted  for  large  re- 
sponsibilities. In  1890  he  went  to  Roanoke,  Va., 
and  there  designed  and  constructed  a  mill  for  the 
manufacture  of  bar  iron,  which  proved  a  remark- 
ably successful  enterprise.  Coming  to  Chicago 
in  April,  1895,  he  took  charge  of  the  Sellard 
Manufacturing  Company's  plant  as  superinten- 
dent, in  connection  with  the  position  as  consult- 
ing engineer  of  the  Rail  Renewing  Company. 
In  the  latter  business  experiments  are  being 
made  on  the  process,  and  he  has  been  connected 
with  it  continuously  from  its  inception.  In  April 
1897,  he  was  made  general  manager  and  came  to 
Joliet  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  plant  in  this 
city.  Mr.  McKenna  is  the  inventor  of  the  proc- 
ess and  with  Mr.  Lentz,  the  inventor  of  the  ma- 
chinery. Mr.  Lentz  has  secured  seven  patents 
on  the  machinery  in  operation  here.  The  plant 
covers  seven  acres  and  has  a  capacity  of  about 
four  hundred  tons  per  day.  By  this  process  old 
rails  that  have  served  their  term  of  usefulness  are 
renovated;  the  rails  are  put  through  a  process 
that  restores  them  to  their  proper  shape  and 
toughens  them,  so  that,  while  only  five  per  cent 
is  lost  in  weight,  their  former  period  of  useful- 
ness, ten  or  twelve  years,  is  fully  renewed.  Nor 
is  this  a  process  that  can  be  carried  on  but  once. 
It  can  be  repeated  with  the  same  rails  again  and 
again,  and  has  the  advantage  of  being  insignifi- 
cant in  cost,  in  comparison  with  new  rails.  The 
plant  has  been  in  constant  use  since  1894,  but  is 
still  in  the  best  of  condition.  In  it  have  been 
treated  thirty-seven  thousand  tons  for  the  Santa 
Fe  and  twenty-three   thousand   for  the   Chicago, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


375 


Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad.  In  1898  the 
company  erected  another  plant  in  Kansas  City,  a 
duplicate  of  the  plant  in  Joliet.  Both  are  under 
the  supervision  of  Mr.  Lentz,  who  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  company. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Lentz,  together  with 
his  father  and  three  brothers,  served  in  the  Union 
army.  He  enlisted  in  Company  F,  First  Battal- 
ion, Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  with  which  he  served 
in  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  took  part  in  the  raid  after  Morgan, 
and  during  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  a  dis- 
patch bearer.  He  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  48, 
G.  A.  R.,  at  Roanoke,  Va.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  Order.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  a  Presbyterian.  In  Fayette  County, 
Pa.,  in  1865,  he  married  Miss  Mary  C.  McCor- 
mick,  who  died  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  1S87.  Four 
years  later  he  was  married,  in  Roanoke,  Va.,  to 
Miss  Ella  Race,  of  Bingharnton,  N.  Y.  Of  his 
first  marriage  four  children  were  born:  Ada,  de- 
ceased; Noble  Edwin,  who  was  superintendent  of 
the  Sellard  Manufacturing  Company  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  February  8,  1S99;  Julia  May,  de- 
ceased; and  Homer  Allen,  who  is  foreman  in  the 
finishing  department  of  the  Joliet  works.  The 
only  child  of  the  second  marriage  is  Emily  C. 


Gl  NDREW  E.  CONANT,  whose  homestead 
J_l  "The  Pines,"  is  one  of  Plainfield  Town- 
/  I  ship's  most  desirable  properties,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Will  County  since  the  spring  of  1854. 
He  was  born  in  Alfred,  York  County,  Me.,  De- 
cember 9,  18 1 5,  being  a  son  of  Andrew  and 
Sarah  (Emerson)  Conant.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Nathaniel  Conant,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  York  County,  and  also  one  of  the  first 
mill  owners  there,  a  leading  man  in  its  public 
affairs  and  a  large  land  owner.  He  had  five 
sons,  of  whom  Andrew,  a  native  of  Maine  and  a 
farmer  in  York  County,  served  as  a  member  of 
the  Maine  legislature,  then  sitting  at  Portland, 
and  ably  represented   his  shire  town   of  Alfred. 


His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Squire  Joseph  Emer- 
son, one  of  the  pioneers  of  Alfred.  Of  their  five 
children,  Hannah  and  Eliza  died  in  girlhood; 
Lucinda  and  Sarah  attained  maturity;  and  An- 
drew is  now  the  sole  surviving  member  of  the 
family.     The  parents  both  died  in  Maine. 

Until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  remained  at  home.  On  starting 
out  in  life  for  himself  he  began  to  cultivate  a 
farm  at  Keunebunk  Port,  York  County,  where 
he  remained  for  twelve  years.  On  selling  his 
farm  he  moved  to  Dexter,  Penobscot  County, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  six  years.  While 
there  he  built  a  factory  in  partnership  with  the 
husband  of  his  sister  Lucinda,  and  on  the  com- 
pletion of  the  same  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  woolens,  remaining  in  the  mill  for  six 
years,  when  it  was  sold.  With  his  share  of  the 
proceeds,  amounting  to  about  $2,500,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  via  Dexter  to  Port- 
land in  a  stage,  from  Portland  to  Boston  by  rail- 
road, thence  to  Buffalo  by  railroad,  and  from 
there  to  Chicago  on  the  great  lakes,  taking 
the  canal  from  Chicago  to  Fox  river,  and 
thence  traveling  with  a  team  through  Illi- 
nois and  Iowa.  He  finally  concluded  that  no 
location  was  as  desirable  as  Will  County.  Ac- 
cordingly he  came  here,  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  partly  improved  land  and  be- 
gan to  raise  farm  products.  On  this  place  he  has 
since  remained.  The  majority  of  the  improve- 
ments have  been  made  under  his  personal  super- 
vision, as  when  he  came  there  was  not  even  a 
barn  on  the  farm,  and  only  a  portion  of  the  land 
had  been  fenced.  From  time  to  time  he  added 
to  his  holdings  until  at  one  time  he  owned  four 
hundred  and  sixty-three  acres.  He  devoted  his 
land  principally  to  the  raising  of  grain,  which 
he  marketed  in  Joliet.  While  he  was  not  active 
in  politics  and  never  sought  office,  yet  he  has 
always  been  a  man  of  firm  convictions  on  politi- 
cal questions,  and  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  In  religion  he  is  connected  with  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 

Mr.  Conant's  experience  furnishes  a  splendid 
illustration  of  the  increase  in  price  of  farm  land 
in  Will  County.   For  the  first  land  that  he  bought 


376 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(in  1S54)  he  paid  $20  an  acre.  His  next  pur- 
chase was  in  1866,  the  price  being  $60  an  acre. 
Fourteen  years  afterward  he  bought  one  hundred 
acres  at  $60  an  acre.  In  1S91  he  bought  farm 
land  at  $90  an  acre. 

In  1846  occurred  the  marriage  of  Andrew  E. 
Conant  to  Adeline,  daughter  of  Capt.  Robert 
Smith;  she  died  two  years  after  their  marriage. 
In  the  summer  of  1S53  he  was  united  with  Eliz- 
abeth, daughter  of  Samuel  PhilbFOok,  a  shoe 
manufacturer  in  Maine.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  five  children,  namely:  Adeline,  who 
died  September  24,  1881,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years;  Hattie,  who  died  October  1,  1864, 
when  an  infant:  Joseph,  Lewis  and  Otis  K. 
The  oldest  of  these  sons,  Joseph,  was  born  April 
29,  1S61,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  home- 
stead. June  28,  1S96,  he  married  Erne,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Mottinger,  and  since  then  he  has 
made  his  home  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  southeast  of  the  home  place.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  now  holding  the 
office  of  road  commissioner.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

The  second  son,  Lewis,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  May  19,  1865,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Joliet  schools.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  had  the  management  of  the  home 
place,  his  father  having  retired  from  active  cares 
and  responsibilities.  He  is  in  charge  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he  engages 
in  raising  farm  produce  and  in  stock-raising. 
Much  of  his  attention  is  given  to  the  stock  busi- 
ness, which  he  has  found  a  profitable  adjunct  to 
general  farming.  He  has  Shorthorn  cattle  and  a 
fine  grade  of  hogs  on  his  farm,  which  he  raises 
for  the  market.  To  some  extent  he  has  also  car- 
ried on  a  dairy  business.  October  8,  1896,  he 
married  Miss  Helen  Parr,  a  daughter  of  Alexan- 
der and  Matilda  (Richards)  Parr,  natives  of 
England,  but  for  some  years  residents  of  Chicago. 
Mrs.  Lewis  Conant  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Luke's, 
Chicago,  and  is  an  accomplished  and  amiable 
lady,  with  the  ability  to  successfully  manage 
large  responsibilities  in  the  household.  One  son, 
Lewis  Philip,  has  been  born  to  them. 


The  youngest  son  of  our  subject,  Otis  K.  Co- 
nant, was  born  January  15,  1868.  His  life,  like 
those  of  his  brothers,  was  passed  uneventfully  on 
the  homestead  during  the  years  of  childhood  and 
youth.  On  establishing  a  home  of  his  own,  he 
and  his  wife,  Bessie,  daughter  of  William  Flagg, 
settled  on  a  farm  northwest  of  the  homestead, 
where  in  1S99  he  erected  a  comfortable  residence 
and  a  substantial  barn. 


Gl  A  RON  GREENWOOD,  who  is  a  pioneer 
LI  of  this  county,  was  born  in  Herefordshire, 
/  I  England,  in  1835,  a  son  of  John  and  Martha 
(PritchardT  Greenwood,  natives  of  the  same  shire 
as  himself.  His  father,  who  was  a  general 
farmer,  came  to  America  in  1S47,  and  proceeded 
at  once  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Joliet  Township, 
Will  County ,  where  he  became  interested  in  sheep- 
raising.  He  died  in  1854,  when  sixty-four  years 
of  age.  During  his  residence  in  his  native 
country  he  was  active  in  the  Wesley  an  Church, 
but  after  settling  in  the  United  States  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  the  United  Brethren  denomi- 
nation. He  lost  his  second  wife  before  leaving 
England.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons, 
namely:  Richard,  now  of  Joliet  Township; 
Aaron;  and  George,  deceased.  Six  other  chil- 
dren from  a  former  marriage  reached  maturity, 
and  two  came  to  the  United  States,  John  and 
Mrs.  Ann  Trow,  of  Wisconsin. 

At  the  time  of  settling  in  this  county  our  sub- 
ject was  thirteen  years  of  age.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Joliet  and  New  Lenox  Townships,  and 
received  common-school  advantages.  When 
eighteeu  years  of  age  he  began  to  cultivate  a 
rented  farm,  and  in  this  way  made  his  start  in 
life.  His  first  purchase  was  in  1863,  when  he 
bought  a  tract  of  over  ninety  acres  on  section  12, 
Manhattan  Township,  and  at  once  began  its  im- 
provement. He  has  since  engaged  in  agricultu- 
ral pursuits,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  all  in  this  township. 
Besides    raising  farm  products,  he  carries   on  a 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


business  in  feeding  stock.  While  he  still  contin- 
ues agricultural  pursuits,  he  now  makes  his  home 
near  the  village  of  Manhattan.  He  has  given 
his  allegiance  heartily  to  the  temperance  cause, 
believing  that  the  saloons  are  the  greatest  ene- 
mies of  our  country,  and  in  politics  he  supports 
Prohibition  principles.  In  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  he  serves  as  steward  and  trustee, 
and  for  twenty  years  served  as  Sunday-school  su- 
perintendent. In  the  work  of  the  Manhattan 
Grange  he  has  been  warmly  interested,  and  has 
been  its  chaplain  for  several  years. 

In  1 86 1  Mr.  Greenwood  married  Sarah  H. 
Noakes,  who  was  born  near  Hastings,  England, 
and  by  her  he  has  a  daughter,  Alice,  now  the 
wife  of  E.  P.  Cole.  They  have  reared  a  boy, 
'Robert  O.  Greenwood,  who  has  lived  with  them 
since  he  was  two  years  old.  When  a  youth,  our 
subject  had  only  such  advantages  as  the  schools 
of  those  days  afforded,  which,  at  best,  were 
meagre;  but,  with  his  strong  mind  and  love  for 
reading,  he  has  kept  thoroughly  posted  on  the 
events  of  the  dav,  and  is  a  well-informed  man. 


(JOHN  W.  GRAY  is  one  of  the  leading  Dem- 
I  ocrats  of  Joliet.  In  1S90  he  was  elected  to 
(2/  represent  the  sixth  ward  in  the  city  council, 
and  has  since  been  re-elected  every  two  years, 
receiving  large  majorities  each  time,  with  the 
exception  of  1898,  when  he  ran  on  an  independ- 
ent ticket,  against  both  Democratic  and  Repub- 
lican candidates,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  three.  As  a  member  of  various  committees 
he  has  been  helpful  in  the  work  of  the  council, 
and  has  aided  enterprises  of  undoubted  value. 
At  this  writing  he  is  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  parks  and  public  property,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  same  at  the  time  Bush  park  was  pur- 
chased and  improved.  Frequently  he  has  been 
committeeman  from  his  ward.  In  1896,  at  the 
Democratic  state  convention  held  in  Peoria,  he 
was  chosen  to  represent  his  district  as  state  elec- 
tor on  the  Bryau-Sewall  ticket.  From  Governor 
Altgeld,  in  1893,  ue  received  the  appointment  of 


chief  state  grain  inspector  for  Will  County,  a 
position  which  he  held  until  the  close  of  that  ad- 
ministration. For  eight  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Joliet  library  board,  having  been  appointed 
to  the  same  by  Mayors  Haley,  Akin  and  Lagger. 

At  the  homestead  in  Joliet  where  he  still  re- 
sides, Mr.  Gray  was  born  October  27,  1856.  His 
father,  Lawrence,  a  native  of  County  Langford, 
Ireland,  and  the  son  of  a  farmer,  was  educated  in 
Dublin  College,  but  left  school  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  in  order  to  come  to  America.  After  a 
short  time  in  New  York  City  he  went  to  Haver- 
straw,  N.  Y.,  thence  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  about 
1852  settled  in  Joliet,  111.,  where  he  was  first 
employed  by  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad 
Company,  and  has  been  in  the  employment  of 
that  company  ever  since.  He  married  Mar}', 
daughter  of  Patrick  Doyle,  who  came  from 
County  Langford  to  America,  and  was  employed 
on  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  in  New  York. 

Of  five  children  now  living,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  next  to  the  oldest.  At  fifteen  years 
of  age  he  became  an  employe  of  the  Michigan 
Central  Railroad  Company,  and  for  three  years 
had  charge  of  the  elevator,  after  which  he  man- 
aged the  transferring  business.  Later,  for  five 
years,  he  had  charge  of  the  Kensington  yards 
in  Chicago.  On  his  return  to  Joliet  he  was 
given  the  superintendence  of  the  outside  work, 
but  afterward  was  transferred  to  the  office 
of  the  company.  February  14,  1887,  having 
resigned  his  connection  with  the  railroad,  he 
bought  a  stock  of  groceries  from  James  Egan 
and  began  in  business  at  No.  301  South  Chicago 
street,  where  he  continued  in  business  until 
1890.  He  then  built  a  three-story  block,  47x60, 
at  Nos.  501-503  South  Chicago  street,  where  he 
has  since  carried  on  a  grocery  business.  In  ad- 
dition to  this  business  he  was  for  ten  years  prior 
to  1898  a  director  in  the  Mutual  Loan  and 
Building  Association.  In  religion  he  is  a  Roman 
Catholic,  and  is' identified  with  the  Sacred  Heart 
Church.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  and  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of 
Elks. 

During    his   residence   in  Chicago   Mr.    Gray 


3/8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  Miss  Nora  Rogers,  a  native  of  Ireland. 
The}-  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  the  eldest 
of  whom,  Lawrence,  is  employed  in  the  Illinois 
Pressed  Steel  plant.  The  others  are  Charles, 
Mary,  George,  Raymond,  Melville  and  Cath- 
erine. 


IT  RED  GRASSLE,  ofjoliet,  was  born  in  Her- 
Iw  renalb,  near  Stuttgart,  the  captial  city  of 
I  f  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  March  16,  1858, 
and  was  fifth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children,  all 
but  one  of  whom  are  still  living,  eight  in  Ger- 
many and  four  in  the  United  States.  His  grand- 
father, Jacob  Grassle,  who  took  part  in  the  march 
to  Moscow  in  1812,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  served  as  burgomaster  or  mayor  of  Her- 
renalb.  Jacob  Grassle,  Jr.,  the  father,  was  a 
commissioned  officer  in  the  German  army  and 
took  part  in  the  revolution  of  1848.  Throughout 
his  active  life  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business. 
He  died  in  his  native  town  when  sixt}'- eight 
years  of  age.  Since  then  his  business  has  been 
conducted  by  three  of  his  sons.  He  married 
Annie  Keller,  whose  father,  Fred  Keller,  was  a 
blacksmith  and  veterinary  surgeon  and  held  the 
office  of  state  veterinary;  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  almost  ninety-nine  years  of  age.  The 
Grassle  family  has  long  adhered  to  the  Lutheran 
religion.  For  generations  the  burgomaster's  of- 
fice has  been  in  the  family,  and  the  position  is 
now  held  by  a  cousin  of  our  subject. 

At  fourteen  )-ears  of  age  our  subject  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  baker's  trade  in  Ober  amt  Nein- 
berg,  and  after  two  years  continued  under  in- 
structions in  Baden-Baden,  Stuttgart,  Strasburg 
and  Weisbaden.  In  accordance  with  the  na- 
tional custom  he  entered  the  army  on  attaining 
manhood.  For  three  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  King's  Guard.  On  being  honorably  dis- 
charged he  came  to  America  in  188 1  and  at  once 
proceeded  tojoliet,  where  three  days  after  his  ar- 
rival he  secured  employment  as  cook  and  baker 
at  the  Will  County  poor  farm,  where  he  cooked 
for    as  high   as   one   hundred    persons.       Nine 


months  later  he  left  that  place  and  became  a  con- 
fectioner in  the  employ  of  John  Scheidt,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  one  year  and  two  months. 
He  then  returned  to  the  poor  farm,  where  he  was 
at  the  head  of  the  cooking  and  baking  depart- 
ment for  five  years  and  seven  months,  finally  re- 
signing to  engage  in  business  for  himself.  In 
1S87  he  bought  his  present  location  on  the  corner 
of  Bluff  street  and  Western  avenue,  remodeling 
the  building  to  suit  the  needs  of  the  business, 
and  he  has  since  built  up  a  large  trade.  He  sup- 
plies Hotel  Munroe,  National  Hotel  and  the 
principal  cafes  and  restaurants  in  the  city,  besides 
which  he  ships  to  Mokena,  Lockport  and  Wil- 
mington. In  point  of  years  of  business  activity 
he  is,  with  only  one  exception,  the  oldest  baker 
in  Joliet.  Besides  his  business  property  he  owns 
other  city  real  estate  and  also  has  an  eighty-acre 
farm  in  Wesley  Township. 

July  11,  1SS2,  Mr.  Grassle  married  Miss 
Eugenia  Kraft,  who  was  born  in  Alsace,  and  came 
to  America  with  her  parents,  Alois  and  Theresa 
(Gaber)  Kraft,  settling  in  Reading,  Pa.,  where 
her  father  was  a  mason  and  bridge  contractor. 
He  was  accidentally  killed  in  a  railroad  catas- 
trophe; his  wife  died  in  Joliet  in  1S97.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  all  but  one  of 
whom  are  stilly  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grassle 
have  had  five  children,  viz.:  Mamie,  Herman, 
Otto  (who  died  at  four  years  of  age),  Olga  and 
Fred,  Jr. 

Since  1891  Mr.  Grassle  has  been  chairman  of 
the  fourth  ward  Democratic  committee.  He  has 
also  been  a  member  of  the  city,  county  and  state 
committees.  In  the  spring  of  1S99  Mayor  Mount 
appointed  him  city  sealer  of  weights  and  meas- 
ures. Twice  he  has  been  chosen  noble  grand  in 
William  Tell  Lodge  No.  219,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  he 
is  also  an  officer  in  the  sovereign  grand  lodge  of 
Illinois.  He  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America;  the  Joliet  Sharpshooters'  As- 
sociation, in  which  he  is  a  trustee;  the  Saenger- 
buud;  the  Arbeiter,  of  which  he  is  vice-president; 
and  the  Krieger  Verein,  in  which  he  is  treasurer. 
He  is  identified  with  the  First  German  Lutheran 
Church  ofjoliet  and  serves  the  congregation  as  a 
trustee. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


2X^-    ^OslAimX&I  - 


u^JVot  >u,»o.s 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


333 


ALLEN  P.  CARPENTER. 


GlLLENP.  CARPENTER.  Few  of  the  resi- 
I  I  dents  of  the  county  stand  higher,  and  none 
/  I  lias  warmer  friends,  than  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  a  retired  farmer  of  Channahon 
Township.  In  his  active  life  he  has  gained  the 
confidence  and  esteem  always  awarded  integrity, 
honor  and  industry.  From  his  youth  he  has 
been  identified  with  the  county's  history.  In 
October,  1853,  he  came  to  Joliet.  A  short  time 
later  he  was  employed  to  teach  a  four  months' 
term  of  school  in  this  city.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  his  duties.  His  position  was  one  of  great 
responsibility,  requiring  patience,  intelligence  and 
constant  watchfulness.  On  his  roll  he  had  the 
•names  of  one  hundred  and  three  pupils.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  the  school  board  urged  him 
to  remain  longer,  but  he  had  promised  his  father 
to  return  home  and  assist  in  the  work  during  the 
spring  and  summer,  so  in  March  he  went  back 
east.  However,  in  the  fall  he  returned  to  Joliet, 
where  he  again  taught  school.  In  the  spring  of 
the  next  year  he  began  to  cultivate  the  farm  in 
Channahon  Township  now  owned  by  H.  B.  Por- 
ter, remaining  there  for  three  years.  Later  he 
spent  two  years  in  Troy  Township.  Following 
this  he  was  associated  for  seven  years  with  his 
brother,  Henry  S.  Carpenter,  in  the  grain  and 
elevator  business  at  Minooka  Landing.  In  1865 
he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixteen  acres  two  miles  north  of  the  village 
of  Channahon  and  the  next  year  he  removed  to 
his  new  home.  In  conjunction  with  cultivating 
his  land,  for  eight  years  he  carried  on  a  general 
merchandise,  lumber  and  coal  business.  In  1875 
he  withdrew  from  the  latter  business  and  retired 
to  his  farm.     From  time  to  time  he  added  to  his 


possessions  until  he  had  large  landed  tracts,  but, 
having  lost  both  of  his  children,  and  his  wife  dy- 
ing in  1890,  he  had  no  longer  the  same  reason  as 
before  for  desiring  large  possessions,  and  he  after- 
ward sold  all  but  his  original  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  acres.  In  1895,  after  the  erection  of  the 
creamery  at  Channahon,  he  was  made  its  mana- 
ger, and  during  the  three  years  that  he  held  the 
position,  the  business  netted  about  twenty-seven 
per  cent  dividends,  a  proud  record  which  has 
never  been  equaled  in  the  history  of  the  Chan- 
nahon Creamery. 

In  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Carpenter  was 
born  January  27,  1S34,  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Paulina  (Smith)  Carpenter.  He  and  his  sister, 
Lucinda,  the  widow  of  Dr.  Gersham  Randall,  of 
Linn,  Kans. ,  are  the  only  survivors  of  the  fam- 
ily, which  originally  comprised  six  children.  His 
father,  who  was  born  at  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y., 
in  1796,  grew  to  manhood  there,  and  received  a 
common-school  education.  February  25,  1819, 
he  married  Miss  Smith.  About  1824  he  removed 
to  the  western  part  of  the  state,  settling  in 
Orleans  County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
His  wife  died  in  1837.  Later  he  married  Miss 
Fannie  Styles,  by  whom  he  had  five  children, 
two  now  living:  Wilber  H.,  of  Joliet,  and  Fran- 
ces, wife  of  William  Harmon.  The  father  was  a 
progressive  farmer  and  acquired  a  competency 
through  his  tireless  efforts.  In  early  life  he  was 
a  Whig.  On  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  affiliated  himself  with  it.  He  did  not 
care  for  office,  and  refused  all  but  minor  posi- 
tions. In  the  Methodist  Church  he  served  as  a 
trustee.     His  death  occurred  August  2,  1870. 

When  nineteen  years  of  age  our  subject  left 


19 


3»4 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  and  came  to  Joliet,  arriving  here,  as  before 
stated,  in  October,  1853.  The  now  prosperous 
city  was  then  an  insignificant  village,  but  he  dis- 
cerned its  possibilities  and  also  saw  the  opportunity 
of  making  a  good  investment  by  the  purchase  of 
farm  land  in  the  county.  Subsequent  events 
justified  the  wisdom  of  his  course.  January  10, 
1855,  he  married  Miss  Ellen  Spencer,  who  was 
born  in  Chicago  December  21,  1834.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  two  children:  Alice  Evelyn, 
who  was  born  on  Christmas  day  of  1865  and  died 
August  1,  1866;  and  Allen  Elmer,  who  was  born 
April  28,  1869,  and  died  July  24,  1870.  Mrs. 
Carpenter  passed  away  October  20,  1890.  She 
was  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Church 
and  a  woman  beloved  by  all  for  her  gentle,  amiable 
character  and  kind  heart.  Mr.  Carpenter  has 
been  a  trustee  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  the 
past  twenty- five  years  and  for  some  time  has 
been  a  steward.  Politically  he  is  a  firm  Republi- 
can. From  1893  to  1897  ne  served  as  supervisor 
of  Channahon  Township.  For  twelve  years  he 
held  the  office  of  town  treasurer  and  for  nine 
years  was  highway  commissioner.  For  a  quarter 
of  a  century  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican 
central  committee.  He  has  also  frequently  been 
a  delegate  to  county  and  state  conventions. 


In  1 85 1  Mr.  Carpenter  married  Miss  Henrietta 
Spencer,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Allen  P.  Carpenter. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  children.  The 
only  living  sou,  Charles  C,  who  was  connected 
with  his  father  in  the  grain  business,  is  now 
business  manager  of  a  piano  factory  at  Ottawa, 
111.,  and  a  bicycle  factory  at  Joliet.  The  second 
son,  George  H.,  is  deceased.  The  only  daugh- 
ter, Sarah  F.,  is  the  wife  of  William  Grinton,  a 
merchant  in  Joliet,  and  with  her  Mrs.  Carpenter 
makes  her  home. 


HENRY  S.  CARPENTER,  who  was  long  a 
business  man  of  Joliet,  was  born  November 
23,  1825,  and  died  March  5,  1892.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  Albion  Academy.  In 
1848  he  came  to  Joliet,  with  the  subsequent  his- 
tory of  which  he  was  identified.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  taught  in  the  city  schools,  but  by  de- 
grees he  drifted  into  the  real-estate  business,  buy- 
ing and  selling  town  lots  and  also  dealing  in 
farm  property.  In  addition  he  had  large  grain 
interests,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  Allen 
P.,  the  two  being  among  the  most  extensive 
grain  merchants  of  this  section  of  the  country. 
He  bought  in  carload  lots  and  exported  to  all 
parts  of  the  world. 


0TEPHEN  J.  WILLIAMS.  In  the  manage- 
?\  ment  of  his  dairy  and  farm  interests  Mr. 
Q)  Williams  has  displayed  energy  and  wise 
judgment.  From  early  manhood  he  has  been 
one  of  the  important  factors  in  the  promotion  of 
local  enterprises  and  agricultural  improvements 
in  Dupage  Township,  and  as  a  progressive  farmer 
of  high  integrity,  has  won  the  confidence  and  re- 
gard of  his  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  The 
land  which  he  owns  lies  on  sections  33  and  34. 
Here  he  was  born  September  22,  1846,  and  here 
much  of  his  life  has  been  passed.  In  the  stock 
business  his  specialty  is  the  raising  of  cattle  and 
Norman  horses.  He  buys  heavily  in  the  Chicago 
markets  and  often  sells  again  without  taking  the 
stock  out  of  the  yards.  He  has  a  large  number 
of  milch  cows  and  ships  from  seventy  to  eighty 
gallons  of  milk  to  Chicago  daily,  finding  in  the 
dairy  business  a  profitable  source  of  revenue. 

Thomas  Williams,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  and  educated  in  Cornwall,  England,  where 
he  learned  the  contract  business  with  his  father, 
an  able  and  well-known  contractor  in  Cornwall. 
In  early  manhood  he  engaged  in  the  flax-seed 
business,  shipping  from  England  to  America.  In 
1852  he  came  to  this  country  and  carried  on  a 
coal  business  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.  Upon  the  start- 
ing of  the  canal  in  Illinois  he  sold  his  coal  busi- 
ness and  took  a  contract  to  build  a  part  of  the  ca- 
nal in  Will  County,  a  part  of  sections  23  and  24, 
extending  through  Romeo.  In  1850  he  went  to 
California  and  built  a  levee  in  San  Francisco, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


335 


which  work  consumed  almost  three  years.  His 
next  contract  was  for  building  fifteen  miles  of  the 
Great  Western  Railroad  in  Illinois.  Upon  the 
completion  of  his  canal  contract  he  had  purchased 
forty  acres  where  our  subject  now  lives,  and  his 
family  resided  here  while  he  was  in  different 
parts  of  the  country  filling  contracts,  adding  to 
the  home  farm  from  time  to  time.  On  finishing 
his  railroad  work  he  returned  to  this  place  and 
gave  his  attention  to  its  improvement.  He  was 
nominated  in  1880  for  the  legislature  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  but  before  the  election  was  stricken 
with  paralysis  and  died,  August  25,  the  same 
year.  He  was  then  seventy-two  years  of  age. 
In  religion  he  was  identified  with  the  Church  of 
England.  Fraternally  he  was  connected  with 
the  Masons.  By  his  marriage  to  Susan  Homer, 
who  died  November  23,  1898,  he  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  all  are  deceased  but  Mrs. 
Susan  G.  Haney,  of  Chicago,  and  Stephen  J.,  of 
this  sketch. 

In  the  academy  at  Naperville  and  the  college 
at  Wheaton  our  subject  received  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages.  His  first  work  was  the 
management  of  a  coal  mine  owned  by  his  father 
at  Gardner,  where  he  remained  for  three  years. 
He  then  went  to  Lockport  Township  and  took 
charge  of  a  farm  on  sections  31  and  32,  which  he 
conducted  for  sixteen  years.  He  still  owns  the 
farm,  comprising  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
He  returned  to  the  old  homestead  at  the  death  of 
his  father.  On  this  place  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Mr.  Williams  has  been  one  of  the  most 
successful  farmers  and  stockmen  during  the  last 
decade  in  Will  County.  His  methods  of  farming 
are  the  most  advanced  and  his  judgment  in  regard 
to  buying  and  selling  stock  has  made  him  well 
known  in  the  Chicago  market.  His  home  farm 
now  comprises  over  one  thousand  acres  of  choice 
laud,  the  equal  of  which  it  would  be  hard  to  find 
in  northern  Illinois.  A  Democrat  in  national  af- 
fairs, he  is  independent  in  local  matters,  voting 
for  the  men  he  considers  best  qualified  to  repre- 
sent the  people.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  town- 
ship and  county  conventions  and  to  many  of  the 
state  and  national  gatherings  of  the  Democratic 
party.    Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  succeeded 


him  in  the  office  of  supervisor,  which  he  held  for 
thirteen  years.  At  one  time  he  was  nominated 
for  the  legislature,  but  the  district  being  strong- 
ly Republican  he  was  defeated.  He  is  warmly 
interested  in  all  that  concerns  his  immediate  lo- 
cality, especially  in  educational  matters,  and  his 
influence  for  yeais  in  the  office  of  school  direc- 
tor has  been  exerted  in  behalf  of  the  schools. 

While  in  Gardner  Mr.  Williams  married 
Mary  E.  Burns,  who  died  January  2,  1876,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-seven  and  one-half  years.  This 
union  was  blessed  by  three  children:  Thomas, 
who  is  in  Albuquerque,  N.  M. ;  James,  who  culti- 
vates the  home  farm  for  his  father;  and  Maude, 
who  married  Isaac  Sims,  a  merchant  in  Lockport. 
Two  years  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Williams  married  her  sister,  Katie  Burns,  by 
whom  he  has  three  children,  Mary  E. ,  Jennette  B. 
and  Stephen  J.  Jr. 


EVI  WHIPPLE,  member  of  the  firm  of 
I  C  Whipple  &  Barr,  grain  merchants  of  Plain- 
ly field,  was  born  near  Morris,  Grundy  County, 
111.,  March  7,  1846.  His  father,  William  Whip- 
ple, a  native  of  Watertown,  Jefferson  County, 
N.  Y.,  born  in  November,  180S,  spent  the  first 
fourteen  years  of  his  life  there  and  then  went  to 
Detroit,  Mich.  For  six  years  he  worked  as  a 
clerk  in  that  city.  Coming  from  there  to  Illinois 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Marseilles, 
also  sold  groceries  through  the  surrounding 
country  with  team  and  wagon.  He  then  settled 
in  Grundy  County,  renting  a  farm  near  Morris, 
but  after  two  years  bought  another  farm  near  by, 
and  on  the  latter  place  he  made  his  home  for 
thirty  years.  From  there  he  moved  to  Buffalo, 
Ind.  His  last  days  were  spent  in  Ford  County, 
111.,  where  he  died  at  eighty-seven  years.  In 
politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Repub- 
lican. While  he  never  had  any  educational  ad- 
vantages he  became  a  well-informed  man  and 
kept  posted  concerning  current  events  of  im- 
portance.    He  was  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family 


386 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  New  England  that  traced  its  ancestry  to  Ger- 
many. His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Basheba  Gibson,  was  born  in  Vermont  and  died  in 
Illinois  in  1862,  when  forty-five  years  of  age. 
She  was  a  woman  of  exemplary  character  and 
sincere  Christian  faith.  She  left  four  children,  of 
whom  Levi  was  second  in  order  of  birth. 

Until  twenty-five  years  of  age  our  subject  re- 
mained at  home  assisting  his  father  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  farm.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  settled  on  one  of  his  father's  farms,  which  he 
later  purchased,  making  it  his  home  until  18S2. 
He  then  rented  the  property  and  moved  to 
Morris,  111. ,  where  he  carried  on  a  livery  busi- 
ness for  two  years.  Afterward  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  lumber  business.  In  1890  he  came  to 
Plainfield  and  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  V. 
Barr,  renting  an  elevator  at  Plainfield  and  one  at 
Caton  Farm.  The  latter  burned  down  in  1892, 
but  was  immediately  rebuilt  by  the  proprietors. 
Later  they  bought  the  elevator  at  Plainfield  and 
have  since  operated  both,  Mr.  Whipple  managing 
that  at  Caton  Farm,  while  Mr.  Barr  has  charge 
of  the  one  at  Plainfield.  The  Caton  Farm 
elevator  has  a  capacity  of  between  seventy-five 
and  eighty  thousand  bushels,  it  being  one  of  the 
largest  elevators  in  the  county. 

By  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Whipple  to  Miss 
Harriet  A.  Stone  three  children  were  born,  Win- 
nifred,  Lester  H.  and  Chester  L.  In  his  political 
views  M.  Whipple  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  assisting  those  of  his  friends  who 
are  candidates  for  office,  but  has  never  sought 
political  positions  for  himself.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  at 
Plainfield  and  is  still  connected  with  it.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  In  the  forwarding  of  worthy  enter- 
prises he  has  taken  an  interest,  contributing  to 
the  same  as  able,  and  he  has  for  years  assisted  in 
the  maintenance  of  the  Congregational  Church 
with  which  his  wife  is  identified. 

As  a  substantial  business  man  no  one  stands 
higher  in  his  community  than  Mr.  Whipple.  He 
has  great  capacity  for  business,  and  the  success 
of  his  enterprises  comes  from  his  energetic  man- 
agement of  the  same.     Having  given  much  time 


and  thought  to  the  grain  business  he  is  familiar 
with  all  its  details,  and  manages  his  elevator  in 
such  a  way  as  to  reap  the  greatest  possible  results 
therefrom.  He  is  very  progressive  and  public- 
spirited,  and  is  always  in  favor  of  movements 
that  are  likely  to  benefit  his  locality,  though  the 
demands  upon  his  time  made  by  his  business  in- 
terests prevent  him  from  actively  identifying  him- 
self with  public  affairs. 


AWRENCE  DITTRICH,  who  for  years  be- 
lt fore  his  death  was  one  of  the  enterprising 
|_J  farmers  and  business  men  of  this  county, was 
born  in  Buckenhofen,  Bavaria,  Germany,  January 
20,  1844.  He  received  his  education  in  schools  in 
his  native  country,  and  from  an  early  age  was 
familiar  with  agricultural  pursuits.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-six  years  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  Baltimore,  and  proceeding  from  there 
to  Chicago.  After  a  short  stay  in  the  latter  city 
he  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Mokena,  where  he  se- 
cured work  on  a  farm.  In  1873  he  married  and 
moved  to  Joliet,  where  he  obtained  work  in  the 
rolling- mill.  During  the  ten  years  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  mill  he  proved  himself  to  be  a  very 
competent  and  efficient  workman,  and  from  small 
wages  was  advanced  until  he  made  as  much  as 
$160  per  month. 

During  1883  Mr.  Dittrich  bought  an  unim- 
proved tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land  at  what  was 
then  called  Grinton.  Settling  upon  the  place, 
he  at  once  began  its  development.  He  cleared 
the  land  of  stumps  and  placed  it  in  condition  for 
cultivation.  At  a  later  date  he  bought  fifty-two 
acres  to  the  south,  which  he  also  brought  under 
cultivation,  and  devoted  to  general  farm  products. 
In  the  raising  of  horses  and  cattle  he  also  took  con- 
siderable interest.  While  he  gave  his  attention 
closely  to  his  farm  work  he  did  not  neglect  his 
duties  as  a  citizen,  but  kept  in  touch  with  local 
matters.  For  a  number  of  years  he  served  as  road 
overseer  and  later  was  elected  highway  commis- 
sioner.    His  political  belief  was  in  accord  with 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


337 


Democratic  principles.  In  religion  he  was  con- 
nected with  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Dittrich,  October  22, 
1873,  united  him  with  Mrs.  Susanna  Brown,  who 
was  born  in  Westbach,  Rheinpfaltz,  Bavaria, 
Germany,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Schneider.  She 
was  reared  in  her  native  land,  and  after  her  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Brown  came  to  the  United  States. 
By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two  children,  but 
both  are  now  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dittrich 
were  born  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Helena,  wife  of  Henry  Christman,  of 
Joliet;  Henry,  who  has  charge  of  the  home  farm 
on  section  10,  Troy  Township;  Lawrence,  Su- 
sanna and  Annie.  Mrs.  Dittrich  was  reared  in 
the  Lutheran  faith,  and  is  connected  with  that 
denomination  in  Joliet.  Since  the  death  of  her 
husband,  August  7,  1892,  she  has  had  the  over- 
sight of  the  homestead  and  the  general  manage- 
ment of  the  estate,  and  has  proved  herself  to  be 
a  woman  possessing  decided  business  ability. 


UJOAH  WHITLEY,  county  surveyor,  was 
rV  born  in  Wakefield,  Yorkshire,  England, 
1/3  August  10,  1852,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah 
(Lorryman)  Whitley,  natives  of  the  same  town. 
His  grandfather,  John  Whitley,  descended  from 
a  family  who,  as  far  back  as  the  sixteenth  century, 
resided  near  Whitley  bridge,  in  Yorkshire,  and 
by  whom  the  family  name  was  variously  spelled 
Whitily,  Whytely,  Whitley,  etc.  Whitley  Castle, 
in  Northumberlandshire,  was  probably  owned  by 
a  branch  of  the  family,  and  is  quoted  by  histo- 
rians of  the  Roman  period.  Robert,  who  was  a 
miller  by  trade,  came  to  America  in  1853  and  set- 
tled at  Plainfield,  Will  County,  111.,  where  the  fam- 
ily joined  him  two  years  later.  For  a  time  he  was 
employed  in  a  mill  at  Oswego,  Kendall  County, 
but  in  1864  returned  to  Plainfield,  where  he  re- 
sumed milling.  In  1866  he  embarked  in  the 
milling  business  at  Lockport,  111.,  where  he  has 
since  been  foreman  for  a  company.  By  his  mar- 
riage to  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Lorryman,  of  an 


old  Yorkshire  family,  he  had  seven  children,  of 
whom  Noah  and  Robert,  Jr.,  of  Lockport,  and 
two  daughters  survive,  our  subject  being  the  eld- 
est of  the  family.  He  was  three  years  of  age  at 
the  time  his  mother  brought  him  to  the  United 
States,  joining  his  father  in  Will  County.  Sub- 
sequently the  family  went  to  Kendall  County, 
but  returned  to  Plainfield  in  1864,  and  in  1866 
settled  in  Lockport,  where  he  completed  the  high 
school  course.  He  then  took  up  civil  engineer- 
ing and  surveying  and  attended  a  private  school 
in  Chicago. 

The  first  engineering  done  by  Mr.  Whitley  was 
in  1872,  when  he  was  employed  on  the  Pittsburg 
&  Fort  Wayne  Railroad  in  Ohio.  Two  years 
later  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  assisted  the 
county  surveyor,  A.  J.  Mathewson,  in  his 
surveys.  In  1877  he  went  to  California,  where 
he  engaged  in  surveying.  He  was  also  assist- 
ant superintendent  of  a  large  fishing  com- 
pany, and,  being  in  and  about  the  water  much  of 
the  time,  he  contracted  rheumatism  in  his  arms. 
Hoping  a  change  of  climate  might  enable  him  to 
get  rid  of  the  disease,  he  went  to  the  Society 
Islands,  twenty-five  hundred  miles  south  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  in  the  Pacific,  and  spent 
almost  a  year  in  that  region  of  the  world,  being 
for  a  few  months  on  the  island  of  Tahiti,  whose 
inhabitants  were  mostly  natives,  with  a  very  few 
Americans,  Germans  and  Scotchmen.  The  trip 
proved  successful  in  permanently  relieving  him 
of  the  disease. 

Returning  to  Joliet  in  1883,  Mr.  Whitley  has 
since  engaged  in  work  as  a  civil  engineer. 
From  1885  to  1888  he  served  as  city  engineer. 
To  fill  a  vacancy  the  board  of  supervisors  ap- 
pointed him  county  supervisor  in  1895.  The 
following  year  he  was  regularly  elected  to  the 
office  of  county  surveyor  and  civil  engineer  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  He  has  had  almost  all  the 
work  connected  with  the  laying  out  of  additions 
and  subdividing  of  property,  and  his  work  has 
always  proved  reliable  and  trustworthy.  In  1892, 
as  a  member  of  the  sanitary  survey,  he  located  sec- 
tion and  half-section  corners  in  Will  County  for 
the  sanitary  district.   In    1897  and   1898  he  had 

harge  of  the  party  locating  land  corners  through 


;88 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  city  of  Joliet  for  the  sanitary  district,  and  was 
called  upon  to  give  testimony  in  the  condemnation 
cases  that  came  up  for  settlement.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Western  Society  of  Engineers.  In 
national  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  During 
1887,  within  six  months,  he  made  two  trips  to 
England  and  Scotland,  where  he  visited  relatives 
and  acquaintances  of  the  family.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Joliet  to  Miss  Jane  E.  Clark,  who  was 
born  in  Scotland,  and  died  in  that  country,  leav- 
ing a  daughter,  Sarah  Barbara. 


GlNDREW  J-  HOWK.  Although  it  was 
J  1  not  until  a  comparatively  recent  period  that 
I  I  Mr.  Howk  settled  permanently  in  Joliet,  yet 
he  has  been  familiar  with  the  place  from  early 
manhood  and  no  one  has  taken  a  greater  inter- 
est in  its  progress  than  has  he.  The  family  of 
which  he  is  a  member  has  been  represented  in 
America  for  man}-  generations.  He  was  born  in 
Water  town,  N.  Y.,  December  15,  1831,  and  was 
a  son  of  Henderson  Howk,  a  miller  of  Water- 
town.  When  the  family  came  to  Illinois  in 
185 1  his  father  built  the  mills  in  Joliet  that 
occupied  the  present  site  of  the  plant  of  the 
Economy  Light  and  Power  Company.  One  of 
his  first  contracts  in  the  west  was  in  connection 
with  Governor  Matteson  for  the  building  of  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad  from  Joliet  to  Blue  Island, 
after  which  he  carried  on  the  mills  in  partnership 
with  George  W.  Hyde.  His  last  years  were 
spent  in  retirement  from  business  and  he  died  in 
this  city  in  1889.  During  his  residence  in  New 
York  he  took  an  active  interest  in  political  mat- 
ters and  served  honorably  as  a  member  of  the 
state  legislature.  Though  not  a  member  of  any 
denomination  he  was  liberal  in  his  gifts  to  all, 
and  more  than  one  church  has  reason  to  be  grate- 
ful to  him  for  generous  assistance  at  a  time  when 
it  was  sorely  needed.  By  his  marriage  to  Emily, 
daughter  of  L.  Nathan  Matteson  and  a  sister  of 
Hon.  Joel  A.  Matteson,  he  had  five  children,  of 
whom    the  oldest,    Andrew   J.,   and    a    younger 


brother,  F.  M.,  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Joliet, 
are  the  only  survivors.  John  and  Augustus  were 
both  in  business  in  this  city  until  their  death. 

When  about  twenty  years  of  age  our  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  west.  He  entered 
the  store  of  his  uncle,  Governor  Matteson,  in 
Joliet,  and  remained  with  him  until  1S53,  when 
he  went  to  California  and  embarked  in  prospect- 
ing and  mining.  From  that  time  to  this  he  has 
had  important  mining  interests.  His  success  at 
the  start  was  such  as  to  induce  him  to  devote  his 
life  to  the  occupation .  When  the  placer  mines 
became  exhausted  he  turned  his  attention  to 
quartz  mining.  He  located  a  mine,  "May 
Lundy,"  on  the  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada 
range,  eleven  thousand  feet  above  sea  level,  it 
being  one  of  the  highest  productive  mines  now  in 
operation  on  the  continent.  It  was  opened  in 
188 1  and  he  operated  it  personally  for  some 
years.  He  has  also  had  valuable  interests  in 
Nevada.  In  1863  he  went  to  that  territory, 
where  he  carried  on  silver  mining  profitably  until 
1S76;  but  owing  to  the  decline  in  silver  he  dis- 
continued the  work  in  the  latter  year.  Of  recent 
years  he  has  again  turned  his  attention  to  mining 
in  Nevada,  but  mines  for  gold  and  copper  and 
not  for  silver.  While  he  has  not  wholly  given  up 
his  interests  in  California  he  has  no  active  con- 
nection with  mines  there  now,  but  works  in 
Nevada  instead.  In  18S5  he  settled  permanently 
in  Joliet  in  order  that  his  son  might  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  study  in  the  city  schools.  Usually  he 
spends  a  portion  of  each  summer  in  Nevada  at- 
tending to  his  interests  there.  Politically  he  is 
an  ardent  supporter  of  the  silver  wing  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  In  religion  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  While  in  California 
he  married  Miss  Margie  Kirkpatrick,  by  whom 
he  has  one  son  now  living,  Henderson  J.  Howk. 

•  Often  noting  the  prosperity  of  Joliet  and  the 
variety  of  its  industries  Mr.  Howk  recalls  the 
days  when  he  first  came  here  and  enjoys  dwell- 
ing upon  the  contrasts  between  a  half  century 
ago  and  now.  Shortly  after  he  came  here  he 
built  a  part  of  the  first  brick  building  erected  in 
the  town ,  putting  up  a  portion  of  the  brick  block 
just  north   of  the    National  Hotel.     It  was  his 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


389 


plan  to  start  in  business  in  that  block,  but  his 
health  was  poor  and  his  physician  ordered  him 
to  leave.  It  was  in  this  way  that  he  decided  to 
go  to  California.  From  1889  to  1896  he  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Kirkpatrick,  Howk  & 
Massey,  who  engaged  in  quarrying  just  outside 
of  the  city  limits  on  South  Chicago  street. 


30HN  AGNEW,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
finest  machinists  ever  in  Joliet.  He  was 
born  in  Wicktonshire,  Scotland,  March  11, 
1S43,  and  in  early  manhood  removed  to  Glasgow, 
where  he  worked  as  a  machinist,  meantime  gain- 
ing a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  trade.  Believ- 
ing he  would  be  better  able  to  succeed  in  America 
he  crossed  the  ocean  in  1871  and  settled  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  where  he  worked  in  the  rolling  mills. 
From  there,  in  1880,  he  removed  to  Chicago,  and 
there  was  selected  to  be  foreman  of  a  large  ma- 
chine shop,  for  which  work  his  previous  ex- 
perience as  foreman  in  Cleveland  admirably 
qualified  him.  He  continued  in  Chicago  until 
1889,  when  he  went  to  Anderson,  Iud.,  and  had 
charge  of  the  building  of  the  rod  mills  in  that 
place.  The  year  1890  found  him  in  Joliet,  where 
he  erected  the  Enterprise  mills  for  Fish  Brothers. 
Later,  as  master  mechanic,  he  had  charge  of  the 
Illinois  machine  shops  of  the  Illinois  steel  works. 
In  every  city  where  he  resided  he  was  recognized 
as  an  expert  machinist.  His  work  was  reliable 
and  trustworthy,  and  no  employer  ever  spoke  of 
him  except  in  terms  of  highest  praise.  He  con- 
tinued to  hold  a  very  responsible  position  in  the 
steel  works  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Joliet  February  2,  1893.  To  his  family  he  left  a 
comfortable  home  and  the  memory  of  an  upright 
Christian  life. 

After  coming  to  the  United  States  Mr.  Agnew 
took  a  warm  interest  in  public  affairs  in  his 
adopted  country.  He  affiliated  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  upheld  its  principles.  During  his 
residence  in  Anderson,  Ind.,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  common  council.     The  nature  of  his  work, 


however,  was  such  as  to  prevent  his  acceptance 
of  most  local  offices,  for  he  had  not  sufficient  time 
to  give  to  them.  In  the  Knights  of  Pythias  he 
held  office  as  grand  chancellor  and  was  connected 
with  the  Uniform  Rank.  He  also  served  as  high 
chief  ranger  in  the  local  camp  of  Foresters.  In 
both  of  these  orders  he  stood  high  and  took  an 
active  part. 

Before  leaving  Scotland  Mr.  Agnew  lost  his 
first  wife,  who  left  a  son,  William,  now  connected 
with  the  postal  department  in  Cleveland.  After 
coming  to  America  he  was  a  second  time  married, 
choosing  as  his  wife  Miss  Jane  Dewar,  whom  he 
married  in  Cleveland  February  22,  1872.  Mrs. 
Agnew  was  born  and  reared  in  Scotland  and  in 
1870  accompanied  her  uncle  to  the  United  States, 
settling  in  Cleveland  She  was  reared  in  the 
Episcopalian  faith  and  early  identified  herself 
with  that  church,  which  Mr.  Agnew  also  attended, 
though  not  a  member.  They  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  one  of  whom  died  at  four  years 
of  age,  and  six  are  now  living,  viz.:  Jessie,  wife 
of  George  Russell,  of  Anderson,  Ind.;  Samuel 
H.,  a  machinist  in  Joliet;  Anna  F.  and  John, 
both  of  whom  are  employed  as  clerks  in  this  city ; 
James  and  Jean,  who  are  still  at  home. 


""LISHA  C.  FELLOWS.  In  the  early 
^  period  of  Will  County's  history  there  was 
__  no  attorney  so  prominent  and  influential  as 
Mr.  Fellows,  who  was  long  the  Nestor  of  the  bar 
in  Joliet  and  one  of  the  leading  criminal  lawyers 
of  Illinois.  Born  and  reared  in  Brockport,  N.Y., 
the  son  of  wealthy  parents,  he  was  given  in  youth 
every  advantage  which  ample  means  could  pro- 
vide, and  was  educated  in  law  under  the  tutorship 
of  successful  attorneys  in  the  east.  During  the 
year  1836  he  came  to  Joliet,  which  was  then  a 
frontier  town  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  with 
few  indications  of  its  future  prosperity  and  popu- 
lation. Largely  through  his  efforts  the  first  char- 
ter was  secured  for  the  city.  In  many  ways  he 
promoted  the  growth  of  the  town  and  the  enlarge- 


39° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ment  of  its  interests.  No  movement  was  started 
of  a  public-spirited  nature  that  failed  to  receive 
his  co-operation. 

As  the  passing  of  the  years  brought  a  constant 
prosperity  to  Joliet,  they  also  brought  to  Mr.  Fel-' 
lows  an  ever-increasing  reputation  in  his  chosen 
profession.  His  name  was  connected  with  the 
most  important  cases  in  the  courts  of  Will  County, 
and  as  a  criminal  lawyer  he  was  recognized  as 
unequaled  and  without  a  rival.  Frequently  he 
was  called  into  other  counties  of  the  state  in  con- 
nection with  important  cases.  He  was  a  tireless 
worker  in  the  interests  of  his  clients.  Every 
authority  was  looked  up,  every  research  was 
made  and  ever}'  clue  investigated  that  would  aid 
him  in  his  professional  work.  His  life  was  in  his 
work,  and  it  might  almost  be  said  that  his  pro- 
fession was  his  life,  so  closely  were  the  two  inter- 
woven. 

After  a  useful  and  honorable  career,  Mr.  Fel- 
lows retired  from  his  activities.  For  some  years 
before  his  death  he  was  an  invalid.  September 
5,  1875,  his  step-son,  George  Leonard,  who  had 
been  his  partner  in  law,  and  was  a  young  man 
greatly  beloved  by  all,  passed  away  from 
earth  at  the  going  down  of  the  sun.  His 
own  health  was  very  poor  at  the  time,  and 
the  following  year,  August  1,  he  died  at  the 
rising  of  the  sun.  During  his  three  years'  illness 
he  had  been  tenderly  cared  for,  not  only  by  his 
wife  and  daughter,  but  also  by  his  adopted  son, 
Frank  Fellows  (a  son  of  Mrs.  Fellows  by  her  first 
marriage).  This  son  was  his  constant  attendant 
throughout  his  illness,  and  Mr.  Fellows  showed 
his  affection  for  him  by  bequeathing  him  an  equal 
share  of  his  property  with  his  daughter. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Will  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion, October  2,  1876,  the  following  resolutions 
were  passed: 

"Whereas,  The  death  of  E.  C.  Fellows  is  to 
the  bar  a  sad  occasion  and  of  no  ordinary  char- 
acter, and  he  has  given  his  whole  life  to  practice 
within  its  precincts,  be  it 

' '  Resolved,  That  we  remember  with  emotion 
his  power  as  a  practitioner,  his  fervid  eloquence, 
his  marked  fidelity  to  his  clients,  and,  as  an  asso- 
ciate, his  genial  social  qualities  ;  and 


"Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  made  a 
matter  of  record  in  the  court  and  the  clerk  be  in- 
structed to  forward  a  copy  to  the  bereaved  family 
of  the  deceased." 

During  a  portion  of  his  life  Mr.  Fellows  was 
an  exhorter  in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  he  died 
in  the  Christian  faith,  with  the  hope  of  a  resur- 
rection to  life  eternal.  In  early  life  he  affiliated 
with  the  Democrats  of  the  old  school,  but  during 
Civil-war  times  he  supported  Abraham  Lincoln, 
and  afterward  he  was  independent  in  politics. 
He  was  a  man  of  straightforward  honesty,  and 
would  tolerate  no  wrong  methods,  though  they 
might  offer  tempting  professional  allurements. 
His  knowledge  of  criminal  law  was  excelled  by 
no  attorney  of  his  locality  and  day,  and  by  his 
high  professional  attainments  he  added  to  the  in- 
fluence of  his  home  town. 

Mr.  Fellows  married  Miss  Frances  D.  Gates,  a 
grand-daughter  of  Gen.  Horatio  Gates,  the 
famous  Revolutionary  hero,  and  also  a  relative  of 
Generals  Schuyler  and  Van  Rensselaer,  who 
gained  renown  in  the  struggle  with  England.  In 
later  days  other  relatives  of  Mrs.  Fellows  have 
gained  fame.  Her  cousin,  Major  Anderson,  was 
the  one  who  held  Fort  Sumter  until  approaching 
starvation  forced  a  surrender.  Her  parents  were 
Seth  and  Mary  (Anderson)  Gates;  the  latter, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  a  Scotch  nobleman,  was 
reared  under  strict  Presbyterian  influences,  and 
was  a  woman  of  marked  ability,  gentle  in  dispo- 
sition and  kind  to  all.  At  the  time  of  her  death 
she  was  ninety-five  years  of  age.  Seth  Gates 
was  born  and  reared  in  Rutland,  Vt. ,  but  in  early 
manhood  removed  to  Bradford  County,  Pa., 
taking  with  him  $1,000  in  gold,  which  was  con- 
sidered a  fortune  in  those  days.  He  purchased  a 
tract  of  timbered  land  and  hewed  a  farm  from  the 
wilderness,  in  which  wolves  and  other  wild  ani- 
mals made  the  night  hideous  with  their  cries. 
At  the  time  the  family  removed  to  the  new  home 
Mrs.  Fellows  was  nine  months  old;  consequently 
she  retains  no  recollection  of  her  native  county. 
She  was  one  of  twelve  children,  namely:  Rufus 
R.,  Luther,  Schuyler,  Herrick,  Van  Rensselaer, 
Horatio,  William,  Aurilla,  Demorest,  Frances 
Diantha,    Almira    and   Sarah.     Rufus    R.  Gates 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


39i 


became  a  prominent  evangelist  in  the  Seventh- 
Day  Advent  Church,  and  made  his  home  in  Phil- 
adelphia. Of  the  family,  Schuyler,  Herrick, 
Horatio  and  Mrs.  Fellows  are  still  living.  The 
only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fellows,  Addah,  was 
born  in  Joliet,  and  married  Lomando  Pierce,  by 
whom  she  had  two  children,  Frank  Fellows 
Pierce  and  Florence  Gates  Pierce.  Mrs.  Fellows 
and  Mrs.  Pierce  are  members  of  Christ  Episcopal 
Church  in  Joliet,  having  been  confirmed  by 
Bishop  McLaren  in  Lockport. 


0ANIEL  F.  HIGGINS  is  well  known,  both 
through  his  successful  practice  as  an  attor- 
ney, and  through  his  active,  efficient  service 
as  vice-president  of  the  board  of  school  directors 
of  Joliet.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  been 
intimately  associated  with  educational  work; 
probably  his  most  helpful  service  as  a  citizen  has 
been  in  connection  with  the  city  schools.  Since 
1896  he  has  held  office  as  the  board's  vice  presi- 
dent. He  is  a  member  of  the  township  high 
school  board,  and  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  origi- 
nating the  plan  and  assisting  to  carry  forward  to 
a  successful  completion  the  building  of  the  town- 
ship high  school.  The  decision  to  erect  this 
building  was  made  in  December,  1899.  Since 
then  the  work  has  been  carried  rapidly  and  sys- 
tematically toward  completion.  The  building 
stands  on  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Eastern 
avenues  and  is,  without  exception,  the  finest 
township  high  school  building  in  the  entire  state; 
a  result  the  credit  of  which  should  be  given  the 
men  whose  names  are  indissolubly  associated 
with  the  enterprise. 

The  Higgins  family  was  established  in  New 
England  in  an  early  day.  Samuel,  the  earliest 
member  of  whom  any  definite  knowledge  is  had, 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Prior  to  1781 
he  resided  in  Killingvvorth,  Conn.,  but  in  that 
year  moved  to  Castleton,  Vt.  He  was  twice 
married,  aud  by  his  second  wife,  Temperance 
Kilsey,  had  eight  children.     The  second  of  these 


children  was  Dan,  who  was  born  in  Castleton, 
Vt.,  August  27,  1784.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer.  In  1806  he  married  Hannah  LeBarron, 
by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  Chauncey,  the 
fourth,  having  been  born  in  Rutland  County,  Vt. 
He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  during  the 
summer  assisted  in  its  cultivation,  while  in  the 
winter  he  attended  school.  However,  his  educa- 
tion, which  was  good,  was  acquired  mostly  by  his 
own  efforts.  When  about  of  age  he  took  up 
agricultural  work  in  Vermont.  In  1835  he  came 
via  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  thence  by  the  old  trail 
to  Dupage  Township,  this  county,  where  he  took 
up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government 
land.  He  raised  produce  which  he  shipped  to 
Chicago,  and  he  also  raised  stock.  At  the  time 
of  the  anti-slavery  agitation  he  was  pronounced 
in  his  Abolition  views.  He  aided  the  work  of 
the  underground  railroad.  Though  active  in 
local  affairs,  he  would  never  accept  office.  He 
was  instrumental  in  moulding  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party  in  his  neighborhood.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  leader  in  politics.  Person- 
ally he  was  a  man  of  indomitable  will  and  en- 
ergy, and  one  of  the  best  business  men  in  his 
township.  He  helped  to  build  the  first  church  in 
Naperville,  and  for  years  was  a  deacon  in  the 
Baptist  Church  near  his  home.  October  23, 
1844,  in  Dupage  Township,  he  married  Emily 
Root,  who  was  born  in  Benson,  Vt.,  March  18, 
1812.  They  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely:  Emity  Frances  and  James  Chauncey, 
both  deceased;  Daniel  F. ;  Olney  F.,  who  is  man- 
aging the  old  homestead;  and  Charles  Sumner, 
deceased.  The  father  died  in  February,  1892. 
The  subject  of  this  article  was  educated  in 
public  schools  and  in  Northwestern  College, 
which  was  then  in  Plainfield.  When  fifteen 
years  old  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  One  Hun- 
dredth Illinois  Infantry,  and  went  with  his  regi- 
ment to  East  Tennessee.  On  the  1st  of  July, 
1865,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Fifty-first  Illi- 
nois Veterans'  Corps,  which  served  in  Texas  un- 
til October,  1865.  He  was  then  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  army.  Returning  home  he 
was  for  two  years  principal  of  the  school  at 
Downer's  Grove.     In  1S74  he  began  to  read  law 


392 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  Judge  Cod}-,  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of 
northeastern  Illinois.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Joliet  in  1877,  and  has  since  engaged  in 
practice  here.  About  the  time  of  his  election  as 
county  attorney  (1884)  he  formed  a  law  partner- 
ship w'ith  E.  C.  Akin,  now  attorney-general,  and 
they  were  together  until  the  latter' s  removal  to 
Springfield  in  1896.  Since  then  Mr.  Higgins  has 
been  associated  with  Fred  W.  W alter.  He  is  a 
strong  Republican,  and  has  been  chairman  of  the 
county  central  committee,  and  a  member  of  the 
city  council.  He  is  a  great  admirer  of  William 
McKinley,  and  an  active  campaigner,  and  has 
been  offered  several  appointments,  which  he  has 
declined  on  account  of  his  private  work  as  a 
lawyer.  His  influence  has  been  given  to  move- 
ments of  a  worthy  character,  and  he  has  been 
one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  Joliet  has 
ever  had.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  Dupage  Township  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  midst  of  the  changing 
scenes  of  farm  life  here,  witnessing  the  develop- 
ment of  farms  and  the  growth  of  towns.  In  Joliet 
he  has  done  a  considerable  amount  of  building, 
mostly  residences.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
May  4,  188 1,  with  Mary  Brown,  of  Jackson,  Will 
County.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  sons  and 
two  daughters,  namely:  D.  Frank,  Jr. ;  Charles 
Chauncey.  Helen  J.,  Marshall  F.,  Max  Brown, 
Mary  Marguerite,  Ara  Brown  and  Alfred  N. 


WILLARD  W.  GIFFORD,  county  treasurer, 
is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he 
served  with  a  valor  and  fidelity  that  en- 
title him  to  the  lasting  gratitude  of  all  who  love 
their  country.  He  was  born  near  Mayville, 
Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Edson  and 
Lydia  (Whipple)  Gifford,  also  natives  of  that 
state,  and  descendants  of  New  England  pioneers. 
His  grandfather,  William  Gifford,  who  was  of 
remote  Welsh  descent,  brought  his  family  from 
Massachusetts  to  New  York,  and  cleared  a  farm 
from  the  woods  of  Chautauqua  County,  where  he 


continued  to  make  his  home  until  he  died,  at  the 
age  of  about  eighty  years.  Some  years  after  his 
marriage,  Edson  Gifford  brought  his  wife  and 
two  children  to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  by  the 
lakes  and  settling  in  Grundy  Count}-  on  the  Ken- 
dall County  line.  There,  out  of  the  raw  prairie,  he 
improved  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres.  After  a  few  years  he  settled  in  Lisbon, 
Kendall  Count}',  where  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business.  In  1866  he  settled  in  Morris, 
Grundy  County,  where  he  was  proprietor  of  a 
store.  The  year  1872  found  him  settled  in  El- 
wood,  Will  County,  where  he  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising. His  death  occurred  in  this  village 
in  1894,  when  he  was  seventy-four  years  of  age. 
His  wife  died  during  the  early  days  of  their  resi- 
dence in  Grundy  County.  Of  their  three  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  daughter  are  living.  He  was  a 
second  time  married,  and  by  that  union  there  are 
two  sons  now  living,  one  being  a  business  man 
in  Elwood. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  March  4, 
1844,  and  was  a  child  of  four  years  when  his 
parents  came  to  Illinois.  His  education  was  ac- 
quired principally  in  Lisbon,  Kendall  County, 
and  Lisbon  Academy.  July  15,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  Thirty-sixth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, which  was  mustered  in  at  Aurora  and 
sent  to  Missouri.  After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge 
the  company  was  ordered  to  Mississippi  and 
took  part  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  later  was  sent 
in  pursuit  of  General  Bragg,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  battles  of  Perryville  and  Stone  River. 
During  the  latter  engagement  he  was  captured, 
but  was  soon  paroled  and  sent  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  his  exchange  in 
May,  1863.  He  joined  his  regiment  at  Mur- 
freesboro,  immediately  before  the  campaign 
against  Chattanooga,  and  took  part  in  the  battle 
Chickamauga,  where  he  was  shot  in  the  leg.  The 
Union  army  retreated  to  Chattanooga  and  he  was 
left  on  the  field,  within  the  rebel  lines  for  seven 
days,  after  which  he  was  taken  into  a  Confederate 
hospital  and  his  leg  was  amputated  by  a  Federal 
surgeon.  Four  days  later  he  was  taken  in  an 
ambulance  to  the  Union  lines  at  Chattanooga 
and  was    exchanged   and  taken  to   a  Union  hos- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


393 


pital,  where  he  remained  for  some  time.  In  the 
latter  part  of  October,  1863,  he  was  honorably 
discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability,  and 
returned  to  his  home,  but  it  was  a  year  before  he 
had  recovered  sufficiently  to  engage  in  any  busi- 
ness. 

After  a  year  in  an  academy  Mr.  Gifford  was 
appointed  postmaster  under  President  Lincoln, 
which  office  he  held  until  1872,  meantime  also 
engaging  in  the  mercantile  business.  On  resign- 
ing his  office  he  removed  to  Elwood  and  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  E.  Gifford  &  Son,  pro- 
prietors of  a  general  mercantile  store.  Later  the 
firm  became  Gifford  &  Co. ,  a  brother  and  son 
being  admitted  as  partners.  Under  Presidents 
Garfield  and  Arthur  he  also  served  as  post- 
master at  Elwood.  During  much  of  this  time  he 
was  a  member  of  and  president  of  the  board  of 
the  village  trustees.  Several  time  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  county  Republican  central  com- 
mittee. In  the  fall  of  1898  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer  by  a  majority  of  twenty-seven  hundred, 
and  in  December  of  that  year  he  took  the  oath 
of  office  for  a  term  of  four  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1899  he  moved  to  Joliet,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  is  a  member  of  Bartleson  Post  No.  6, 
G.  A.  R. 

In  Cambridge,  111.,  Mr.  Gifford  married  Miss 
Lydia  Bryan,  who  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
111.,  daughter  of  an  old  settler  there.  They  are 
the  parents  of  four  children:  Edson,  who  is 
deputy  county  treasurer;  Estella,  Mrs.  R.  J. 
Hemphill,  of  Aurora,  111.;  Katie  and  Grace,  at 
home. 


r^ETER  POLSON.  With  the  energy  charac- 
L/'  teristic  of  his  nationality,  Mr.  Poison  has 
[3  devoted  himself  to  contracting  and  build- 
ing in  Joliet.  He  arrived  in  this  city  from 
his  native  land  May  22,  188 1,  and  at  once 
secured  employment  in  carpentering.  Realizing 
that  a  knowledge  of  the  English  language  was 
necessary  in  order  to  carry  on  business  success- 
fully, he  devoted  his  evenings  to  study,  and  soon 


mastered  the  language.  About  a  year  after  he 
came  he  began  to  take  contracts  for  the  erection 
of  houses,  and  he  has  since  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness. Besides  building  residences  in  different 
parts  of  the  city,  he  has  had  the  contracts  for  the 
Lemont  Orphans'  Home.  In  1890  he  laid  out 
Poison  place,  between  Jackson  and  Benton 
streets,  on  Hickory  Creek,  and  this  property  he 
improved  with  residences  which  he  later  sold.  In 
1899  he  erected  a  double  brick  two-story  building 
on  Jackson  street.  He  has  also  built  over  fifty 
residences  for  himself,  selling  them  as  opportu- 
nity presented. 

Mr.  Poison  was  born  near  Helsiugborg, 
Skane,  Sweden,  May  31,  1846.  His  father, 
Paul,  a  son  of  Nils,  was  born  in  the  same  vicinity, 
and  engaged  extensively  in  the  distilling  busi- 
ness until  his  death,  at  forty-three  years.  Twice 
married,  he  had  two  children  by  his  first  union, 
and  one  of  these  is  still  living.  His  second  wife 
was  Boel  Nelson,  who  died  in  Skane  in  1889, 
when  eighty -three  years  of  age.  Of  their  chil- 
dren, Johanna  died  in  Sweden;  Nels  is  a  farmer 
in  Skane,  and  Kerin  also  resides  in  that  coun- 
try. The  youngest  of  the  four,  Peter,  was  five 
years  of  age  when  his  father  died,  and  he  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  by  his  mother.  From 
fourteen  to  seventeen  years  of  age  he  worked  on 
the  farm.  At  an  early  age  he  formed  a  resolu- 
tion to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  when  he 
was  eighteen  he  hired  a  man  to  take  his  place  on 
the  farm  while  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the 
trade.  After  three  years  he  entered  the  Swedish 
army,  where  he  served  for  two  years  in  a  hussar 
cavalry  regiment.  On  leaving  the  army  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  which  he  followed  in  his 
native  land,  in  conjunction  with  farming,  until 
he  came  to  the  United  States  in  1881. 

Though  not  active  in  politics,  Mr.  Poison  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  keeps  posted  concerning 
public  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet 
Builders'  Association.  From  the  organization  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  he  has  been  one  of 
its  leading  members,  and  at  the  time  of  the  erec- 
tion of  a  house  of  worship  he  served  on  the  build- 
ing committee.  For  nine  years  he  held  office  as 
a  deacon,  and    for  fourteen  years   he  assisted  in 


394 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Sunday-school  work  as  a  deacon.  He  has 
also  represented  his  congregation  in  the  synod. 
Before  leaving  Sweden  he  married  Batilda  Swen- 
son,  daughter  of  a  farmer.  She  died  in  Joliet, 
September  30,  1882.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  namely:  Samuel,  a  carpenter  in 
Joliet;  Pauline,  in  Chicago;  Marie  and  Josephine, 
at  home,  and  Carl  L.,  who  died  in  infancy. 


l^AVIER  BIETH,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
•\  in  Troy  Township,  was  born  in  1831  in  Al- 
ii) I  sace,  then  a  part  of  France,  but  now  a  Ger- 
man province.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  operat- 
ed by  his  father,  John  Bieth,  and  from  an  early 
age  assisted  the  latter  in  his  work.  At  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  shoemak- 
er's trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  years  af- 
terward. He  was  not,  however,  content  to  re- 
main in  his  native  land,  where  the  opportunities 
for  success  were  so  few  and  the  hardships  so 
many.  He  therefore  resolved  to  seek  a  home  in 
the  new  world.  In  1853  he  took  passage  on  a 
sailing  vessel  that  anchored  in  New  York  after 
a  voyage  of  thirty-six  days.  Coming  direct  to 
Illinois,  he  secured  work  in  the  construction  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  but  after  he  had 
been  working  forty-one  days,  the  contractor  left 
secretly,  and  he  received  no  remuneration .  His  first 
experience  in  our  country  was  far  from  encour- 
aging, but  he  had  the  faith  to  believe  that  better 
things  awaited  him.  His  next  employment  was 
as  a  farm  hand,  for  which  he  was  paid  $S  a  month. 
After  having  worked  for  others  for  eight  years 
Mr.  Bieth  rented  a  farm  and  for  six  years  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation.  Meantime  he  frugally 
saved  each  year's  profits  and  was  finally  able  to 
buy  a  place  of  his  own.  His  first  purchase  con- 
sisted of  eighty  acres  in  the  southern  part  of  Troy 
Township,  and  he  remained  there  for  some  time, 
working  with  painstaking  care  upon  the  place 
and  increasing  its  value  by  his  improvements. 
In  188 1  he  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.      In  the  cultivation  of  the  land  he 


met  with  success  from  the  first.  He  has  added 
to  his  holdings  until  he  now  has  three  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  of  which  he  operates  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  and  rents  the  remainder. 
Among  the  improvements  he  has  made  is  a  wind- 
mill seventy-five  feet  high. 

While  Mr.  Bieth  has  not  been  active  in  poli- 
tics, he  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  never  fails  to 
cast  his  ballots  at  elections.  In  i860  he  married 
Ellen  Lynk,  by  whom  he  has  seven  children, 
namely:  John;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Stepher;  Jo- 
seph; Frank;  Josephine,  wife  of  George  Stephens; 
Theresa  and  Emma.  The  family  are  members 
of  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church.  In  all  of 
his  business  transactions  Mr.  Bieth  is  exceed- 
ingly cautious;  this  trait  of  character  being  prob- 
ably emphasized  by  reason  of  his  early  unfortu- 
nate experience  in  America.  Conservatism  is  one 
of  his  most  marked  traits.  When,  however,  he 
is  convinced  of  the  value  of  an  enterprise,  he  is 
ready  to  give  it  his  co-operation  and  assistance. 
All  through  his  active  life  he  has  been  a  hard- 
working man,  and  his  industry  and  perseverance 
have  been  rewarded  by  the  accumulation  of  valu- 
able farm  property. 


ULLIAM  H.  HUNTER  was  born  in  Joliet, 
111.,  August  1,  1854,  the  only  son  of 
Thomas  R.  and  Lucinda  (Smith)  Hunter. 
He  has  an  only  sister,  Fatha,  who  is  the  wife  of 
J.  Q.  A.  King,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  born 
February  2,  18 18,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county ;  when  he  was  but  seven  years  of 
age,  his  father,  Robert,  was  killed  by  a  tree  fall- 
ing on  him  while  he  was  engaged  in  clearing  a 
piece  of  timber  land. 

During  the  early  life  of  Thomas  R.  Hunter  he 
was  engaged  in  rafting  logs  down  the  Delaware 
River.  Later  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  on  the  completion  of  which, 
in  1837,  he  started  for  the  west.  Locating  in 
Joliet,  111.,  he  opened  a  shop  on  Bluff  and  Oneida 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


395 


streets,  and  formed  a  co-partnership  with  a  Mr. 
McMasters.  Much  of  his  work  was  the  making 
and  sharpening  of  the  tools  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  The 
co-partnership  continued  until  the  spring  of  1850, 
when,  in  March  of  that  year,  he  started  across  the 
plains  for  California  with  a  party  of  Argonauts 
bound  for  the  "  Golden  Gate."  After  a  journey 
of  six  months  he  arrived  at  his  destination  and 
located  a  claim  on  the  Feather  River,  in  Califor- 
nia. In  about  seven  months  he  had  worked  put 
his  claim,  at  which  time  he  returned  east  via  the 
Isthmus,  arriving  at  home  fifteen  months  from 
the  day  he  started.  With  him  he  brought  back 
$5,000,  the  fruits  of  his  mining  venture.  He 
then  built  a  residence  on  Oneida  street  and  Broad- 
way, and  resumed  work  on  Oneida  and  Bluff 
streets,  in  theold  stone  shop  that  is  still  standing. 

In  1856  he  purchased  what  is  now  block  70, 
S.  S.  Addition  tojoliet;  here,  having  retired  from 
blacksmithing,  he  engaged  in  fruit  raising.  To 
this  land  he  added  until  he  owned  some  twenty- 
nine  acres  in  the  same  vicinity.  Some  of  his 
original  purchase  of  block  70  is  still  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  son.  In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican, and  on  that  ticket  he  was  twice  elected  an 
alderman  of  Joliet.  The  last  six  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  his  son's  home,  where  his  death 
occurred  April  22,  1888. 

The  ancestry  of  the  Hunter  family  is  traced 
back  to  Scotland  on  the  one  hand,  and,  also, 
through  the  Davenports,  to  colonists  who  crossed 
in  the  "  Mayflower." 

The  wife  of  Thomas  R.  Hunter  was  born  in 
Tennessee  April  25, 1826,  being  a  daughter  of  Bar- 
ton and  Fatha  Smith,  who  came  from  Indiana  to 
Joliet  in  1835.  She  passed  away  at  her  home  in 
Joliet  March  15,  1882.  For  a  number  of  years 
Barton  Smith  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Joliet, 
where  he  died  September  22,  1863. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in  Joliet, 
and  has  always  made  this  city  his  home.  For 
about  eighteen  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  coal 
business,  but  in  1893  he  sold  out  his  interests  to 
O.  W.  Curtis.  Later  he  had  the  agency  for 
various  agricultural  implements,  and  in  the 
meantime  also  took  the  agency  for  the  Stempel 


Fire  Extinguisher.  The  latter  proving  a  success- 
ful venture,  he  gave  up  the  former  agency,  and 
since  1898  has  given  his  undivided  attention  to 
the  extinguisher  business,  and  also  sells  the 
Eads  chemicalizer  and  chemical  engines,  hav- 
ing his  office  at  No.  613  the  Rialto  Building, 
Chicago,  111. 

November  13,  1878,  Mr.  Hunter  married  Miss 
Mollie  P.  Turner,  of  Lockport,  111.,  a  daughter 
of  S.  S.  and  Caroline  Turner.  Her  father,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1822,  came  west  in 
1850,  settling  in  Plainfield,  in  this  county,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  of  a  moulder  and  pattern- 
maker. Later  he  bought  from  John  Griffin  what 
is  now  known  as  the  McGuire  farm,  west  of 
Lockport.  His  wife  died  in  Lockport  December 
24,  i860,  and  he  then  moved  with  his  family  to 
Buchanan,  Mich.,  where  he  again  followed  his 
trade,  but  returning  to  Lockport  in  1862.  Novem- 
ber 15,  1861,  he  married  Mrs.  F.  H.  Richards, 
of  Plainfield,  111.,  who  died  October  2,  1867. 
He  was  again  married  April  12,  1871,  his  wife 
being  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Sayre,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child.  He  died  May  25,  1882,  on  the  sixtieth 
anniversary  of  his  birth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter  have  two  children, 
Caroline  L-  and  Robert  S.  The  family  have  all 
united  with  the  Ottawa  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  whose  choir  Miss  Caroline 
is  a  prominent  member.  Fraternally  Mr.  Hun- 
ter is  connected  with  Matteson  Lodge  No.  175, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Joliet. 


EHARLES  V.  BARR.  To  those  in  the  least 
familiar  with  Plainfield's  industries  the 
name  of  Mr.  Barr  is  well  known.  He  is 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Whipple  &  Barr, 
and  has  the  personal  oversight  of  the  firm's  busi- 
ness at  this  point,  Mr.  Whipple  having  charge  of 
their  elevator  at  Caton  Farm.  They  have  built 
up  a  large  business  in  grain,  and  also  deal  exten- 
sively in  coal  and  lumber.  By  their  reliability 
and  energy  they  have  gained  the  respect  of  ac- 
quaintances and  the  confidence  of  business  men. 


396 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Barr  was  born  in  Morris,  Grundy  County, 
111.,  June  28,  1864.  His  father,  John,  a  native 
of  Couutj'  Antrim,  Ireland,  learned  the  weaver's 
trade  in  that  country  and  in  1851  came  to  Amer- 
ica, settling  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  After  a  short  time 
he  proceeded  westward,  establishing  his  home  in 
Morris,  111.,  where  he  embarked  in  the  grain 
business,  and  became  the  owner  of  an  elevator. 
His  death  occurred  in  that  town  when  he  was 
fifty-eight  years  of  age.  In  personal  qualities  he 
was  a  man  to  attract  and  retain  friends,  possessing 
a  genial  nature  and  great  energy.  He  did  not 
confine  his  attention  to  the  grain  business,  but 
had  other  interests,  being  a  large  cattle  feeder 
and  also  the  owner  of  a  distillery  which  he  oper- 
ated until  it  burned  in  1871.  He  then  erected  a 
flour  mill  on  its  site.  His  success  was  all  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  efforts,  as  he  had  no  means  when 
starting  out  for  himself.  In  religion  he  is  a 
Presbyterian.  The  Democratic  party  received  his 
allegiance,  and  he  was  active  in  its  support.  He 
was  several  times  elected  treasurer  of  Grundy 
County,  for  two  terms  held  the  office  of  mayor  of 
Morris  (a  town  of  four  thousand  people;  and  for 
years  served  as  supervisor. 

The  wife  of  John  Barr  was  Elizabeth  Smith, 
who  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  N.  Y.,  and  now 
makes  her  home  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  She  is  a 
member  of  an  old  family  whose  history  in  the 
United  States  is  traced  back  to  the  lauding  of 
the  "Mayflower,"  being  directly  descended  from 
John  Howlaud  and  Daniel  Wardwell.  In  her 
family  there  were  six  children.  The  oldest,  Nel- 
lie G.,  is  the  wife  of  R.  E.  Mason,  of  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.  The  second-born,  Robert,  died  when  twenty- 
five  years  of  age;  Charles  V.  was  third  in  order  of 
birth.  Francis  E.  is  principal  of  the  Episcopal 
Seminary  at  Portland,  Ore.  Alice  C.  is  the  wife 
of  Bert  Smith,  of  Springfield,  Mass.  John  C, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  a  letter  carrier  in 
Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent  in 
Morris,  and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools.  When  he  was  thirteen  he 
began  working  as  a  messenger  and  office  boy 
with  William  Young,  a  grain  dealer  in  Chicago, 
with    whom    he    continued    for    several    years. 


When  he  was  twenty-one  he  bought  a  member- 
ship in  the  board  of  trade  in  Chicago,  where  he 
continued  as  a  broker  until  September,  1890. 
Then,  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Levi  Whipple,  he  leased  the  elevator  at  Plain- 
field,  which  they  afterward  bought.  They  have 
also  built  and  now  own  the  elevator  at  Caton 
Farm. 

In  politics  Mr.  Barr  is  independent.  He  is 
connected  with  Plainfield  Lodge  No.  472,  K.  of 
P. ,  in  which  he  is  past  chancellor.  His  marriage, 
August  23,  1886,  united  him  with  Miss  Kate 
Stone,  of  Morris,  a  well-educated  lady  and  an 
active  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
Thej-  are  the  parents  of  two  sons,  Allan  Stone, 
born  May  23,  1896,  and  John  Raymond,  born 
October  17,  1897. 


3OHN  SENNITT,  who  has  been  connected 
with  the  office  of  postmaster  of  Plainfield  for 
thirty-nine  }rears  and  whose  home  has  been 
in  this  town  since  1857,  is  a  native  of  Cambridge- 
shire, England,  born  January  15,  1830,  a  son  of 
John  Sennitt,  Sr.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  After  some  years 
as  a  farmer  in  Cambridgeshire  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  when  twenty-four  years  of  age. 
The  voyage  across  the  ocean  was  made  on  the 
"Palestine,"  which  was  out  of  sight  of  land  for  a 
mouth.  Going  to  Ohio  he  spent  one  winter  and 
the  following  summer  as  a  farm  hand  there.  With 
a  desire  to  gain  a  better  education  he  entered 
Hiram  College  in  the  fall  of  1856  and  while  there 
became  well  acquainted  with  James  A.  Garfield, 
afterward  president  of  the  United  States,  but  who 
then  was  comparatively  unknown. 

The  spring  of  1857  found  Mr.  Sennitt  in  Plain- 
field,  where  he  secured  work  as  a  farm  employe. 
However,  the  work  proved  injurious  to  his 
health,  and  he  was  obliged  to  seek  another  occu- 
pation. In  the  spring  of  i860  he  secured  an  ap- 
pointment as  assistant  postmaster,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  continuously  in  the  office,  either 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


397 


as  postmaster  or  deputy.  In  July,  1869,  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  and  continued  to  act  as  such 
until  President  Cleveland's  first  administration, 
after  which  for  two  terms  he  served  as  deputy. 
Since  the  inauguration  of  President  McKinley  he 
has  held  the  office  in  his  own  right,  which  makes 
a  record  of  thirty-nine  years  in  the  office,  and 
proves  him  to  be  a  satisfactory  official.  He  has 
always  been  stanch  in  his  adherence  to  Republi- 
can principles  and  the  party  in  Plainfield  has  no 
adherent  more  loyal  than  he.  He  is  connected 
with  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  Baptist 
Church,  in  which  denomination  his  grandfather 
was  for  many  years  a  minister.  He  has  done 
much  for  the  advancement  of  the  village  and  has 
fostered  worthy  enterprises  to  the  extent  of  his 
ability.  He  erected  a  postoffice  building,  which 
was  burned  in  1898,  after  which  he  built  the 
structure,  on  the  same  site,  that  is  now  used  for 
the  office. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Sennitt  took  place 
April  20,  187 1,  and  united  him  with  Emma  A. 
Drew,  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  this  coun- 
ty. They  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living,  nainely:  Lina  May,  Car- 
rie Belle,  Grace  and  Charles. 


HERBERT  S.  WORTHLEY,  M.  D.,  of 
Elwood  and  Joliet,  is  one  of  the  successful 
physicians  of  the  county.  In  1890  he  began 
his  professional  studies  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  Northwestern  University  (then  known 
as  the  Chicago  Medical  College),  from  which  he 
graduated  three  years  later  at  the  head  of  his 
class.  It  was  the  custom  in  the  institution  to 
confer  the  position  of  house  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  Mercy  Hospital,  Chicago,  111.,  upon  the 
student  receiving  the  highest  grade  in  a  compet- 
itive examination,  and  Dr.  Worthley  was  suc- 
cessful in  securing  the  highest  standing,  and  was 
therefore  appointed  to  the  position,  which  he 
filled  for  one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1895  he 
came  to  Elwood  and  established  an  office  at  this 


point.  Through  his  skill  as  a  practitioner  he  has 
built  up  a  flourishing  practice.  On  account  of 
frequent  calls  to  Joliet  he  decided  to  open  an 
office  in  the  city,  and  in  1898  established  a 
branch  office  at  No.  426  Barber  building, 
wdiere  he  spends  two  days  of  each  week.  He  also 
receives  frequent  requests  for  his  services  at  the 
hospital,  so  that  his  time  is  fully  taken  up  in  pro- 
fessional work. 

A  son  of  Robert  C.  and  Waity  (Reynolds) 
Worthley,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Odell,  111.,  December  15,  1867.  He  was  third 
among  five  children,  the  others  being  Eva,  wife  of 
William  Shanks, a  farmer  at  Bonfield,Ill. ;  Hattie, 
who  married  William  Ackley,  a  merchant  of  Pon- 
tiac,  111.;  Wallace,  a  teacher  at  Odell;  and  Evans, 
at  home.  The  father,  who  was  born  in  Platts- 
burg,  N.  Y.,  in  1833,  graduated  from  an  acade- 
my in  his  home  town,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
teaching  for  a  number  of  years,  but  later  became 
interested  in  saw  and  grist  milling.  In  1865  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Odell,  111.,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  the  town  and  an  active  worker  in  the 
Methodist  Church.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
New  York.  His  father-in-law,  Henry  Reynolds, 
was  born  in  Vermont,  and  always  made  his  home 
there.  While  working  on  his  farm  one  day  he 
was  killed  by  lightning.  Afterward  his  widow 
removed  to  Illinois,  but  a  few  years  later  joined 
a  son  in  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.  She  died  at  the  home 
of  a  daughter  in  Bombay,  N.Y. 

The  education  of  Dr.  Worthley  was  acquired 
in  the  Odell  high  school  and  the  state  normal 
university  at  Normal,  111.  At  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  began  to  teach  school,  which  occupation 
he  followed  for  six  years.  With  the  money  thus 
earned  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  and  for 
two  years  was  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr. 
T.  O.  Banister,  of  Odell,  going  from  thereto  the 
Northwestern  University  for  the  completion  of  his 
course.  He  has  been  a  constant  student  of  his 
profession.  The  diploma  granted  him  as  an  M.  D. 
did  not  mean  for  him  the  conclusion  of  his 
studies;  on  the  other  hand,  he  has  studied  to  keep 
abreast  with  the  progress  made  in  therapeutics 
and  surgery,  and  is  a  thoughtful  reader  of  medi- 


39§ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cial  literature.  Through  his  membership  in  the 
county  and  state  medical  societies  he  keeps  in 
touch  with  the  work  of  his  colaborers  in  the  pro- 
fession. In  political  belief  he  is  independent, 
with  Democratic  tendencies,  but  his  time  being 
closely  engrossed  by  his  profession,  he  takes  no 
part  in  local  politics.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  village  of  Elwood,  among  whose  citizens 
he  holds  a  leading  place.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Jackson  Camp  No.  3318,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  District  Court  No. 
523,  Supreme  Court  of  Honor.  January  9,  1895, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  E. 
Ball,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  a  daughter, 
Beatrice,  born  July  15,  1899. 


ROBERT  H.  HACKNEY,  superintendent  of 
the  Fox  Pressed  Steel  Company  of  Joliet,  is 
one  of  the  rising  young  mechanical  en- 
gineers of  this  city  and  has  shown  decided  ability 
in  the  discharge  of  his  responsible  duties.  Much 
of  his  talent  in  his  chosen  occupation  is  without 
doubt  inherited  from  his  father,  Clement  Hack- 
ney, who  is  a  skilled  mechanic  and  machinist,  and 
his  grandfather,  George  Hackney,  was  also  a 
machinist  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  The 
latter  brought  his  family  to  the  United  Statesaud 
secured  employment  with  the  Hoe  Printing  Press 
Company  in  New  York  City,  but  after  a  time  re- 
moved west  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  was  em- 
ployed as  superintendent  of  motive  power  with 
the  St.  Paul,  North-Western,  Q  and  Santa  Fe 
roads  successively.  He  is  now  living  retired  in 
Chicago. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  Clem- 


ent Hackney  held  positions  with  the  same  rail- 
roads and  followed  the  same  line  of  work.  He 
was  also  engaged  as  superintendent  of  motive 
power  for  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  at  Omaha. 
From  that  work  he  drifted  into  the  manufactur- 
ing business,  and  accepted  a  position  as  general 
manager  of  the  Fox  Pressed  Steel  Company.  He 
had  charge  of  the  building  of  the  company's 
plants  in  Joliet  and  Pittsburg.  In  1889  the 
works  were  started  in  Joliet  and  two  years  later 
he  transferred  his  residence  from  Milwaukee  to 
this  city,  where  he  has  since  had  his  home.  He 
is  a  man  whose  vigor  of  mind  and  quickness  of 
comprehension,  combined  with  originality  of 
ideas,  have  made  him  successful  in  the  various 
interests  with  which  he  has  been  identified.  His 
work  has  required  his  entire  time,  hence  he  has 
not  been  identified  with  public  affairs  nor  has  he 
sought  prominence  in  politics,  but  devotes  him- 
self closely  to  private  interests. 

The  only  child  of  the  marriage  of  Clement  and 
Mary  (Stuart)  Hackney  is  Robert  H.  Hackney. 
He  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  in  1870,  and 
was  well  and  liberally  educated,  attending 
schools  in  the  various  cities  where  his  father  re- 
sided. He  prepared  for  college  in  Milwaukee 
Academy.  In  1SS9  he  entered  the  University  of 
Wisconsin,  where  he  took  a  complete  course  in 
mechanical  engineering,  and  graduated  in  1893, 
with  the  degree  of  M.  E.  Coming  to  Joliet  he 
at  once  connected  himself  with  the  company  of 
which  his  father  was  the  manager,  and,  begin- 
ning in  a  less  important  position,  he  worked  his 
way  up  until  in  1898  he  was  made  superintendent, 
a  position  that  he  fills  acceptably  to  the  company 
and  with  credit  to  himself.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Alumni  Association  and  the  Phi  Delta  Theta 
of  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 


IE 
UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


2)srf^^f'-^^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


401 


DAVID  W.  JUMP. 


0AYID  W.  JUMP,  M.  D.  There  are  few  pro- 
fessions that  require  the  amount  of  diligent 
study  and  general  information  that  is  essen- 
tial to  the  science  of  medicine.  Among  the  phy- 
sicians who  realize  the  full  importance  of  their 
responsibilities  and  who  add  dignity  to  the  pro- 
fession, is  Dr.  Jump,  who  has  been  engaged  in 
continuous  practice  in  Plainfield  since  his  gradua- 
tion in  March,  1S72.  In  addition  to  his  practice, 
for  some  ten  years  he  has  conducted  the  leading 
drug  store  of  the  city,  and  this  he  still  owns.  He 
aims  to  keep  up  with  the  times  in  matters  of  re- 
search and  discovery  in  the  medical  world,  and  to 
that  end  reads  the  leading  medical  journals  and 
remains  to  this  day  a  student  of  his  profession. 

In  what  is  now  Chicago  Junction,  Huron 
County,  Ohio,  Dr.  Jump  was  born  August  24, 
1847,  a  son  of  William  H.  and  Margaret  (Rich- 
ards) Jiimp,  natives  respectively  of  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Maryland  and  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y. 
His  grandfather,  Robert  Jump,  was  reared  on  a 
plantation  near  Easton,  Md,,  but  in  early  man- 
hood moved  to  Virginia.  At  his  father's  death 
he  inherited  four  slaves,  but  these  he  freed,  being 
opposed  to  the  institution  of  slavery.  After  a 
short  time  in  Virginia  he  settled  in  Ohio  across 
the  river  from  Wheeling.  Two  years  later  he 
moved  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  heavily-timbered  tract,  and  this  he 
cleared  and  improved.  The  remainder  of  his  life 
of  eighty-four  years  was  spent  on  that  place. 
While  he  moved  from  Virginia  to  get  away  from 
slaver}'  influences  and  environments,  yet  when 
the  Civil  war  came,  his  sympathies  were  wholly 
with  the  South,  which  he  believed  was  not  treated 
justly  by  the  North. 
20 


When  the  family  settled  in  Ohio  our  subject's 
father  was  seven  years'of  age.  His  health  being 
poor,  he  was  prevented  from  enjoying  the  pleas- 
ures and  advantages  of  youth  to  a  large  extent. 
However,  he  secured  a  good  education  and  for  a 
time  taught  school,  but  his  delicate  health  pre- 
vented him  from  achieving  the  success  in  life  he 
would  otherwise  have  gained.  He  died  when 
fifty-three  years  of  age.  After  the  disintegration 
of  the  Whig  party  he  affiliated  with  the  Repub- 
licans. His  wife  survived  him  for  twenty  years, 
dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely. 
David  W. ;  Alemby,  now  mayor  of  Chicago 
Junction,  Ohio;  Winfield  Scott,  also  a  resident 
of  Ohio;  Amos,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  who  served  as 
treasurer  of  his  county  for  two  terms;  Robert, 
Marietta,  Helen  and  Charles,  who  remain  on  the 
old  homestead;  and  Lucy,  deceased. 

In  order  to  gain  the  money  for  his  medical 
education  our  subject  taught  school,  meantime 
giving  his  leisure  days  to  the  reading  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  Buckingham,  of  Chicago  Junction.  In 
March,  1872,  he  graduated  from  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  since 
which  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice  in  Plain- 
field.  He  is  connected  with  Plainfield  Lodge 
No.  536,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  While  he  refuses  official 
positions  (except  that  of  school  director),  he  is 
firm  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party 
and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  public  matters.  He 
was  married  in  Plainfield  to  Miss  Alice  Watkins, 
who  was  born  and  educated  in  this  city,  her  father 
having  been  a  pioneer  farmer  of  the  count}-.  The 
older  son  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Jump  is  Clyde  W., 
who   is  a  student   in    the   literary    and   medical 


402 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


departments  of  the  University  of  Michigan.  The 
younger  son,  Charles  Floyd,  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Joliet  high  school,  and  now  clerks  in  his  father's 
drusr  store. 


EHARLES  E.  WOODRUFF,  secretary  and 
manager  of  the  Joliet  Pure  Ice  Company, 
and  a  director  of  the  Will  County  Abstract 
Company,  also  the  Joliet  Warehouse  and  Trans- 
fer Company,  is  one  of  the  influential  business 
men  of  Joliet,  where  he  has  resided  since  18S4. 
The  business  with  which  his  name  is  most  closely 
associated  was  established  by  him  in  1896,  when  a 
plant  was  built  on  Cass  street,  connected  by  a 
switch  with  the  Rock  Island  Railroad.  A  large 
wholesale  and  retail  business  is  transacted,  which 
extends  throughout  central  Illinois  and  is  not  lim- 
ited to  ice,  but  also  includes  all  kinds  of  coal.  Ice 
is  manufactured  from  distilled  water  by  means  of 
the  Empire  ice  machine,  operated  by  two  engines 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  horse  power  each.  The 
plant  has  a  capacity  of  forty  tons  a  day,  the  busi- 
ness being  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  Joliet.  The 
members  of  the  company  are  A.  J.  Bates,  presi- 
dent, and  C.  E.  Woodruff,  secretary  and  man- 
ager, the  former  being  the  principal  owner,  while 
the  latter  has  the  entire  supervision  of  the  plant, 
and  to  him  its  success  is  largely  due. 

The  Woodruff  family  originated  in  England, 
whence  John  (or  Jack)  Woodruff  crossed  the 
ocean  in  the  "Mayflower,"  settling  in  Massachu- 
setts, thence  going  to  Connecticut,  where  subse- 
quent generations  were  identified  with  the  world's 
activities.  The  grandfather,  Simeon  Woodruff, 
who  was  the  son  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was 
born  in  Rutland,  Vt.,  and  married  Rosa  Adams, 
a  great-niece  of  John  Adams,  second  president  of 
the  United  States;  she  lived  to  be  one  hundred 
years  of  age.  About  1799  Simeon  Woodruff  re- 
moved to  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  on 
land  now  included  in  the  city  of  Watertown.  His 
oldest  daughter  was  the  first  white  girl  baby  born 
in  the  county.  He  was  a  typical  pioneer,  ener- 
getic, hard-working  and  hospitable,  and  through 


his  industry  he  evolved  a  valuable  farm  from  the 
wilderness.  One  of  his  sons,  Theodore  T.,  a 
man  of  great  ability,  was  the  first  patentee  of 
sleeping  cars,  but  sold  the  patent  to  George  M. 
Pullman.  He  became  very  wealthy  through  his 
inventions  and  manufactures.  When  his  mother 
was  a  very  aged  woman  she  made  her  first  trip 
out  of  Jefferson  County,  for  seventy-two  years, 
on  which  occasion  she  came  west  in  a  palace  car 
owned  by  her  son.  This  was,  indeed,  the  only 
journey  she  ever  made  in  all  of  her  long  life  with 
the  exception  of  the  trip  from  Vermont  to  New 
York,  when  she  traveled  in  a  mud  sleigh  drawn 
by  oxen. 

The  ownership  of  the  homestead  at  Watertown 
descended  to  Simeon's  son,  Charles  T.,  who  was 
born  there,  and  who,  through  his  active  years, 
superintended  farm  property  and  also  engaged  in 
carpentering  and  the  manufacture  of  brick.  He 
died  in  1894,  when  eighty  years  of  age.  His  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Ann  Clark, 
was  born  in  Ellisburg,  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y., 
and  died  in  1885.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Clark,  a  farmer  of  that  county.  Of  her  five  chil- 
dren all  but  one  are  living.  John  holds  a  gov- 
ernment position  in  Watertown;  Rose  Adams, 
Mrs.  Henderson,  is  a  widow  living  in  Joliet;  and 
Abba  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Irwin,  of  Chicago. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  October  9, 
1859,  at  the  old  homestead  in  Watertown,  which 
he  how  owns.  In  1877  he  graduated  from  the 
Watertown  high  school,  after  which  he  taught 
school  for  one  year  and  then  for  two  years  read 
law  in  the  office  of  Winslow  &  Smith.  He  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  chief  clerk  in  the  state 
treasurer's  office  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  from  which 
he  was  transferred  to  the  state  insurance  depart- 
ment in  New  York  City,  remaining  in  office  until 
the  Democrats  came  into  power,  when  he  re- 
signed. In  1S80  he  married  Jennie  C,  daughter 
of  S.  M.  Robinson,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  prominent  physicians  of  Watertown.  After 
his  marriage  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  in  Watertown  until  1884,  when  he 
came  west  to  Illinois  and  became  interested  with 
H.  B.  Scott  &  Co.  in  the  manufacture  of  wire, 
establishing  an  office  in  Chicago,   but  maintain- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


ing  his  residence  in  Joliet.  He  continued  with 
the  company  until  he  embarked  in  the  ice  busi- 
ness. 

In  Illinois,  as  in  New  York,  Mr.  Woodruff  con- 
tinues his  active  support  of  Republican  principles, 
and,  as  a  member  of  the  Will  County  central 
committee,  he  has  been  able  to  materially  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  his  party  in  this  section. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Union  Club,  of 
which  he  was  elected  the  first  secretary  and  for 
many  years  has  been  a  member  of  its  board  of 
directors.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica and  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  Central  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  the  work  of  which  he  has  contributed. 
They  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Glen  C,  who  is 
being  educated  in  the  Military  School  at  Knox- 
ville,  111. 


(JOSHUA  BUSH.  Among  the  leading  citizens 
I  of  Jackson  Township  the  name  of  Mr.  Bush 
O  is  one  which  deserves  mention  in  a  work  of 
this  character.  He  is  an  active  and  enterprising 
farmer  and  stock-dealer;  a  man  of  intelligent 
ideas,  liberal  views  and  strict  moral  worth;  while 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  is  manifested  by  his  selection  to  serve  in 
various  positions  of  trust  and  honor.  His  politi- 
cal opinions  bring  him  into  affiliation  with  the 
Republican  party,  whose  county  conventions  he 
has  attended  as  a  delegate.  In  1890  he  was 
chosen  census  enumerator  of  the  township,  and 
at  another  time  he  served  as  township  collector. 
The  appointment  of  postmaster  at  Elwood  was 
conferred  upon  him  in  December,  1898,  and  he 
has  since  filled  the  position,  displaying  in  it  the 
same  energy,  efficiency  and  wise  judgment  char- 
acteristic of  him  in  every  relation  of  life. 

Mr.  Bush  was  born  in  New  York  state  Septem- 
ber 12,  1845,  a  son  of  William  and  Emily 
(Bentley)  Bush,  and  a  grandson  of  Joshua  Bent- 
ley,  Sr.,  an  agriculturist  of  New  York,  and  a 
Presbyterian    in    religious   belief.     His    father, 


who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  reared 
in  New  York  and  engaged  in  farming  there  for 
some  years.  In  1847  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
bought  a  farm  in  Will  County.  For  thirty  years 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  improvement  of 
the  land.  His  industry  was  great,  and  he  was 
classed  among  the  best  farmers  of  the  county. 
Devoting  his  time  closely  to  his  private  affairs, 
he  had  little  leisure  for  participation  in  politics, 
and  no  desire  to  serve  in  official  capacities. 
However,  he  has  always  taken  a  warm  interest 
in  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  people, 
and  even  now,  when  ninety  years  of  age,  he  still 
retains  much  of  his  mental  vigor  and  his  hearty 
interest  in  national  issues.  Until  recent  years 
he  was  a  Democrat,  but  now  gives  his  influence 
for  the  Prohibition  party.  While  serving  as 
highway  commissioner  it  was  his  aim  to  im- 
prove the  condition  of  the  roads  in  his  township. 
In  1879  he  retired  from  his  farm  and  settled  in 
Elwood,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  that 
place. 

B3'  the  marriage  of  William  Bush  to  Miss  Bent- 
ley,  of  New  York,  four  children  were  born, 
namely:  Eli,  a  farmer  living  near  Wilmington, 
this  county;  Rhulof,  of  Ackley,  Iowa;  Mathew; 
and  Joshua.  Rhulof  and  Mathew  were  soldiers 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  the  former,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Twentieth  Illinois  Infantry,  was 
disabled  by  a  wound  at  Shiloh;  while  the  latter 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1863.  Mrs.  Emily  (Bentley)  Bush  was 
born  in  New  York  state  about  1820.  She  was  a 
lady  of  great  strength  of  character,  a  devoted 
Christian,  a  good  mother,  friend  and  neighbor. 
Her  death  occurred  January  16,  1888. 

When  less  than  seventeen  years  of  age  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  enlisted,  July  26,  1862,  in 
Company  G,  One  Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  with  his  regiment  went  to  the  front,  where  he 
took  a  part  in  the  various  battles  of  his  division. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River  and 
Chickamauga  and  the  Atlanta  campaign.  At  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  November  30,  1863,  he  was 
wounded,  and  from  there  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Nashville,  where  he   remained   for  two  months, 


404 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


then  returned  to  his  regiment.  He  was  in  East 
Tennessee  at  the  time  of  Lee's  surrender  in  April, 
1865,  and  was  then  sent  back  to  Nashville,  later 
being  ordered  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  mus- 
tered out  in  June,  1865. 

On  his  return  home  at  the  close  of  the  war 
Mr.  Bush  began  farming,  an  occupation  in  which 
he  has  met  with  success;  he  has  been  engaged  in 
raising  horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  and  has  made  a 
specialty  of  buying  horses  in  connection  with  Mr. 
Stoddard,  of  New  York.  His  prosperity  is  to  be 
attributed  to  his  energy  aud  industry,  backed  by 
a  good  share  of  common  sense.  In  his  manners 
he  is  plain  and  straightforward,  genial  in  his  in- 
tercourse with  friends,  and  of  a  generous,  kindly 
spirit.  His  army  life  is  held  in  remembrance  and 
the  old  associations  are  perpetuated  through  his 
connection  with  the  Grand  Army  Post. 

On  New  Year's  day  of  1867  Mr.  Bush  mar- 
ried Margaret  R.,  daughter  of  John  Grant,  a 
pioneer  of  1834,  in  Will  County.  Mr.  Grant  was 
born  in  Scotland,  and  after  settling  in  this  county 
became  a  large  farmer,  as  well  as  a  prominent 
man  of  affairs.  He  was  a  son  of  John  Grant,  Sr., 
a  farmer  of  Scotland,  and  a  member  of  an  old 
Scotch  Presbyterian  family.  He  was  the  first  of 
the  family  to  seek  a  home  in  America,  although 
about  1850  three  of  his  brothers  joined  him  in 
Will  County.  At  the  time  of  immigrating,  in 
1834,  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  For  a  few 
months  he  traveled  in  search  of  a  location.  Com- 
ing to  Illinois,  he  was  employed  as  a  sub-contrac- 
tor on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  In  1838 
he  bought  property  at  Reed's  Grove,  purchasing 
the  first  farm  opened  in  Jackson  Township.  On 
that  place  he  began  farming  and  stock-raising. 
Subsequently  he  became  the  owner  of  several 
farms,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  well-to- 
do.  He  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  including 
that  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  1854  he 
died  of  the  cholera,  aged  thirty-eight  years  and 
six  months.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  a  son, 
William  C,  now  living  in  Elwood,  this  county. 
For  his  second  wife  he  married  Adaline,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Frazier,  and  a  native  of  Green- 
brier County,    W.  Va.     After  the  death  of  her 


father  in  1834  she  accompanied  her  mother  and 
the  other  children  from  West  Virginia  to  this 
count)-,  settling  at  Forked  Creek,  Wesley  Town- 
ship, where  her  mother  died  in  1845.  Mrs.  Grant 
was  a  woman  of  noble  Christian  character,  a  de- 
voted wife  and  mother,  and  a  kind  neighbor. 
She  died  December  5,  1880.  Four  children  were 
born  of  Mr.  Grant's  second  marriage.  Of  these 
Mary  A.  died  of  the  cholera  in  1854,  when  nine 
years  old.  John  A.  and  James  M.  reside  in 
Joliet.  Margaret  R.,  the  only  surviving  daugh- 
ter, was  born  in  the  house  where  she  still  re- 
sides. She  is  a  lady  of  marked  strength  of  char- 
acter, a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,  being  in  thorough  sympathy 
with  the  efforts  of  this  organization  to  put  down 
the  liquor  traffic.  Other  worthy  movements  re- 
ceive her  sympathy  and  active  aid.  In  all  her 
husband's  labors  she  has  been  his  counselor,  and 
not  a  little  of  his  success  is  due  to  her  assistance. 
They  are  the  parents  of  six  children  now  living: 
Ella  M.,  who  is  her  father's  deputy  in  the  post- 
office;  Eva  M.,  who  is  teaching  school;  Harry  E., 
a  farmer;  Lulu  L.,  Florence  and  Arthur.  Two 
children,  Albert  and  Lois,  died  when  small. 


GlUGUSTUS  R.MARTIN.  Farmingandstock- 
I  I  raising  have  formed  the  chief  occupations  of 
/  I  Mr.  Martin.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
recognized  as  an  intelligent  agriculturist  of  Plain- 
field  Township,  whose  industry  and  perseverance 
have  brought  him  prosperity.  In  the  raising  of 
stock  his  specialty  has  been  Norman  and  Clyde 
horses,  and  he  has  also  kept  on  his  place  a  num- 
ber of  cattle.  In  1894  he  erected  a  commodious 
farm  house,  supplied  with  all  of  the  modern  con- 
veniences, and  this  his  family  have  fitted  up  in  a 
neat  and  tasteful  manner  so  that  it  affords  them  a 
comfortable  home.  At  this  writing  he  rents  the 
land,  having  given  up  the  active  management  of 
the  place  with  a  desire  to  spend  his  remaining 
years  in  retirement. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


405 


During  colonial  days  three  brothers  came  to 
America  and  two  of  these  took  part  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  one  being  the  ancestor  of  our  sub- 
ject and  a  pioneer  of  Manchester,  N.  H.  Jesse 
Martin,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire  in  1798.  At  the  opening  of  the  war 
of  1812  he  practiced  with  his  rifle  in  order  to  gain 
skill  in  its  use,  hoping  he  might  see  active  service 
at  the  front,  but  he  was  so  young  that  the  family 
refused  to  permit  him  to  go.  When  a  young  man 
he  worked  in  the  dressing  of  cloth  that  was  woven 
by  the  people  of  his  vicinity.  Afterward  he  en- 
gaged in  lumbering,  then  cleared  a  tract  of  land, 
finally  resuming  the  dressing  of  cloth.  For  seven 
years  prior  to  coming  west  he  carried  on  a  mer- 
cantile business  in  Dexter,  Me.  In  1852  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  purchased  the  farm  where  our  sub- 
ject now  lives.  Of  the  eighty  acres  forty-five  had 
been  broken.  Later  he  bought  another  eighty- 
acre  tract,  of  which  he  sold  twenty  acres.  For 
a  time  he  made  his  home  in  a  small  house  that 
stood  on  the  land  at  the  time  of  its  purchase,  but 
in  1858  he  erected  a  more  commodious  and  sub- 
stantial residence,  and  in  it  he  died  in  1893.  In 
religion  he  was  of  the  Uuiversalist  faith.  In 
1856  he  left  the  Democratic  party  and  joined  the 
ranks  of  the  Republican  organization,  voting  for 
Colonel  Fremont.  He  afterward  remained  a  Re- 
publican. It  was  while  he  engaged  in  business 
in  Maine  that  he  married  Mary  Sprague,  daughter 
of  Elijah  Sprague,  who  was  an  early  settler  of  his 
county  and  served  as  sheriff  and  in  other  offices. 
By  this  marriage  three  children  were  born,  one  of 
whom  died  in  childhood  and  another,  Joseph  P., 
who  was  one  of  the  earliest  commercial  travelers 
from  Plainfield,  died  in  1899. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in  Dexter, 
Penobscot  County,  Me.,  October 3,  1832.  He  was 
educated  in  public  schools  and  assisted  his  father 
in  the  store.  Since  coming  to  this  county  he  has 
resided  on  his  present  farm,  assisting  his  father 
until  the  latter's  death,  since  which  time  he  has 
owned  the  place.  He  is  well  posted  concerning 
topics  of  current  interest,  and  is  a  Republican  in 
his  political  views.  His  religious  faith  is  that  of 
the  Universalist  Church.  In  1859  he  married  Sa- 
rah Sloper,  of  Waterville,  Me., whose  grandfather 


came  to  this  country  from  England.  They  became 
the  parents  of  three  children,  but  only  one  is  now 
living,  Annie,  who  is  a  talented  musician  and  has 
received  excellent  advantages  in  that  art. 


MILES  D.  FOSTER,  of  Plainfield,  was  born 
I—  in  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  March  29,  1820. 
\Ji  His  father,  Lyman,  a  native  of  Meriden, 
Conn.,  at  twelve  years  of  age  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.,  and  there  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  1S44.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  owned  a  paper  mill  in  Otsego  County. 
In  October,  1844,  he  came  to  Plainfield  and 
bought  a  farm  one  mile  north  of  the  village, 
which  he  operated  for  a  number  of  years.  His 
last  days  were  spent,  retired  from  active  labors, 
in  the  village  of  Plainfield,  and  here  he  died  at 
ninety  years  of  age.  He  had  been  a  prominent 
man  in  pioneer  politics,  and  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leading  Democrats  of  his  locality.  For 
many  years  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Lewis  and  Otsego  Counties,  N.  Y. ,  and 
for  some  time  served  as  highway  commissioner 
in  Plainfield.  In  1848  he  was  elected  one  of  the 
county  judges,  but  the  law  providing  for  the  of- 
fice proved  to  be  unconstitutional,  so  he  never 
took  his  seat.  In  religion  he  was  connected  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Our  subject's  grandfather,  Giles  Foster,  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut  and  a  large  farmer  and 
miller,  was  very  prominent  in  his  section  of  the 
state,  and  as  a  business  man  was  unusually  active 
and  efficient.  When  quite  young  he  served  as 
a  private  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Politically 
he  was  a  Democrat.  In  religion  he  was  a  life- 
long member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
His  death  occurred  when  he  was  eighty-seven. 
One  of  his  sons,  Isaac,  was  sent  west  as  a  home 
missionary  for  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1S37, 
and  established  his  home  in  Plainfield,  where  he 
remained  until  1852  and  then  went  to  California. 
The  great  grandfather,  Timothy  Foster,  proba- 
bly a  native  of  England,   was  commissioned  by 


406 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  king  of  England  as  high  constable  iu  New 
England.  He  was  a  man  of  large  frame  and 
great  powers  of  endurance. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  Esther  Blood,  was 
born  near  Bennington,  Yt.,  and  at  fifteen  years 
of  age  moved  to  New  York  with  her  parents. 
She  died  in  Will  County  in  1865.  In  religious 
views  she  was  a  Methodist.  Her  father,  Jared 
Blood,  a  native  of  Vermont,  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  While  he  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, his  attention  was  largely  given  to  the 
public  service.  While  living  in  Vermont  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  legislature,  and  after 
going  to  New  York  he  was  judge  of  the  court  of 
Chenaugo  County  for  several  years.  The  family 
of  which  our  subject  was  the  oldest  consisted  of 
seven  children,  the  others  being  Louisa  J.,  de- 
ceased, who  was  the  wife  of  Albert  Beckwith: 
Lafayette,  deceased;  Augusta  M.,  who  married 
Alonzo  Hemstreet  and  lives  in  Plainfield;  Mary 
A.,  deceased;  Helen  M.,  Mrs.  Allen  Bliss,  de- 
ceased; and  Cornelia  E.,  wife  of  John  Piatt,  a 
farmer  of  Plainfield  Township. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  in 
local  schools  and  Louisville  Academy  at  Louis- 
ville, N.  Y.  In  1S44  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  this  county,  after  which  he  remained  with  his 
father  for  eight  years.  In  1852  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia via  Panama,  being  one  of  the  first  passen- 
gers who  crossed  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  on  the 
railroad.  Arriving  iu  the  far  west,  he  engaged 
in  mining  near  Columbia,  Tuolumne  County, 
Cal.  He  also  farmed  for  a  year.  In  1859  he 
sold  his  interests  iu  California  and  returned  to 
Plainfield.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  years 
on  a  farm,  he  has  since  made  this  village  his 
home,  and  for  twenty  years  he  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  here,  also  for  two  years  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees.  In  political  matters 
he  believes  firmly  in  Republican  principles.  He 
has  never  identified  himself  with  fraternal  or- 
ganizations, although  his  father  was  a  prominent 
Mason  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  a  blue  lodge 
in  Joliet. 

December  18,  187S,  Mr.  Foster  married  Miss 
Emma  Hawkins,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and 
Artemisia  (Cleghorn)   Hawkins.      Her  father,  a 


native  of  New  York  state,  went  to  Canada  iu 
youth  and  there  settled  on  a  farm.  While  he  was 
still  a  young  man  he  removed  to  Beloit,  Wis., 
and  bought  and  improved  a  farm.  Later  he 
came  to  this  county,  and  after  a  few  months  in 
Joliet  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business, 
which  he  conducted  in  that  city  and  in  Lockport 
for  several  years.  While  in  Canada  he  married 
Miss  Cleghorn,  who  died  in  Joliet.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  death 
occurred  in  September,  1895,  when  he  was  seven- 
ty-nine years  old.  Of  his  three  children,  Emma 
was  born  in  Beloit,  Wis.;  Edward  M.  is  publisher 
and  manager  of  a  mining  paper  in  Denver,  Colo. ; 
and  Carrie  is  a  clerk  in  the  county  recorder's  of- 
fice at  Joliet.  Mrs.  Foster  was  educated  in  Jo- 
liet and  Lockport,  and  possesses  the  traits  of 
character  that  win  the  regard  of  associates.  Iu 
religion  she  is  a  Congregationalist.  To  her 
marriage  four  children  were  born,  viz.:  Helen 
A.;  Edward  D.,  who  is  a  student  in  the  law  de- 
partment of  Michigan  State  University;  Esther 
A.  and  Alice  E. 


(I AMES  B.  HERBERT,  who  has  made  his 
I  home  in  Joliet  since  he  was  a  boy,  claims 
Q)  Illinois  as  his  native  state,  and  was  born  near 
Champaign,  July  15,  1865.  The  family  of  which 
he  is  a  member  descends  from  Scotch  ancestors. 
His  grandfather,  James  Herbert,  and  great- 
grandfather, both  of  whom  were  born  in  Scot- 
laud,  crossed  the  ocean  to  Canada,  settling  upon 
a  farm  in  Ontario.  The  father,  Abraham,  was  a 
native  of  Canada,  and  grew  to  manhood  upon  the 
Ontario  homestead.  In  1864  he  settled  in  Cham- 
paign, 111.,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  for 
others  and  also  engaged  in  business  for  himself. 
In  1876  he  came  to  Will  County  and  for  a  time 
carried  on  gardening  iu  New  Lenox,  but  soon 
settled  in  Joliet.  His  last  years  were  spent  in 
retirement  from  business  cares,  and  he  died  in 
this  city  in  January,  1889.  During  his  residence 
in  Ontario  he  married  Jane  Bothwell,  who  was 
born  iu   Montreal,   of  English  descent,  and  was 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


407 


left  an  orphan  in  childhood.  She  is  still  living 
and  makes  her  home  on  Washington  street,  Joliet. 
Of  the  four  children  comprising  the  family  three 
are  living,  viz.:  James  Bothwell,  William  and 
Newton,  the  two  latter  being  carpenters  in  Joliet. 
Our  subject  assisted  his  father  during  his  boy- 
hood, first  in  gardening  and  afterward  in  team- 
ing. In  1885  he  began  teaming  for  himself,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1897.  During  the 
latter  year  he  took  the  contract  for  the  sprinkling 
of  the  city  streets,  and  has  since  devoted  his  en- 
tire time  to  this  work.  He  owns  and  uses  four 
sprinklers  that  were  built  in  South  Bend,  Iud., 
each  having  a  capacity  of  from  six  to  seven  hun- 
dred gallons.  For  the  water  used  in  these 
sprinklers  he  pays  the  city  over  $600  per  annum. 
Always  a  friend  of  the  Republican  party,  Mr. 
Herbert  has  served  in  both  the  city  and  count}' 
conventions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet 
Teamsters'  Union,  and  fraternally  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Order  of  Macca- 
bees and  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 
In  religious  connections  he  is  identified  with  the 
Richards  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
built  and  now  occupies  a  residence  at  No.  210 
Baker  avenue.  His  marriage,  in  Joliet,  April  1, 
1886,  united  him  with  Miss  Clara  Shiffer,  who 
was  born  in  Plainfield  Township,  this  county,  a 
daughter  of  John  Shiffer.  Four  children  were 
born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herbert,  of 
whom  Roy  and  Florence  are  living.  Two  sons, 
Arlington  and  Earl,  died  at  the  ages  respectively 
of  two  and  one-half  years  and  eighteen  mouths. 


V/JAJ.  MAX  GOLDBERG,  who  has  been 
Y  engaged  in  business  in  Joliet  since  1888,  is 
(g  one  of  the  prominent  members  of  the 
Uniform  Rank,  K.  of  P.,  and  at  this  writing 
holds  the  office  of  major  of  the  Third  Illinois 
Regiment,  commanding  the  first  battalion.  Dur- 
ing the  long  period  of  his  connection  with  this 
fraternity  he  has  been  promoted  by  successive 
steps  from  one  position  of  prominence  to  another, 


and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  lodge  and  en- 
campment work.  He  is  also  identified  with  other 
fraternal  organizations,  chiefly  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  blue  lodge  and 
chapter  of  Masonry. 

In  Koenigsburg,  Germany,  Mr.  Goldberg  was 
born  April  15,  1857,  being  next  to  the  youngest 
of  four  children,  of  whom  two  sisters  are  in  Chi- 
cago and  a  brother,  Herman,  is  a  soldier  in  the 
German  army,  stationed  at  Koenigsburg.  His 
father,  Herman,  who  was  the  son  of  Samuel 
Goldberg,  a  member  of  an  old  family  of  Koenigs- 
burg, learned  the  business  of  a  horse  dealer  un- 
der his  father,  who  bought  horses  for  the  govern- 
ment, and  he  remained  in  his  native  burg  until 
he  died.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Margaret  Leyeu,  was  a  daughter  of  Louis  Leyen, 
was  born  in  Koenigsburg  and  spent  her  entire  life 
there. 

Leaving  home  in  1873,  Mr.  Goldberg  went  to 
Liverpool,  where  he  took  passage  for  New  York. 
Arriving  in  this  country  he  proceeded  to  Chicago, 
where  he  at  once  engaged  in  business.  In  1883 
he  began  to  buy  car  load  lots  of  iron,  shipping  the 
same  to  various  rolling  mills,  and  in  this  way  he 
continued  until  the  time  of  his  location  in  Joliet. 
His  first  location  in  this  city  was  at  No.  1 13  Bluff 
street,  and  here  he  has  since  had  his  headquarters. 
Securing  his  material  from  the  Fox  Solid  Pressed 
Steel  Company,  and  man}'  other  concerns  in  the 
United  States,  he  ships  the  same  to  eastern  mills, 
doing  a  large  business  in  this  line.  His  plant  is 
equipped  with  every  improvement,  including 
large  shears,  four  to  six  inches  in  diameter,  and 
twenty-six  inches  in  length,  operated  by  elec- 
tricity. Besides  this  business  in  scrap  iron,  since 
1894  he  has  carried  on  a  coal  and  coke  business, 
and  in  1899  took  his  son-in-law  into  partnership, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Goldberg  &  Reubens, 
their  office  and  yards  being  on  Clinton  street, 
opposite  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad. 

The  handsome  residence  of  Mr.  Goldberg  is  at 
No.  152  Comstock  street.  He  was  married  in 
Chicago  to  Miss  Jennie  Weinberg,  who  was  born 
in  Detroit,  Mich.  They  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  of  whom  the  daughter  is  the  wife  of 
L.   M.    Reubens.     The    older  son,    Louis,    who 


4o8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  a"  graduate  of  the  Joliet  high  school,  is  now  a 
student  in  St.  John's  Military  College  at  Delafield, 
Wis.  The  younger  son,  Mortimer,  is  with  his 
father. 


(31  LBERT  G.  BECKWITH,  a  retired  farmer 
LA  residing  in  Plaiufield,  was  born  in  St. 
J  1  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  October  8,  1816. 
His  father,  Dudley,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  there,  and,  after 
his  marriage  to  Wealthy  Brock  way,  he  removed 
to  New  York.  For  many  years  he  followed  his 
tradeiuSt.  Lawrence  County.  In  October,  1835, 
he  came  west  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Plainfield, 
where  he  built  the  first  blacksmith's  shop  in  the 
town.  For  years  he  carried  on  his  trade  in  this 
village,  having  in  his  old  age  the  assistance  of 
his  son,  our  subject,  in  his  work.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican.  During  the  war  of  18 12  he 
served  in  the  American  army,  being  assigned  to 
duty  along  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  His  death 
occurred  April  30,  187 1,  when  he  was  eighty-two 
years  of  age.  Though  reared  in  the  Baptist  faith 
(his  father  being  a  minister  in  that  denomina- 
tion) he  became  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  and  an  active  worker  in  that  cause.  His 
wife,  who  died  at  seventy-five  years,  was  like 
himself  a  faithful  Christian  and  an  active  Con- 
gregationalist.  Of  their  two  children  the 
younger,  Adaline,  married  Samuel  Pratt  and  died 
when  fifty-four  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Beckwith  is  certainly  entitled  to  be  called 
a  pioneer  of  Illinois,  as  it  has  been  sixty-six  years 
since  he  came  to  this  state.  When  he  was 
eighteen,  in  1834,  he  started  west  via  wagon  with 
two  families,  crossing  through  Canada  to  Detroit 
and  thence  to  Chicago,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
nth  of  August.  Going  from  there  to  Duukley's 
Grove,  twenty  miles  northwest  of  Chicago,  he 
helped  in  the  building  of  log  houses  and  remained 
until  November  1 .  Winter  came  on  and  he  was 
without  money,  so  he  walked  back  to  Chicago, 
fording  several  streams  en  route.  Though  he 
started  early  in  the  morning  dark  had  fallen  be- 


fore he  reached  his  destination.  The  howling  of 
the  wolves  could  plainly  be  heard  and  the  loneli- 
ness of  the  scene  could  be  imagined  better  than 
described.  When  he  reached  the  town  he  secured 
employment  in  putting  up  a  small  building.  His 
next  job  was  in  the  pinery  among  the  Indians;  he 
remained  in  the  forest  until  April,  meantime 
never  seeing  a  white  woman's  face.  The  summer 
of  1835  he  spent  at  Dunkley's  Grove,  meantime 
saving  $25,  which  he  sent  home  to  his  father  with 
the  suggestion  that  he  come  west. 

October,  1835,  found  our  subject  for  the  first 
time  in  Plainfield,  where  he  built  a  shop  and 
worked  until  1836.  He  then  returned  to  New 
York  for  his  mother  and  sister,  who  had  not  ac- 
companied his  father  west.  On  his  return  he 
rented  a  farm  which  he  operated  for  several  years, 
also  working  in  a  shop  as  a  teamster  and  in  other 
occupations.  After  he  had  been  here  for  ten 
years  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
wild  land  three  miles  northwest  of  Plainfield,  to 
which  he  moved  and  which  he  improved.  After 
three  years  he  sold  the  place  and  bought  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres  south  of  town,  where  he 
made  valuable  improvements  and  erected  the 
necessary  buildings.  In  1892  he  sold  the  farm, 
retired  from  active  labors  and  settled  in  the 
village.  Politically  he  has  been  active  in  local 
Republican  affairs.  He  has  been  connected  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  fort)-  years, 
and  his  wife  has  been  identified  with  the  same 
denomination  for  sixt)-  years. 

In  1844  Mr.  Beckwith  married  Louisa  J.  Fos- 
ter, a  sister  of  Giles  D.  Foster,  in  whose  sketch 
her  family  history  appears.  She  died  in  1862, 
leaving  two  daughters,  namely:  Jane,  a  widow, 
living  in  Oklahoma;  and  Ellen,  widow  of  Frank 
Andrews,  of  Florida.  The  second  marriage  of 
our  subject  took  place  November  28,  1864,  and 
united  him  with  Mrs.  Helen  (Hoag)  Barney, 
who  was  born  in  Nashua,  N.  H.,  April  18,  1S28, 
a  daughter  of  Asahel  and  Sabria  C.  (Chessmore) 
Hoag.  Her  father,  who  was  born  in  Henniker, 
N.  H.,  August  2,  1795,  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Vermont  when  a  child,  and  there  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade.  When  he  was  twenty-eight 
years  old  he  returned  to  New  Hampshire,  settling 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


409 


in  Nashua,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  until  1830.  His  next  removal  was  to 
Concord,  N.  H.,  where  he  bought  land,  built  a 
shoe  store  and  a  printing  house  and  printed 
thousands  of  Bibles.  Failing  health  induced  him 
in  1838  to  seek  a  home  in  the  west.  Coming  to 
Plainfield  he  bought  a  farm  near  the  village  and, 
improving  the  property,  afterward  made  it  his 
home.  For  years  he  served  as  road  commis- 
sioner and  school  director  and  took  an  active  part 
in  local  Republican  politics.  He  was  reared  in 
the  Quaker  faith  and  always  inclined  toward  the 
doctrines  of  that  sect,  though  he  did  not  keep  his 
birthright  in  it.  While  in  the  east  he  became 
prominent  in  Masonry,  and  after  settling  in  Illi- 
nois he  assisted  in  organizing  a  blue  lodge  in 
Joliet.  His  life  was  fairly  successful  viewed 
from  a  financial  standpoint.  Viewed  from  a 
higher  standpoint  of  usefulness  and  of  good  deeds 
done  he  was  a  citizen  whose  value  was  great  and 
whose  death  might  well  be  deplored.  He  died 
while  he  was  visiting  in  California,  August  10, 
1870,  overexertion  in  climbing  a  mountain  in 
Mexico  having  led  to  his  death.  He  was  buried 
with  Masonic  honors. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Beckwith  was  born  in 
Washington,  Vt.,  May  3,  1799,  and  died  in 
Plainfield  January  22,  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
one  years.  She  was  a  Congregationalist  in  re- 
ligious connections.  Of  her  seven  children  Royal 
M.  and  Oscar  S.  are  deceased;  Franklin,  who  was 
a  successful  school  teacher  here  but  is  now  de- 
ceased, was  the  first  to  be  buried  with  Masonic 
honors  in  Plainfield;  George  W.  has  also  passed 
from  earth;  Charles  B.  was  fifth  in  order  of  birth; 
Harriet  is  the  widow  of  Alexander  Roberts,  of 
Tustin,  Cal. ;  and  Mrs.  Beckwith  completes  the 
family  circle.  She  was  ten  years  of  age  when 
her  parents  settled  near  Plainfield  and  conse- 
quently remembers  the  pioneer  days  of  this 
localit3\  For  five  years  she  was  a  student  in  a 
young  ladies'  academy  on  Dearborn  street,  Chi- 
cago, and  while  there  saw  the  first  train  of  cars 
that  ever  came  into  Chicago.  When  twenty- 
three  she  became  the  wife  of  Milton  Barney,  a 
merchant  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.  In  the  spring  of 
i860  he  went  to  Colorado  and  for  two  years  was 


judge  at  Georgetown,  where  he  also  had  impor- 
tant mining  interests.  While  he  was  crossing  the 
range  he  was  lost  and  it  is  supposed  he  was  mur- 
dered for  his  money,  as  he  had  just  sold  a  claim 
and  had  the  money  with  him.  His  only  son, 
Royal  S.  Barney,  is  engaged  in  merchandising  in 
Denver,  Colo.  By  her  second  marriage  Mrs. 
Beckwith  had  a  daughter,  Florence  R.,  wife  of 
Thomas  W.  Walker,  of  Mazon,  Grundy  County, 
111.  Mr.  Walker  was  born  in  Mazon  April  16, 
1859,  and  is  a  leading  man  of  that  place,  being 
constable,  school  commissioner  and  holding  other 
important  positions. 


0LIN  AUGUSTUS  SAGE,  who  is  a  member 
of  a  prominent  pioneer  family  of  Chan- 
nahon  Township,  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Chaunahon  January  5,  1871,  a  son  of  Elizur  W. 
and  Sabrina  (Eaton)  Sage.  He  was  one  of  five 
children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living.  His  old- 
est sister,  Hattie  I.,  is  the  wife  of  W.  B.  Davis,  a 
farmer  of  this  township;  Helen  S.  married  S.  H. 
Holbrook,  who  is  with  the  Butler  Paper  Corn- 
pan  y  in  Chicago;  and  Fannie  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Allen  V.  Crisler,  of  Park  Ridge,  111.  The 
father  of  this  family  was  born  in  Rome,  N.  Y.,  in 
18 12,  and  was  one  of  the  seven  children  of  Elisha 
and  Prudence  (Risley)  Sage,  the  others  of  the 
family  being  Henry  R. ,  Elisha  M.,  William  C, 
Russell  .(the  noted  New  York  millionaire),  Sallie 
and  Fannie. 

Elisha  Sage  was  born  in  Cromwell,  Conn.,  in 
1779,  a  son  of  Elisha  and  Martha  (Montague) 
Sage,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  six  sons  and  six 
daughters.  His  father,  also  a  native  of  Crom- 
well, born  in  1747,  was  a  sou  of  Amos  and  Re- 
becca (Wilcox)  Sage,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
five  sons  and  three  daughters.  Amos  Sage,  born 
in  Cromwell  in  1722,  was  a  son  of  Timothy  and 
Margaret  (Holibert)  Sage.  Timothy,  who  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1678,  was  a  sou 
of  David  Sage,  who  was  born  in  Wales  in  1639 
and    emigrated    to    America  in  1652,  settling  in 


410 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Middletown,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Kirby 
and  his  second  wife  Mary  Wilcox.  From  the 
second  marriage  descends  this  branch  of  the 
family. 

When  a  youth  our  subject's  father  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade.  By  his  first  wife,  who  was 
Mary  Willard,  he  had  nine  children,  four  now 
living,  namely:  Mary  J.,  the  widow  of  Charles 
Wignall,  of  Jenson,  Ark. ;  Emily,  wife  of  Henry 
Chadwick,  of  Batavia,  111.;  Elizur,  of  Channa- 
hon;  and  Leni,  who  married  M.  Schoonmaker, 
of  Chicago  Heights.  In  1834  the  father  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  the  village  of  Chanuahon, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  for  many  years.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican.  For  several  years 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  In 
his  early  years  he  was  a  very  active  worker  in  the 
Methodist  Church. 

In  1859,  some  years  after  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  Elizur  W.  Sage  married  Miss  Eaton,  a  na- 
tive of  Morristown,  Vt.,  and  a  daughter  of 
Lathrop  and  Sabrina  (Wood)  Eaton,  also  natives 
of  that  state.  Her  grandfather,  Abial  Eaton, 
was  born  in  Woodstock,  Conn.,  October  19,  1770, 
settled  at  Morristown,  Vt.,  in  early  life,  and  died 
there  February  28,  1835;  he  married  Seely 
Cooper.  Lathrop  Eaton  was  born  at  Morris- 
town September  21,  1797,  and  engaged  in  farm 
pursuits  throughout  his  active  life.  Among  the 
offices  he  held  were  those  of  school  director  and 
justice  of  the  peace.  The  Eaton  family  descends 
from  John  and  Abigail  Eaton,  who  came  from 
England  about  1635  in  the  ship  "Elizabeth," 
and  for  two  years  lived  at  Watertown,  near  Bos- 
ton, but  removed  from  there  to  Dedham,  Mass., 
where  he  died  November  17,  1658.  His  son, 
John,  was  born  at  Watertown  in  1636  and  died 
in  1694.  Next  in  line  of  descent  was  Thomas, 
born  July  23,  1675,  a  blacksmith,  who  lived  for  a 
short  time  in  Roxbury  and  in  1703  moved  to 
Woodstock.  He  died  at  Ashford,  Conn.,  Au- 
gust 14,  1748.  His  son,  David,  born  at  Wood- 
stock, July  21,  1706,  was  a  farmer  and  made  his 
home  at  Ashford,  where  he  died  about  1777.  He 
was  three  times  married  and  had  several  children 
by  each  marriage.     Josiah   and    David,   sons  by 


his  first  wife,  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Ephraim,  also  a  son  by  the  first  marriage, 
was  the  next  in  line  of  descent.  He  was  born 
October  2,  1739,  and  spent  some  time  on  a  farm 
near  Woodstock.  Ten  years  after  his  marriage 
to  Eunice  Sanger  he  removed  to  Hinsdale,  N.  H., 
and  probably  died  there.  His  son,  Abial,  was 
born  at  Woodstock  October  19,  1770,  and  settled 
at  Morristown,  Vt.  The  next  generation  was 
represented  by  Lathrop  Eaton,  who  married 
Sabrina  Wood,  February  13,  1825,  and  died  No- 
vember 8,  1854. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  in 
common  schools.  After  his  father's  death  his 
mother  removed  to  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, and  of  this  place  he  has  had  charge  since 
he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  In  politics  a  Repub- 
lican, he  was  elected  highway  commissioner  on 
that  ticket  in  the  spring  of  1897,  and  is  now 
filling  the  office.  His  marriage,  September  1, 
1892,  united  him  with  Miss  Daisy  G.  Whitmore, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Channahon,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Franklin  and  Eleanor  (Ferris)  Whitmore. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  now 
living,  Lester  W.,  Ruth  E.  and  Arthur. 


HOMAS  W.  SPROAT  has  resided  on  his 
present  farm  since  1890.  During  that  year 
he  came  from  Cook  into  Will  County  and 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  on  Maple  street,  of 
which  eighty  acres  is  in  New  Lenox  Township, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  The  farm  at 
that  time  was  in  a  run-down  condition,  its  build- 
ings were  old  and  its  fences  unsightly.  Under 
his  supervision  a  remarkable  transformation  had 
been  effected  in  the  appearance  of  the  place, 
which  now  ranks  with  the  best  in  the  township. 
In  1893  a  substantial  and  large  barn  was  built, 
and  four  years  later  a  fine  residence  was  erected, 
while  other  improvements  have  been  made  from 
time  to  time.  In  addition  to  general  farming  he 
has  engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  has  also  carried 
on  a  dairy  business. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


411 


The  father  of  our  subject,  John  Sproat,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  and  after  he  was  married  came 
to  America  about  1846,  settling  near  Geneva,  in 
Seneca  County,  N.  Y.  In  1854  he  came  west  to 
Illinois,  spending  a  year  in  Hadley,  Will  County. 
In  1849  he  moved  to  Black  Oak  (now  Oaklawn), 
Cook  County,  where  he  has  since  successfully 
followed  farming,  but  is  now,  at  seventy-eight 
years,  somewhat  retired  from  active  business 
cares.  Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  has  voted  for  its  principles  and  sup- 
ported its  candidates  in  local  and  general  elec- 
tions. On  a  question  of  politics  there  is  never 
any  doubt  where  to  find  him;  he  is  squarely  and 
openly  for  protection  of  home  industries,  for 
sound  money  and  for  expansion.  By  his  mar- 
riage to  Elizabeth  McCullah,  of  Dumfriesshire, 
Scotland,  he  had  four  children,  namely:  Thomas 
W.;  Ellen,  wife  of  Chester  H.  Marr;  Mary  E., 
who  married  James  Crandall;  and  John  R.,  a 
farmer  in  New  Lenox  Township. 

Thomas  W.  Sproat  was  born  in  Seneca  County, 
N.  Y. ,  August  24,  1 85 1.  He  was  a  small  child 
when  the  family  settled  in  Illinois,  and  he  passed 
the  years  of  youth  in  Cook  County,  where  his 
education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools. 
He  gained  his  knowledge  of  agriculture  by  work- 
ing on  his  father's  farm,  and  he  continued  to  re- 
side in  Cook  County  until  his  removal  to  his 
present  property.  Like  his  father  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  like  him,  he  has  never  aspired 
to  public  office,  but  aids  the  party  in  every  way 
possible  and  assists  his  friends  who  are  candidates 
for  office.  May  12,  1880,  his  marriage  occurred 
to  Miss  Ruby  Crandall,  daughter  of  John  Cran- 
dall, deceased,  an  old  settler  and  wealthy 
farmer  of  Worth  Township,  Cook  County.  John 
Crandall  married  Jane  McKenzie,  daughter  of 
William  and  Jeanette  (Weir)  McKenzie.  The 
latter,  a  native  of  Scotland,  is  yet  living  at 
Worth,  aged  ninety-one  years,  and  is  in  full  pos- 
session of  all  her  faculties.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Crandall  were  the  parents  of  seven  children: 
James  A.;  Harriet  J.,  wife  of  Benjamin  Crandall; 
Mrs.  Ruby  Sproat;  Mrs.  Mary  Biedenkopf; 
Daniel  L. ;  John  (deceased);  and  Ellen  J.,  at 
home.      Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sproat  are  the  parents  of 


five  children,  namely:  Jessie  May,  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Blee;  Frank  Edwin,  who  died  aged  ten 
months;  Laura  Ella,  John  Franklin  and  Alfred 
Leroy.  The  family  attend  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  New  Lenox. 


RWIN  C.  MORGAN,  a  farmer  and  stock- 
^  raiser  of  Wesley  Township,  residing  on 
_  section  4,  has  spent  his  entire  life  on  his 
present  farm,  and  was  born  here  September  13, 
1S54.  H's  father,  Benjamin  F.  Morgan,  was  a 
native  of  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  born  April  2, 
181 1,  and  continued  to  reside  in  that  county  un- 
til his  removal  to  Illinois.  The  year  1840  found 
him  in  Will  County,  where  he  settled  on  section 
4,  Wesley  Township.  The  following  year  he 
brought  his  family  west  and  established  his  per- 
manent home  here.  The  land  on  which  he  set- 
tled was  raw  and  wild,  with  scarcely  a  furrow 
turned  in  its  soil.  He  cleared  the  eighty  acres, 
placed  it  under  cultivation,  and  devoted  it  to 
general  farm  pursuits  and  to  stock-raising.  Later 
he  bought  another  eighty-acre  tract.  He  was 
always  interested  when  improvements  in  the 
township  were  proposed.  He  filled  a  number  of 
local  offices,  to  which  he  was  elected  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  While  he  never  attained  wealth, 
yet  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1882,  he  left  a 
valuable  farm  and  other  property,  which  repre- 
sented the  results  of  his  labors  during  an  active 
portion  of  his  seventy-one  years.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Sternberg,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
and  died  in  Will  County  in  1861.  Of  their  four 
children,  Erie  F.,  is  living  in  Chicago;  Philip  C. 
is  deceased;  Ervviu  C.  was  third  in  order  of 
birth;  and  Sidney  S.  was  the  youngest.  After 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Morgan  our  sub- 
ject's father  was  a  second  time  married,  choos- 
ing as  his  wife  Betsey  E.  Gould,  a  native  of  this 
county.  By  that  marriage  a  daughter  was  born, 
May  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Irving  F.  Lowell,  of 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

When  a  boy  our  subject  attended  public  school. 


4I2 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Like  most  boys,  he  was  more  fond  of  play  than 
of  study,  and  the  best  education  he  has  gained 
has  come  from  contact  with  the  world  in  the 
school  of  experience,  as  he  always  keeps  well 
posted  on  topics  of  importance.  His  life  has 
been  quietly  and  busily  passed  on  the  old  home- 
stead. He  has  charge  of  two  farms  and  makes 
a  specialty  of  raising  grain  and  stock.  On  his 
place  he  has  made  a  number  of  good  improve- 
ments, which  prove  him  to  be  a  man  of  thrift 
and  energy.  In  politics  a  Republican,  he  has 
been  active  in  local  party  matters.  From  1879 
to  1881  he  was  town  clerk.  In  1883-84  he  served 
as  town  collector,  and  again  in  1892  and  1898  as 
town  clerk.  At  this  writing  he  is  clerk  of  the 
school  board.  His  various  positions  he  has  filled 
with  fidelity,  showing  that  he  is  a  good  citizen, 
alive  to  the  needs  of  the  township.  In  1880  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Fannie  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  H.  Jones,  of  this  township.  They 
have  an  only  child,  Bessie  V. 


IILLIAM  F.  KEITH.  Few  of  the  citizens 
of  El  wood  have  been  identified  with,  its 
history  for  so  long  a  period  as  Mr.  Keith 
and  none  has  been  more  influential  or  progres- 
sive. In  the  fall  of  1863  he  purchased  a  small 
mercantile  business  in  the  town,  which  then  con- 
tained only  three  dwellings  and  several  shanties. 
From  that  day  to  this  he  has  been  foremost  in 
enterprises  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  village.  He 
prepared  the  charter  for  the  town  and  after  it 
was  incorporated,  by  a  special  act  of  the  legis- 
lature, he  was  made  police  magistrate.  A  number 
of  times  he  has  been  chosen  to  serve  as  town 
trustee,  and  twice  he  was  president  of  the  board. 
In  1S66  he  was  commissioned  notary  public  by 
Governor  Yates,  and  has  since  held  the  office, 
by  successive  appointment.  He  is  also  serving 
his  fourth  term  as  justice  of  the  peace.  In  the 
building  up  of  schools  and  churches  he  has  taken 
a  leading  part.  In  fact,  every  movement  for  the 
benefit   of  the   community  receives  his  co-opera- 


tion and  aid.  During  1868  he  disposed  of  his 
general  merchandise  and,  erecting  a  business 
block,  opened  a  drug  store,  which  he  conducted 
personally  for  years.  He  is  still  a  member  of 
the  drug  firm  of  W.  F.  Keith  &  Son,  but  in  1S94 
practically  turned  over  the  management  of  the 
business  to  his  sou.  Besides  his  other  interests 
he  has  considerable  business  as  an  attorney,  also 
handles  real  estate  and  acts  as  agent  for  fire  in- 
surance companies. 

Near  Rome,  in  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.,  William 
F.  Keith  was  born  August  11,  1827,  a  sou  of 
John  T.  and  Maria  (Miller)  Keith,  of  whose 
three  children  he  alone  survives.  His  father 
was  educated  for  the  ministry  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  conference,  in  which  he 
continued  until,  through  the  failure  of  his  health 
from  overwork,  he  was  obliged  to  go  south  and 
remain  until  he  regained  his  strength.  His  wife 
died  while  he  was  pastor  at  Mount  Morris,  and 
he  died  shortly  after  his  return  from  the  south. 
His  father,  William  Keith,  a  native  of  Easton, 
Mass.,  was  a  minister  in  New  York  City,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- four  years.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Tibbetts,  a  member  of  an  old  family 
of  Rome,  N.  Y.  The  Keith  family  descended 
from  three  brothers  who  came  to  this  country  in 
an  early  day  to  escape  religious  persecution  in 
their  home  country,  Scotland.  It  is  supposed 
that  they  settled  in  Bridgeport,  Mass.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  orphaned  at  an  early 
age  and  was  taken  into  the  home  of  an  older 
brother,  Isaac  Miller.  She  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, where  her  ancestors  were  early  settlers. 

At  the  time  of  his  mother's  death  our  subject 
was  ten  years  of  age.  He  was  given  a  home 
with  his  grandmother  Keith  in  Lewis  County, 
N.  Y. ,  but  after  two  years  went  to  live  with  an 
uncle  in  Buffalo.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  latter  city  and  at  Rich 
Academy,  Attica,  N.  Y.  When  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  went  to  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y., 
and  began  his  apprenticeship  as  carpenter  and 
builder,  studying  the  principles  of  architecture. 
In  1S48  he  married  Miss  Rachael  Mackey, 
daughter  of  David  Mackey,  who  held  many  of- 
fices of  trust  in  Cattaraugus  County  and  was  a 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4i3 


successful  farmer.  His  ancestors  settled  in  that 
region  when  the  entire  country  was  a  dense  for- 
est, through  which  roads  had  not  yet  been 
opened.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Keith,  of  whom  the  daughter,  Ada,  is  de- 
ceased. The  son,  Clarence  A.,  is  a  general  mer- 
chant in  the  village  of  Cattaraugus. 

Hoping  that  a  change  of  climate  would  benefit 
his  wife's  health,  in  1856  Mr.  Keith  came  to  Illi- 
nois. He  settled  at  Naperville,  where  his  uncle, 
Aylmer  Keith,  was  a  banker  and  prominent  busi- 
ness man.  However,  his  wife  was  not  improved 
by  the  change  and  in  a  few  months  he  returned 
with  her  to  New  York  state,  where  she  died. 
Leaving  his  children  with  her  parents,  in  the 
fall  of  1857  he  again  came  to  Naperville.  Dur- 
ing his  first  visit  there  he  had  been  chosen  archi- 
tect for  the  Naperville  bank  and  superintended 
the  construction  of  the  building.  On  his  return 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  a  cousin  and  es- 
tablished a  notion  and  confectionery  store  in 
Naperville.  One  year  later  his  older  cousin,  who 
was  cashier  of  the  Naperville  bank,  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Twelve  Mile  Grove,  Will  County, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  embarked  in 
sheep-raising.  After  a  year,  however,  he  sold 
out  and  went  to  Joliet,  where,  with  Mr.  Keith, 
he  embarked  in  the  drug  business.  In  i860  the 
two  went  to  Pike's  Peak  and  established  a  saw- 
mill business.  Seven  months  later  they  retureed 
to  Joliet,  and  soon  afterward  sold  the  drug  busi- 
ness. In  1861  Charles  W.  Keith,  the  cousin, 
formed  a  company  of  artillery,  of  which  he  was 
made  captain.  Our  subject  enlisted  in  the  Nine- 
teenth Illinois  Infantry  and  was  made  a  member 
of  the  regimental  band,  which  was  organized  in 
Lockport.  He  was  sent  to  Nashville  and  Mur- 
freesboro,  Tenn.  During  the  winter  he  was  taken 
ill  and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Elizabethtowu, 
Ky.,  where,  as  soon  as  he  recovered  sufficiently, 
he  was  appointed  apothecary.  In  the  spring  of 
1863  another  illness  caused  him  to  be  returned 
to  his  regiment  at  Nashville,  where  he  was  dis- 
charged and  sent  home,  but  for  a  year  or  more 
he  remained  an  invalid. 

In  the  spring  of  1863  Charles  W.  Keith  came 
to  Elwood  and  purchased  a  farm,  and  our  subject 


made  his  home  with  him  for  a  time.  As  soon  as 
he  was  able  to  engage  in  business  he  opened  a 
store  at  Elwood,  and  here  he  has  since  been  a 
prominent  business  man.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  for  two  years  he  served  as  deputy 
county  treasurer  under  Treasurer  Donahue  and 
eight  years  under  Mr.  Spangler.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  for  ten 
years  served  as  an  elder.  In  1866  he  married 
Miss  Hannah  T.  Leverich,  who  was  born  in 
Waterford,  Pa.  To  their  union  three  children 
were  born,  viz.:  William  H.,  who  is  chief  clerk 
and  cashier  in  the  freight  department  of  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  Railroad  in  Joliet;  Edward  E., 
who  has  charge  of  the  drug  business  in  Elwood; 
and  Eva  M.,  who  is  with  her  parents. 


ROBERT  WHITLEY,  head  miller  in  the 
large  mills  of  Norton  &  Co.,  at  Lockport, 
was  born  in  Wakefield,  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, in  1831.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
began  an  apprenticeship  to  the  miller's  trade  in 
a  large  mill  at  Wakefield,  where  he  served  for 
six  years  and  afterward  worked  for  wages.  In 
the  fall  of  1854  he  sailed  for  America  on  the 
"  Harvest  Queen,"  which  did  not  complete  the 
voyage  until  seven  weeks  had  been  spent  on  the 
ocean.  Meantime  cholera  had  appeared  on  the 
ship  and  eighty-two  passengers  had  fallen  victims 
of  the  plague.  From  New  York  City  Mr.  Whit- 
ley came  west  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  Oswego, 
near  Aurora,  where  he  engaged  in  the  milling 
business  for  nine  years.  Although  he  was  un- 
familiar with  the  customs  of  our  country  he  was 
quick  to  learn  and  soon  was  able  to  compete  with 
men  of  our  own  nationality.  Being  industrious 
and  painstaking  his  work  was  satisfactory  to  all 
concerned. 

From  Oswego  Mr.  Whitley  went  to  Chicago  as 
a  workman  in  a  mill.  In  a  short  time  he  came 
to  Plaiufield  and  took  charge  of  a  mill.  Two 
years  later  the  mill  was  sold,  and  at  the  same 
time  (1866)  he  came  to  Lockport  as  a  miller  in 


4i4 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Norton  mills.  From  that  year  to  this  he  has 
been  connected  with  this  industry,  which  is  one 
of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  west.  In  1871 
he  was  sent  to  assume  the  management  of  the 
company's  large  mill  near  the  Madison  street 
bridge  in  Chicago,  where  he  remained  for  a  year. 
In  January,  1872,  he  was  given  charge  of  the 
mill  in  Lockport,  which  was  then  a  small  plant 
employing  few  men  and  turning  out  only  a  small 
amount  of  flour.  During  the  years  that  have 
since  elapsed  he  has  witnessed  the  growth  of  the 
mill  to  its  present  enormous  proportions,  and  its 
present  prosperity  is  due  not  a  little  to  his  wise 
oversight.  He  resides  in  Lockport  and  owns  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  three  miles 
west  of  town,  which  represents  the  earnings  of 
his  active  years. 

Prior  to  leaving  England  Mr.  Whitley  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Lory  man,  of  Wakefield.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  their  union,  but  two  of 
these  died  in  childhood,  and  Christopher  died 
when  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  The  older  of 
the  living  sons  is  Noah,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  daughters  are 
Maria,  wife  of  Nicholas  Pitts,  a  miller  in  Lock- 
port;  and  Ruth,  wife  of  E.  W.  Ray,  of  Anacor- 
tes,  Wash.  The  younger  son,  Robert,  is  a  miller 
by  trade,  but  at  this  time  is  engaged  in  sunn- 
ing with  his  brother. 

Since  becoming  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
Mr.  Whitley  has  taken  an  interest  in  public  and 
political  affairs.  He  was  a  warm  admirer  of 
Lincoln,  and  since  the  latter  was  president  has 
voted  the  Republican  ticket.  In  his  desire  to 
provide  his  children  with  every  advantage  possi- 
ble he  did  not  forget  his  duty  to  the  community, 
but  has  kept  closely  identified  with  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  town,  and  the  schools  here 
owe  not  a  little  of  their  excellence  to  his  untiring 
efforts  in  their  behalf.  At  this  writing  he  is 
president  of  the  school  board,  and  for  nine  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  trustees. 
He  has  also  served  as  an  alderman  of  Lockport. 
For  thirty-two  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
Lockport  Lodge  No.  538,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  was  master  much  of  the  time  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century.     He  has  also  been  connected  with  the 


chapter  and  commandery  at  Joliet  for  twenty- 
five  years,  being  among  the  oldest  members  of 
the  same.  Any  enterprise  calculated  to  benefit 
his  city  is  sure  of  his  co-operation  and  aid,  for 
he  has  the  interests  of  the  place  at  heart  and 
takes  a  just  pride  in  its  advancement. 


HENRY  GOTTSCHALG,  who  resides  at  No. 
41 1  Collins  street,  Joliet,  was  born  in  Joliet 
Township  in  1862,  and  has  spent  his  entire 
life  in  this  county,  devoting  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  His  father,  August,  a  native 
of  Saxony,  Germany,  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade  in  his  youth  and  followed  it  for  some  time 
in  his  native  land,  where  he  also  worked  as  a 
stone  mason.  In  accordance  with  the  national 
custom  he  served  his  time  in  the  German  army. 
In  June,  1847,  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
proceeding  direct  to  Joliet,  at  that  time  a  small 
village  in  the  midst  of  an  unimproved  farm 
region.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  purchased 
twenty  acres  three  miles  east  of  Joliet,  on  Maple 
street,  in  Joliet  Township.  The  land  was  unim- 
proved, and  was  practically  in  its  primeval  con- 
dition. He  set  himself  to  the  task  of  clearing 
and  cultivating  the  place,  erecting  needed  build- 
ings and  fences,  and  making  such  improvements 
as  his  means  rendered  possible.  He  continued 
to  make  his  home  on  the  same  place  until  1892, 
when  advancing  years  with  their  attendant  in- 
firmities caused  him  to  retire  from  active  labors. 
Having  met  with  success  in  his  enterprises  he 
was  able  to  spend  his  declining  days  in  the  en- 
joyment of  a  competency  that  had  been  justly 
earned  and  merited.  From  time  to  time  he  had 
added  to  his  possessions  until  he  was  the  owner 
of  four  hundred  and  twelve  acres  in  this  county 
and  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Nebraska, 
in  addition  to  city  property;  and  this  large  acreage 
was  remarkable  when  it  is  remembered  that  he 
came  to  America  with  little  means.  He  died  in 
Joliet  October  2,  1898,  when  almost  seventy-six 
years  of  age.     His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4i5 


name  of  Dora  Ford,  was  born  in  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, and  died  in  Joliet  July  22,  1898,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years.  Seven  children  born 
to  their  union  are  now  living,  namely:  Amiel  and 
Oscar,  who  are  farmers  in  Nebraska;  Matilda, 
wife  of  Louis  Huff;  Lillia,  who  married  C.  C. 
Colby;  Henry;  John,  of  Joliet;  and  Augusta,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Rub. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  acquired  in 
the  country  schools  of  this  county.  Familiar 
with  farm  work  from  his  youth  he  naturally 
selected  agriculture  for  his  life  occupation.  In 
1889  he  began  independent  farming  on  the  old 
Berger  farm  in  New  Lenox  Township,  at  first 
renting  the  place,  but  in  1894  purchasing  it,  and 
he  continued  to  reside  there  for  some  years,  en- 
gaging in  the  raising  of  cattle  and  horses,  in  ad- 
dition to  general  farming.  All  of  the  improve- 
ments on  the  place  were  made  under  his  personal 
supervision.  He  built  the  residence,  which  is  a 
comfortable  farm  house,  and  also  put  up  other 
buildings  as  needed.  In  February,  1899,  ^e 
moved  from  the  farm  into  the  city,  in  order  to 
give  his  children  the  educational  advantages  he 
desired  for  them.  He  has  never  been  active  in 
politics,  although  he  keeps  posted  concerning  the 
questions  brought  before  our  country  for  solution, 
and  in  his  opinions  inclines  toward  Republican 
doctrines. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gottschalg  took  place  in 
1S89  and  united  him  with  Maggie,  daughter  of 
Adam  Meyer,  a  resident  of  Troy  Township. 
They  have  four  children,  Ivy  Augusta,  Estella 
Ida,  Elmer  A.  and  Carl  August.  The  family  are 
connected  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 


Gl  RTHUR  C.  CLEMENT.  The  founder  of 
1  I  the  Clement  (or  Clements,  as  it  was  then 
/  I  spelled)  family  in  America  was  Robert 
Clements,  Jr.,  who  came  from  England  thirty 
years  after  the  sailing  of  the  ' '  Mayflower  ' '  and 
settled  in  Haverhill,  Mass.  He  was  one  of 
three  trustees  to  whom  the  town  was  deeded  by 


the  Indians.  In  the  subsequent  years  he  became 
a  man  of  great  influence  in  the  village,  where  his 
father  and  family  joined  him  and  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  death.  Benaiah  Clement, 
a  descendant  of  Robert,  Jr.,  spent  much  of  his 
life  in  Windsor,  Vt.,  where  he  was  born;  he  died 
at  forty-nine  years  of  age.  His  son,  Charles, 
was  born  in  Windsor  in  1810.  In  the  spring  of 
1833  he  came  west  on  horseback,  and  after  a 
short  time  in  Peoria,  111.,  settled  in  Joliet,  where 
he  bought  one  acre,  including  what  is  now  the 
northwest  corner  of  Bluff  and  Exchange  streets. 
He  built  the  first  frame  building  in  the  town, 
which  he  sold  later.  With  Mr.  Wilcox  he  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  for  two  years. 
In  company  with  that  gentleman,  Mr.  Allen 
and  others  he  established  the  Joliet  Courier  and 
published  the  same  in  Merchants'  Row  on  North 
Bluff  street.  In  the  possession  of  our  subject  is 
the  first  impress  of  the  first  edition  of  this  paper, 
which  bears  the  date  of  April  20,  1839. 

On  account  of  ill  health  Mr.  Clement  returned 
to  New  England  and  temporarily  retired  from 
business  pursuits.  About  i860  he  returned  to 
Joliet  and  started  a  dry-goods  store  on  the  corner 
of  Jefferson  and  Ottawa  streets,  where  the  Will 
County  Bank  now  stands.  In  1863  he  sold  out 
and  engaged  in  loaning  money  on  real-estate  and 
farm  lands.  In  politics  he  voted  with  the  Dem- 
ocrats, and  on  that  ticket  was  many  times  elected 
to  the  city  council.  He  died  in  this  city  Decem- 
ber n,  1878.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Cordelia  Wilcox,  was  born  in  Elbridge, 
N.  Y.,  in  1825,  and  died  in  Mayville,  that  state, 
in  1893.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Loami  Wilcox, 
a  farmer,  and  a  sister  of  the  gentleman  who  en- 
gaged in  business  with  her  husband.  The  family 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clement  consisted  of  a  son, 
Arthur  C,  and  a  daughter,  Alice  C. ,  Mrs. 
Chaney,  of  Chautauqua,  N.   Y. 

In  the  first  frame  house  built  in  Joliet  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  was  born  January  16,  1852. 
He  was  reared  in  Chester,  N.  H.,  until  ten  years 
of  age,  and  afterward  studied  in  the  Joliet  public 
schools.  In  1868  he  entered  Cornell  University, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1872  with  the  de- 
gree of  B.  S.     He  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 


416 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


office  of  Oliu  &  Phelps  and  later  studied  in 
the  Chicago  College  of  Law  for  a  year,  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Mount  Vernon,  111.,  in  1S75. 
Entering  upon  practice  he  was  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Phelps  &  Clement  until  1878,  when  his 
father  died  and  he,  as  administrator,  settled  up 
the  estate  and  continued  the  loan  business  started 
by  his  father.  In  18S5  he  formed  the  firm  of 
Clement  &  Oliver,  dealers  in  real  estate  and 
loans,  but  that  connection  was  dissolved  in  1891, 
and  he  continued  alone  for  some  years.  In  1897 
the  firm  of  Clement  &  Chaney  was  formed,  and 
this  partnership  continues  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  built  and  improved  considerable  real-estate. 
He  built  the  Clement  block  and  remodeled  and 
enlarged  it  so  that  it  now  contains  eight  stores, 
with  a  frontage  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-two 
feet  on  Ottawa  street  and  eighty-eight  feet  on 
Jefferson  street.  He  also  built  his  residence  at 
Xo.  300  South  Eastern  avenue.  Besides  his 
other  interests  he  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Will 
Count3"  National  Bank,  in  which  he  has  been  a 
director.  For  one  year  he  held  the  office  of 
president  of  the  Silver  Cross  hospital,  filling  the 
position  at  the  time  the  hospital  was  being 
erected.  A  charter  member  of  the  Union  Club, 
he  was  for  six  years  a  member  of  its  board  of 
directors  and  also  served  as  treasurer.  He  also 
held  membership  in  the  Stone  City  Club. 

In  Auburn,  N.  Y. ,  Mr.  Clement  married 
Georgia,  daughter  of  Alfred  Smith,  a  large 
farmer  of  that  place.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  children:  Charles,  a  student  in  the  North- 
western Medical  College;  and  Laura,  a  high 
school  student. 


EHARLES  N.  SPRAGUE,  a  member  of  an 
honored  pioneer  family  of  this  county,  owns 
and  occupies  a  beautiful  home  in  Joliet.  He 
was  born  in  Dupage  Township,  June  19,  1847, 
and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  J.  Sprague,  deceased, 
whose  sketch  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. Alternating  attendance  at  the  district 
schools  with  work  on   the  home  farm,  he  grew 


to  a  vigorous,  robust  manhood,  fitted  to  enter 
upon  the  responsibilities  of  life.  When  he  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age  he  married  and  begau 
for  himself,  purchasing  a  farm  and  devoting 
his  time  to  its  improvement.  Later  he  became 
interested  in  a  creamery,  which  he  operated  in 
conjunction  with  his  father,  meantime  renting 
his  farm  and  making  his  home  in  Joliet.  He 
continued  to  be  connected  with  the  creamery  until 
February  1,  1S97,  when  he  disposed  of  his  inter- 
est in  the  plant.  Since  1885  he  has  resided  in 
Joliet,  having  at  that  time  traded  his  farm  for 
property  in  the  city.  While  his  home  is  here, 
he  has  for  a  few  years  been  engaged  in  the  dairy 
and  stock  business  near  Marseilles,  La  Salle 
County,  111.,  where  in  1S97  he  purchased  a  farm 
of  five  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  breeding  Shorthorn  Durham  cattle, 
and  has  found  stock-raising  a  profitable  adjunct 
of  general  farming.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
conducted  a  milk  business  in  Joliet,  running  sev- 
eral milk  wagons  and  having  a  good  route.  At 
this  writing  he  owns  stock  in  the  Joliet  Lime- 
stone Company,  an  enterprise  that  is  proving 
quite  remunerative. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Sprague  took  place  No- 
vember 25,  1869,  and  united  him  with  Miss 
Alice  C.  Killmer,  who  was  born  in  Dupage  Town- 
ship, her  father,  Reuben  W.  Killmer,  having 
been  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  township.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children  now  living, 
namel}-:  Hattie  M.,  a  graduate  of  the  Joliet 
high  school  and  an  accomplished  young  lady; 
Mabel,  who  is  a  student  in  the  Joliet  schools; 
and  Thomas  K. 

Though  reared  in  the  Democratic  faith,  Mr. 
Sprague  has  not  allied  himself  with  any  party, 
but  maintains  independent  views  and  votes  for 
the  best  man.  For  one  year  he  served  as  assessor 
of  Dupage  Township,  and  for  five  terms  he  served 
as  town  clerk.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  Lock- 
port  Lodge,  No.  538,  A.  F.  &A.  M.,  in  1872, 
and  is  now  connected  with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge. 
With  his  family  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  has  officiated  as 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  congregation. 


•OF    I    £ 
UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


i^^t-^r~2s< 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


419 


SIMEON  WOODRUFF. 


QlMEON  WOODRUFF  was  born  in  Water- 
/\  town,  N.  Y.,  October  21,  1S33,  a  son  of 
\zJ  Lnther  and  Sarah  (Kyes)  Woodruff,  who 
were  also  natives  of  that  city.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Simeon  Woodruff,  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Watertown, 
where  he  died  at  eighty  years  of  age.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Aaron  Kyes,  also  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  settled  in  New  York,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farm  pursuits  and  also  engaged  in  the 
cooper's  trade.  In  1845  Luther  Woodruff  brought 
his  family  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  2,  Joliet  Township,  now  ad- 
joining the  city  limits.  He  died  in  Joliet  in 
1891,  when  eighty-seven  years  of  age.  His  wife 
died  in  this  city  in  1887, when  seventy- five.  They 
had  two  children,  Simeon  and  Mary  F.,  the  lat- 
ter of  whom  married  C.  H.  Nichols,  of  Joliet. 

After  coming  to  Illinois  our  subject  resided  on 
the  home  farm  until  1859.  In  the  spring  of  that 
year  he  left  for  Pike's  Peak,  determining  to  seek 
his  fortune  in  the  gold  fields  of  the  mountain 
regions.  He  outfitted  with  ox-te?msand  crossed 
the  Missouri  at  St.  Joe,  thence  took  the  Platte 
route  across  the  plains.  As  he  proceeded  farther 
he  met  large  numbers  of  people  returning,  dis- 
couraged and  disappointed,  having  met  with 
hard  luck  in  their  efforts  to  find  gold.  He  and 
his  friends  were  therefore  drawn  from  their 
original  intentions  and  decided  to  pursue  their 
way  to  California.  The  five  men,  with  three 
yoke  of  cattle  and  six  months'  provisions,  went  up 
the  Sweetwater  route,  crossed  the  mountains  to 


Downey ville,  Cal.,  reaching  that  place  after  a 
four  months'  trip  from  St.  Joe,  and  at  once  began 
placer  mining. 

At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Woodruff  was 
still  in  California.  In  1S64  he  enlisted  for  three 
years  (or  during  the  war)  in  Company  K, 
Seventh  California  Infantry,  and  was  sent  from 
Presidio  to  Arizona,  where  his  company  was 
stationed  at  Fort  McDowell.  They  located  the 
site  and  erected  the  first  adobe  buildings  there, 
being  the  first  soldiers  in  that  part  of  the  ter- 
ritory; this  fort  was  inspected  by  General  Mc- 
Dowell while  they  were  there.  They  remained 
there  until  April,  1S66,  when  they  were  relieved 
by  regulars  and  went  back  to  San  Francisco, 
where  they  were  mustered  out  of  the  service. 
Mr.  Woodruff  then  resumed  mining.  He  re- 
mained in  California  until  1875,  when,  after  an 
absence  of  sixteen  years,  he  returned  to  Illinois. 
This  journey  was  made  in  a  manner  far  different 
from  the  first  one.  Then,  he  had  traveled  with 
ox-teams;  now,  he  came  via  the  railroad,  enjoying 
all  of  the  conveniences  of  rapid  travel  and  attend- 
ing comforts.  When  he  arrived  in  Will  County 
he  engaged  in  farming  at  the  old  homestead,  and 
continued  thereuntil  1888,  when  he  embarked  in 
the  real-estate  business  in  Joliet.  He  has  been 
interested  in  the  laying  out  of  subdivisions  to  the 
city.  Woodruff  &  Nichols  and  Fuller  &  Wood- 
ruff laid  out  subdivisions  from  his  father's  home- 
stead, the  latter  firm  platting  eighty  acres  on 
section  23.  Mack,  Woodruff  &  Cowles  platted 
eighty-five  acres  on  section    26,   and   Fuller  & 


21 


420 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Woodruff  laid  out  the  Forest  park  addition  of 
forty  acres,  giving  two  and  one-half  acres  for  the 
site  of  the  Forest  park  school.  He  has  personally 
laid  out  Dewey  Bluffs,  comprising  thirty  acres. 
With  his  sister  he  gave  the  site  for  the  Windsor 
wire  mill.  Few  residents  of  Joliet  are  more 
familiar  than  he  with  the  real-estate  business;  he 
is  thoroughly  posted  concerning  values  and  has 
conducted  his  enterprises  in  a  manner  indicating 
good  ability  on  his  part. 

From  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
in  1856,  when  he  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  John  C.  Fremont,  Mr.  Woodruff  has  been  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  believes 
firmly  in  its  platform  and  principles.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  the  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  America.  He  was  married  in  Milwau- 
kee, Wis.,  to  Miss  Eunice  W.  Whitney,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  and  accompanied  her  parents 
to  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodruff  reside  on 
Macomber  avenue. 


0ILAS  I.  PARKER,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
?\  Channahou,  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
\£j  Yt.,  November  14,  i84i,ason  of  Charles  C. 
and  Elizabeth  (DeMeritt)  Parker.  He  was  one 
of  eight  children,  all  but  one  of  whom  are  still 
living,  viz.:  Emily  M.,  wife  of  George  Knapp, 
of  North  Menominee,  Wis.;  Samuel  D.  E.,  a 
stockman  of  Deadwood,  S.  Dak.;  Ann  Jeaunette, 
of  Menominee,  Wis.;  Silas  I.;  Orin,  a  farmer  of 
Conuersville,  Wis.  George  S.,  who  is  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  at  the  same  place;  and 
Genevieve,  of  Menominee.  The  father  was  born 
in  Montgomery,  Vt.,  September  5,  1814,  and  the 
mother  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  November 
7,  1813.  The  former  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  youth.  In  1843  he  removed  to  Wiscon- 
sin and  settled  in  Jefferson  County,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade.  In  1858  he  removed  to  a  farm 
he  had  purchased  some  years  before,  and  there 
he  remained  until  his  sons  had  grown  to  man- 
hood and  left  home.     About   1870  he  sold  the 


place  and  settled  in  Aztalan.  In  1877  he  re- 
moved to  Dunn  Count}'  and  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  March  31,  1881.  His  politics 
were  Republican.  For  some  years  he  served  as 
collector  of  his  township.  He  was  an  active 
worker  in  the  Methodist  Church,  where  he  long 
served  as  a  class-leader,  and  also  took  an  interest 
in  the  Sunday-school.  His  wife  was  a  daughter 
of  Davis  and  Abigail  (Emerson)  DeMeritt. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  our  subject 
became  an  enthusiastic  adherent  of  the  Union. 
August  29,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
Fifth  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  went  as  a  recruit 
to  his  regiment,  which  he  joined  on  the  battle- 
field of  Antietatn.  He  took  part  in  that  battle 
and  later  was  at  Fredericksburg.  In  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville,  May  3,  1863,  he  was  wounded 
and  left  for  dead  on  the  field.  However,  he  was 
found  to  be  still  alive  and  was  taken  to  the  field 
hospital,  where  he  remained  a  week.  Then,  with 
others,  he  was  taken  to  Washington  and  placed 
in  the  Campbell  hospital.  Afterward  his  father 
took  him  home,  he  having  been  given  a  thirty- 
days'  furlough.  At  the  expiration  of  the  time 
he  went  to  Camp  Randall  hospital  at  Madison, 
Wis. ,  where  he  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service  October  27,  1S63. 

Upon  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Parker  re- 
turned home.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  he  began 
to  work  at  the  wagon-maker's  trade,  opening  a 
shop  and  hiring  an  expert  workman,  from  whom 
he  learned  the  trade.  He  also  engaged  with  his 
father  in  the  saw-mill  and  threshing  business.  In 
the  summer  of  1866  he  went  to  Fort  Larned, 
Kans.,  and  worked  as  a  carpenter  in  the  govern- 
ment employ.  March  14,  1869,  he  married 
Melinda  S.  Knapp,  and  afterward  worked  for  a 
few  months  in  Kansas.  On  his  return  east  he 
settled  in  Will  County,  111.,  and  for  nine  years 
farmed  his  father-in-law's  farm.  In  1S79  he  re- 
moved to  Missouri  and  bought  a  farm  in  Miller 
County,  but  after  a  year  rented  his  place  and  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  in  Eldon,  also 
carried  on  a  lumber  business  and  a  flour  and  feed 
store.  In  1890  he  sold  his  farm  and  in  the  spring 
of  the  next  year  returned  to  Channahon,  where 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


421 


he  has  since  resided.  Of  recent  years  he  has 
given  his  attention  principally  to  farming,  al- 
though he  has  also  to  some  extent  engaged  in 
carpentering.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  wife  are  both  active  workers  in  the 
Methodist  Church  and  he  holds  the  office  of 
trustee  in  the  same.  He  is  a  member  of  Burden 
Post  No.  494,  G.  A.  R. ,  in  which  he  is  officer  of 
the  day.  He  and  his  wife  had  but  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Almira  E.,  who  was  born  June  29, 
1874,  but  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Parker  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Ira  O.  and 
Almira  (Joslyu)  Knapp,  the  former  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  this  section.  He  was  born  in 
Barre,  Vt.,  February  12,  1810.  In  1833  he 
graduated  in  medicine.  On  the  14th  of  July  of 
the  same  year  he  married  Miss  Joslyn,  after 
which  he  and  his  bride  started  for  the  west,  ar- 
riving in  Will  County  in  October.  During  their 
trip  they  stopped  one  night  in  Chicago  and  slept 
in  the  first  frame  house  ever  built  in  that  town. 
On  reaching  Will  County  they  spent  a  few  days 
with  the  doctor's  uncle  in  Plainfield,  thence  came 
to  Chauuahon.  He  was  the  first  physician  in 
this  part  of  the  county  and  his  professional  calls 
came  from  far  and  near,  but  the  large  amount  of 
night  work  and  the  long  drives  soon  told  on  his 
health,  and  about  1848  he  gave  up  his  practice. 
He  then  settled  on  a  farm  which  he  had  bought 
shortly  after  his  arrival  in  the  county.  Here  he 
spent  his  remaining  years.  His  integrity  and 
benevolence  won  him  the  esteem  and  love  of  all 
who  knew  him.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  then 
a  Republican,  and  finally  a  Prohibitionist.  He 
was  an  enthusiastic  worker  for  good  govern- 
ment, but  was  not  an  office  seeker.  In  1S44 
Governor  Ford  appointed  him  justice  of  the 
peace,  which  position  he  filled  for  some  years. 
He  was  a  prominent  worker  in  the  Methodist 
Church,  in  which  for  years  he  was  trustee  and 
steward.  He  was  one  of  five  persons  to  form 
the  first  class  in  Channahon  and  was  the  last  of 
the  five  to  depart  this  life.  He  passed  away  Jan- 
uary 6,  1894.  His  parents,  Mason  and  Nabby 
(Tryon)  Knapp,  were  probably  natives  of  Ver- 
mont. The  former  was  born  February  2,  1785, 
and  died  October   17,  1S71;  the   latter  was  born 


August  20,  178S,  and  died  June  7,  1862.  Mason 
Knapp  enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812,  but  never 
took  part  in  any  engagement;  he  was  marching 
to  the  engagement  at  Plattsburg  when  the  war 
closed.  In  1852  he  and  his  wife  came  to  Illinois, 
where  they  spent  their  remaining  years  with 
their  son. 

The  wife  of  Dr.  Knapp  was  a  daughter  of 
Luke  and' Lydia  (Graves)  Joslyn,  and  was  born 
January  26,  18 10,  at  Waitsfield,  Vt.  To  her 
marriage  the  following-named  children  were  born : 
George  L.,  born  July  8,  1834,  now  of  North 
Menominee,  Wis.;  Orin  S.,  born  October  14, 
1836,  now  engaged  in  the  saw-mill  business  at 
Loveland,  Colo.;  Melinda  S.,  born  August  24, 
183S;  Solon,  born  January  6,  1842,  now  a  sales- 
man at  Emerson,  Ala.;  Lydia  J.,  born  March  14, 
1S45,  and  died  October  11,  1S46;  and  Lydia  J. 
(2d),  born  January  22,  1847,  and  died  October 
21,  1847.  There  was  also  an  adopted  daughter, 
Sarah  M.  Goss,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  James 
Barry,  of  Elk  Grove,  S.  Dak. 


EHARLES  A.  McKENNA,  manager  of  the 
Caton  stock  farm  in  Plainfield  Township, 
has  been  with  Judge  J.  D.  Caton  and  his 
son  since  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  Begin- 
ning in  the  employ  of  the  judge,  he  proved  him- 
self to  be  diligent,  faithful  and  energetic,  and  was 
given  increased  responsibilities  as  he  grew  older. 
Since  1885  he  has  had  the  management  of  the 
Caton  farm  of  thirteen  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
which  is  the  largest  farm  in  the  state  that  has 
nothing  but  tillable  land.  Under  preceding  man- 
agers efforts  had  been  made  to  introduce  satis- 
factory drainage,  but  all  failed.  Under  his  su- 
pervision, however,  tiling  was  proved  to  be  thor- 
oughly practicable,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  of  tiling  were  laid.  Water  is  furnished  by 
an  artesian  well  twenty-five  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  deep.  Since  the  death  of  Judge  Caton,  in  July, 
1895,  Mr.  McKenna  has  been  retained  as  mana- 
ger for  the  judge's  son,  Arthur  J.  Caton,  of  Chi- 


4- - 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cago.  As  the  latter  visits  the  place  only  once  or 
twice  a  year,  the  entire  responsibility  of  the 
work  lies  with  the  manager,  and  to  him  may  be 
attributed  the  fine  improvements  noticeable  on 
the  property,  and  the  fact  that  the  farm  turns  in 
to  the  owner  a  large  annual  revenue. 

A  portion  of  the  land  is  devoted  to  the  raising 
of  farm  products.  About  twenty-three  thousand 
bushels  of  corn  are  sold  annually,  while  the  oats, 
averaging  twenty-five  thousand  bushels,  are  used 
for  feed.  A  specialty  is  made  of  stock-raising, 
in  which  department  of  agriculture  Mr.  McKenna 
has  shown  unusual  judgment  and  intelligence. 
There  are  on  the  place  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  head  of  horses,  many  of  which  are  fine  trot- 
ters; also  one  hundred  head  of  cattle,  some  of 
these  being  of  the  very  finest  grades;  and  about 
four  hundred  and  fifty  hogs,  the  specialty  being 
the  Poland-China  breed.  To  assist  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  place,  from  eighteen  to  twenty- 
five  men  are  hired.  There  are  seven  houses  on 
the  farm  and  sixteen  barns,  besides  other  substan- 
tial farm  buildings,  and  steam  engine,  thresher, 
corn  sheller,  etc.  During  the  harvest  season  six 
binders  are  operated. 

Politically  Mr.  McKenna  has  never  identified 
himself  with  any  party,  but  maintains  independ- 
ence in  opinions  and  views.  His  attention  has 
been  so  closely  given  to  his  farm  work  that  he 
has  no  leisure  for  official  positions,  and  although 
twice  nominated  for  the  office  of  supervisor,  he 
declined  to  accept  the  nominations.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  By  his  marriage,  in  1S85,  to  Miss 
Nora  Dunford,  of  Ottawa,  111.,  he  has  seven 
children:  William,  Anna,  John,  Laura,  Cather- 
ine, Margaret  and  Mary. 


|~)EY.  F.  S.  SUSTERSIC,  who  was  the  first 
l^A  and  has  been  the  only  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's 
r\  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Joliet,  came  to 
this  city  in  May,  1891,  with  instructions  from 
the  bishop  to  organize  a  congregation  of  his  fel- 


low-countrymen. He  at  once  gathered  together 
those  of  the  Catholic  faith,  bought  a  lot  on  Chi- 
cago street,  and  erected  a  handsome  stone  edi- 
fice, which  was  dedicated  in  October  of  the  same 
year.  In  1895  he  built  St.  Joseph's  school  in  the 
same  block,  an  institution  that  now  has  four 
rooms,  with  two  hundred  pupils,  to  whom  instruc- 
tion is  given  in  English  and  in  the  Slovenic  lan- 
guage, the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  being  in  charge 
of  the  work.  In  1898  a  neat  parsonage  was  com- 
pleted, and  during  the  same  year  a  place  on  Scott 
street  was  bought  for  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis 
who  are  in  charge  of  the  school.  The  bodies  of 
the  dead  are  laid  to  rest  in  a  cemetery  of  five 
acres  at  Washington  Heights,  which  was  bought 
in  1894  and  is  known  as  St.  Joseph's  cemetery. 
The  congregation  of  the  church  numbers  two 
hundred  families,  representing  two  nationalities, 
Slovenians  and  Croatians,  the  first-named  largelj- 
preponderating.  Among  the  societies  are  the 
Children  of  St.  Mary,  the  Ladies'  Altar  Society, 
and  four  Slovenian  and  one  Croatian  benevolent 
society.  This  is  also  the  headquarters  of  the 
Slovenic  Catholic  Union  of  the  United  States,  the 
secretary  and  treasurer  residing  here. 

In  the  city  of  Ljubljana,  province  of  Kraiu, 
Austria,  Father  Sustersic  was  born  January  21, 
1864,  a  son  of  Casper  and  Jennie  (Pecnik)  Sus- 
tersic, natives  of  the  same  place  and  members  of 
very  old  families  of  the  province.  His  father,  a 
farmer,  owned  the  estate,  "  Bobencek,"  and  died 
there  at  sixty -three  years.  Of  their  six  children 
three  are  living,  Father  Sustersic  being  the  eld- 
est. When  six  years  of  age  he  began  to  attend 
school  and  at  twelve  he  entered  the  gymnasium, 
where  he  completed  his  classical  studies.  When 
eighteen  he  entered  the  seminar}-  at  Ljubljana, 
the  capital  of  Krain,  where  he  studied  philoso- 
phy and  theology  for  four  years.  In  1S86,  at 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
priesthood.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  he  was  under 
the  stipulated  age  for  admission  to  orders,  it  re- 
quired a  special  dispensation  from  Pope  Leo  to 
make  his  ordination  valid.  He  was  ordained  in 
St.  Nicholas  Cathedral  at  Ljubljana  (orLaibach, 
as  called  in  German)  by  Bishop  (now  Cardinal) 
Missia.     For  two  years  he  was  assistant  pastor 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


423 


in  the  church  at  Smlednik  and  for  three  years 
he  was  stationed  at  Litija,  from  which  place  he 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1S91.  Learning 
that  many  of  his  countrymen  were  in  Joliet  and 
had  no  priest  of  their  mother  tongue,  and  that 
Archbishop  Feehan  was  desirous  of  securing  a 
Slav  priest,  he  at  once  secured  the  permission  of 
his  bishop  to  come  to  this  city,  and  has  since  ac- 
complished a  gratifying  work  in  bringing  together 
and  organizing  a  church  of  his  own  people.  In 
all  of  his  labors  he  has  the  hearty  co-operation  of 
his  parishioners,  who  place  the  utmost  confidence 
in  his  judgment  and  have  learned  to  esteem  him 
very  highly  as  pastor  and  priest. 


V/IOSES  G.  DEMMOND.  Connected  prom i- 
Y  nently  with  the  early  history  of  this  coun- 
(9  ty  is  the  name  of  Mr.  Demmond.  When 
he  first  came  to  Joliet,  having  made  the  long  jour- 
ney from  the  east  via  canal,  lakes  and  wagon,  it 
was  in  1839,  when  the  surroundings  were  those 
of  the  remote  frontier.  He  has  seen  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county  from  its  primeval  condition 
into  a  populous  and  wealthy  region,  and  in  the 
attainment  of  this  result  he  has  himself  been  no 
unimportant  factor.  His  name  occupies  an  hon- 
orable place  among  the  industrious  pioneers  who 
did  much  for  the  upbuilding  of  this  part  of 
Illinois. 

The  Demmonds  are  an  old  family  of  New  Eng- 
land, descended  from  Scotch  ancestors.  The 
grandfather  of  Mr.  Demmond,  who  was  the  son 
of  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was  born  in  New 
York  and  removed  from  there  to  Worcester 
County,  Mass.,  where  he  died.  The  father, 
Charles,  also  a  native  of  New  York,  came  west  in 
1839,  arriving  in  Joliet  on  the  10th  of  July,  ac- 
companied by  his  family.  He  had  traveled  by 
wagon  to  Albany,  thence  by  the  Erie  canal  to 
Buffalo,  from  there  on  a  steamer  "Great  Wester," 
to  Chicago  and  thence  by  wagon  to  Joliet,  the 
trip  taking  three  weeks.  By  trade  a  builder,  he 
followed  contracting  here  until  his  death,  in  1869, 


at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rebecca  Holden,  was 
born  in  Massachusetts  and  died  in  Joliet,  in  1885, 
when  eighty-two  3'ears  of  age.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  viz.:  Mrs.  Harriet 
Wilcox,  who  died  in  California;  William  C,  of 
Joliet;  Darwin  D.,  who  lives  in  Chicago;  Moses 
G.,  of  Joliet;  F.  E.  and  S.  M.,  of  Chicago;  and 
Mary  Rebecca,  who  is  married  and  resides  in 
Chicago. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Rut- 
land, Mass.,  July  1,  1831.  Almost  his  entire 
life  has  been  passed  in  the  west  and  his  education 
was  acquired  in  western  schools,  which  at  that 
time  were  crude  and  inferior.  At  an  early  age 
he  acquired,  under  his  father,  a  good  knowledge 
of  carpentering.  In  1850-51  he  acted  as  chain- 
man  and  flagman  for  a  corps  of  surveyors  on  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad,  and  when  the  road  was 
completed  here  he  went  to  Iowa  as  rodman  on 
the  Muscatine  branch.  Returning  to  Joliet  he 
married  and  afterward  engaged  in  clerking,  later 
for  two  years  worked  at  carpentering  with  his 
father,  and  then  settled  upon  Redmill  farm,  which 
he  operated  for  his  father-in-law,  Henry  D. 
Higinbotham.  After  a  time  he  removed  to 
Twelve  Mile  Grove,  where  he  continued  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1864  he  moved  into  Joliet, 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  business  interests  of 
H.  N.  Higinbotham,  of  Chicago,  superintend- 
ing the  management  of  his  fifteen  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  this  county.  He  continued  to  act  in 
this  capacity  until  1893,  when  illness  obliged 
him  in  a  measure  to  lay  aside  business  cares. 
From  1890  to  1898  he  resided  on  the  old  Higin- 
botham farm,  but  since  the  latter  year  has  made 
his  home  at  No.  1004  Cass  street,  Joliet. 

A  Democrat  until  1880,  since  then  Mr.  Dem- 
mond has  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party. 
For  two  years  each  he  served  as  alderman  from 
the  first  ward  and  police  constable,  also  held  the 
office  of  superintendent  of  streets  of  Joliet  under 
Mayor  W.  A.  Steele.  During  his  residence  in 
Wilton  Township  he  was  collector  for  two  years 
and  constable  for  a  year.  In  the  days  when  the 
street  cars  of  Joliet  were  operated  by  mule  power, 
he  held  the  office  of  superintendent  of  the  street 


424 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


railway,  continuing  for  two  years  until  the  road 
changed  hands.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Uni- 
versalis!, and  fraternally  holds  membership  with 
Matteson  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

At  the  old  Higinbotham  home  on  Cass  street, 
March  iS,  1S56,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Demmond  and  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Higinbotham, 
who  was  born  in  this  county,  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Henry  D.,  and  sister  of  Harlow  N.  Higin- 
botham, of  Chicago.  They  are  the  parents  of 
six  children,  namely:  Henry  C,  who  is  a  con- 
stable in  Joliet;  Frank  E-,  a  tailor  in  this  city; 
Mrs.  Ella  A.  Park,  of  Joliet;  Mrs.  Mary  Pasold 
and  Mrs.  Myra  Porter  (twins),  the  latter  living 
in  Kankakee;  and  Moses  G.,  Jr. ,  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  Fox  Steel  Company. 


(1ASPER  Y.  CUTLER,  who  since  1867  has 
I  owned  and  occupied  a  farm  in  Homer  Town- 
C/  ship,  was  born  in  Burlington,  Vt.,  April  25, 
1825,  a  son  of  Lyman  M.  and  Lucy  (Hamilton) 
Cutler,  natives  of  Connecticut  and  Vermont  re- 
spectively. His  father  moved  to  Vermont  when 
a  young  man,  and  from  there  went  to  Madison 
County,  N.Y.,  thence  to  Erie  Count}-,  Ohio,  and 
in  1846  settled  in  Chicago,  where  hedied  in  1851, 
at  sixty-one  years  of  age.  In  the  various  locali- 
ties where  he  resided  he  did  much  toward  clear- 
ing and  improving  farm  land,  and  at  the  same 
time  he  conducted  a  tanning  business  on  a  small 
scale.  In  politics  he  was  a  "  rock-ribbed  "  Dem- 
ocrat, ever  true  to  party  principles.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  David  Hamilton,  for  years  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  in  Vermont.  Mrs.  Lucy  Cutler 
died  January  19,  1S80,  when  eighty-one  years  of 
age.  Of  her  eight  children,  five  grew  to  matur- 
ity, viz.:  Lyman  G.,  who  was  born  September 
12,  1820,  and  died  in  Chicago,  May  19,  1858; 
Edmund  S.,  who  was  born  April  14,  1823,  and  is 
now  living  in  Denver,  Colo. ;  Jasper  Y. ;  Azro 
C,  of  Joliet,  who  was  born  September  13,  1827; 
and  Lucy  Ann,  who  was  born  October  25,  1830, 
and  died  July  16,  1852. 


When  the  family  moved  from  Vermont  to  New 
York  our  subject  was  two  years  of  age.  He  was 
reared  in  New  York  and  Ohio,  and  received  a 
common-school  education.  With  his  brother, 
Lyman  G.,  in  1844  he  left  Ohio  and  drove  with 
a  team  to  Peoria,  111.,  where  an  uncle  resided. 
In  that  city  he  was  taken  ill  and  was  unable  to 
engage  in  work  of  any  kind  for  about  six  months. 
After  partially  regaining  his  health  he  secured 
employment  in  caring  for  horses  in  a  stage  stable. 
In  July  of  the  same  year  he  took  a  stage- team 
and  drove  the  stages  through  his  section  of  Illi- 
nois, continuing  with  the  same  company  for  six 
years,  meantime  making  a  number  of  trips  from 
St.  Louis  to  Chicago.  His  next  position  was  in 
a  lumber-yard  owned  by  Foss  &  Bros. ,  in  Chica- 
go, where  he  was  employed  for  two  years. 
Through  the  influence  of  his  employer,  Mr.  Foss, 
he  was  elected  a  constable  forthe  city  of  Chicago, 
and  he  also  served  as  deputy  sheriff  under  Will- 
iam L.  Church.  For  some  3-ears  afterward,  until 
i860,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Chicago  police 
force,  in  which  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
lieutenant.  When  he  first  became  connected 
with  the  force  it  had  but  twelve  officers.  At  the 
time  of  the  riot  in  Chicago,  April  21,  1855,  he 
was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  and  bore  himself 
with  such  courage  and  fidelity  that,  in  grateful 
appreciation  of  his  services  at  the  time,  the  citi- 
zens of  Chicago  afterward  presented  him  with  a 
gold  medal. 

In  1S60  Mr.  Cutler  resigned  as  a  police  officer 
in  order  to  accept  a  position  with  the  government 
as  steamboat  inspector  at  the  Chicago  custom- 
house, where  he  remained  until  1866.  During 
the  Civil  war,  being  already  in  the  government 
employ,  he  was  ineligible  to  army  service,  but  his 
loyalty  to  our  country  and  his  anxiety  for  the 
success  of  the  Union  cause  led  him  to  employ  a 
substitute  to  enlist  in  his  stead.  In  1867  he  re- 
moved from  Chicago  to  this  county,  and  pur- 
chased ninety  acres  in  Homer  Township,  where 
he  has  since  followed  general  farm  pursuits. 
Here,  as  in  Chicago,  he  has  been  interested  in 
local  matters.  He  has  always  been  stanch  in  his 
allegiance  to  Republican  principles,  voting  the 
straight  ticket  at  every  election.      In  the  office  of 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


425 


highway  commissioner  he  rendered  efficient  serv- 
ice. A  friend  of  the  public  schools,  he  served  as 
director  for  years,  meantime  promoting  the  cause 
of  education  in  his  locality.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Homer  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  of  which  he  was  a  director  for  years, 
and  the  welfare  of  which  he  still  has  deeply  at 
heart. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Cutler,  May  5,  1852, 
united  him  with  Ann,  daughter  of  John  Felton, 
of  Michigan.  Five  children  comprise  their  fam- 
ily: EllaE.,  wife  of  Charles H.  Peck;  Carrie  L., 
who  married  George  Gilman;  Frank  J.  and 
Charles  N.,who  are  farmers  in  Homer  Township; 
and  John  F.,  who  was  born  in  1878,  and  is  still 
with  his  parents.  The  oldest  son,  Frank  J.,  was 
born  August  12,  1861,  and  married  Hattie,  a 
sister  of  George  Gilman.  They  have  one  son, 
Ralph.  A  young  man  of  enterprise  and  ability, 
he  has  become  one  of  the  prominent  agriculturists 
of  the  township.  He  deals  in  market  cattle  and 
hogs  and  also  owns  seventy  milch  cows,  making 
large  shipments  of  milk  every  day  to  Chicago. 
For  several  years  he  served  as  collector,  and  at 
this  writing  he  holds  the  office  of  highway  com- 
missioner. The  second  son,  Charles  N.,  born  in 
1872,  married  Lucy  Young,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Laura  and  an  infant  son. 


'JTjEORGE  GOSS,  who  has  been  a  businesman 
_  of  Joliet  since  1864,  was  born  at  Wiirtzburg- 
JJ  on-the-Main,  Bavaria,  Germany,  August  27, 
1838,  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Goss,  natives 
of  the  same  place.  He  was  the  youngest  of  five 
children,  and  the  only  one  to  come  to  the  United 
States.  His  father,  who  was  the  son  of  a  soldier 
in  the  Napoleonic  wars  in  Germany  and  Russia, 
was  captain  of  the  first  steamboat  on  the  Main 
and  also  on  the  Rhine,  and  continued  at  the  head 
of  the  line  until  the  company  retired  from  busi- 
ness in  1870.  His  death  occurred  in  1880,  when 
he  was  eighty  years  of  age.  His  wife  had  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years. 


In  1854  our  subject  took  passage  at  Bremen  on 
the  sailing  vessel  "  North  Wind,"  which  arrived 
in  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  twenty-nine  days. 
Proceeding  to  Buffalo,  lie  worked  at  the  butcher's 
trade  for  a  year  there,  and  then  spent  a  similar 
period  in  Milwaukee.  In  1856  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  was  employed  as  a  butcher  for 
two  years.  His  next  location  was  in  Ottawa, 
where  he  carried  on  a  business  of  his  own.  The 
year  1864  found  him  in  Joliet,  where  he  started  a 
meat  market  on  Joliet  street,  between  Jefferson 
and  Washington.  However,  he  sold  out  in  two 
months,  and  formed  a  partnership  in  the  retail 
meat  and  produce  business  with  Joseph  Reich- 
mann,  opening  a  market  on  Chicago  street  near 
Jefferson.  Later  the  market  was  moved  across 
the  street,  where-  he  continued  business  alone. 
He  also  built  a  double  stone  store  building  on 
Chicago  street,  across  the  alley  from  the  Barber 
building.  For  two  years  or  more  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Goss  &  Adler,  on  Exchange, 
near  Bluff  street. 

The  present  post-office  building,  at  Nos.  113- 
1 15  Jefferson  street.was  built  by  Mr.  Goss  in  1893. 
It  is  a  two-story  building,  44XS0  feet,  the  first 
floor  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  post-office.  In 
1896  he  bought  the  store  at  No.  405  Washington 
street,  where  he  has  a  three-story  building,  22X 
150.  Of  recent  years  he  has  carried  on  a  whole- 
sale meat  busiuess.  He  has  a  packing  house  in 
Joliet  Township,  two  miles  northeast  of  the  city, 
where  he  carries  on  a  rendering  factory.  He  also 
conducts  a  wholesale  busiuess  in  hides,  etc.  Be- 
sides this  business,  he  owns  a  small  farm  in  Joliet 
Township.  While  he  is  now  in  prosperous  cir- 
cumstances, and  has  made  a  success  of  his  busi- 
ness, yet  he  has  met  with  his  share  of  reverses. 
During  the  time  he  spent  in  Ottawa  he  lost 
almost  everything  through  the  absconding  of  a 
government  contractor,  and  in  1873,  when  the 
panic  came  on,  he  lost  the  first  two  buildings  he 
erected  in  Joliet.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  religion  holds  membership  in  St.  John's 
Roman  Catholic  Church. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Goss,  in  Ottawa,  united 
him  with  Miss  Anna  Boersle,  who  was  born  in 
Dayton,  111.     They  are  the  parents  of  six  chil- 


426 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dren,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  his  father's  namesake 
and  business  partner.  The  others  are  Fred;  Mrs. 
Minnie  Mergel,  of  Chicago;  Annie;  Louisa,  at 
home;  and  Mrs.  Emma  Kennedy,  of  Joliet. 


HON.  THOMAS  J.  KELLY.  Through  his 
long  and  intimate  connection  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  and  public  affairs  of  Joliet, 
Mr.  Kelly  has  become  well  known  to  the  resi- 
dents of  this  city.  In  i368  he  established  his 
present  dry-goods  business,  having  as  a  partner 
his  brother  Joseph  A.,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Kelly  Brothers.  In  1875  the  block  he  now  occu- 
pies was  built,  and  the  following  year  he  pur- 
chased his  brother's  interest,  since  which  time  he 
has  conducted  the  business  alone.  While  neces- 
sarily much  of  his  time  and  thought  are  given  to 
the  management  of  his  store,  yet  he  has  found 
leisure  for  other  interests.  He  was  trustee  of  the 
company  that  platted  and  laid  out  Boulevard 
Heights,  and  served  as  president  of  the  South 
Joliet  Land  Company,  that  laid  out  South  Joliet 
addition.  He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Mutual 
Loan  and  Building  Association. 

Politically  Mr.  Kelly  voted  with  the  Democrats 
until  the  candidacy  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden  in  1876, 
when  he  became  a  Greeubacker.  The  tariff 
question  led  him  to  ally  himself  with  the  Repub- 
licans. After  the  St.  Louis  convention  of  1896, 
not  being  in  sympathy  with  the  gold  platform  of 
the  Republican  party,  he  returned  to  the  Demo- 
cratic ranks,  being  a  bimetallist  in  the  broad 
sense  of  that  word.  He  has  been  closely  con- 
nected with  politics  in  his  city  and  county,  and 
has  frequently  been  chosen  to  occupy  positions  of 
trust.  For  two  terms  he  was  supervisor  of  Joliet 
Township,  for  two  terms  served  as  assistant  su- 
pervisor, and  for  two  terms  held  the  chairmanship 
of  the  county  board  of  supervisors,  being  chairman 
when  the  present  court  house  was  erected,  and  it 
was  in  no  small  measure  due  to  his  efforts  that  the 
substantial  and  commodious  fireproof  building 
was  erected.    In  1S83  he  was  first  elected  mayor. 


His  service  was  so  satisfactory  that  he  was  re- 
elected in  1885  and  1889,  serving  until  1891. 
During  his  administration  the  fire  and  police  de- 
partments were  organized,  and  street  improve- 
ments of  great  value  were  made. 

The  Kellys  are  an  old  family  of  Trellick, 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  Our  subject's  grand- 
father, Thomas  Kelly,  was  a  merchant  of  that 
town.  One  of  his  sous,  Rev.  John  Kelly,  became 
a  Roman  Catholic  priest,  and  died  in  New  Jersey. 
Two  others,  Eugene  and  Patrick,  settled  in  Cali- 
fornia, where  the  latter  died.  Eugene,  who 
crossed  the  ocean  about  1834,  spent  some  years 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  St.  Louis,  and  in 
1849  went  to  California,  where  he  became  one  of 
the  largest  merchants  and  bankers  of  his  day. 
Later  he  was  identified  with  the  banking  business 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  died  in  December, 
1894.  The  oldest  son,  Edward,  was  for  some 
years  a  merchant  in  Trellick.  In  December, 
1847,  he  left  Ireland  on  the  sailer  "  Sea,"  which 
anchored  in  New  York  City  in  January,  1848. 
In  the  spring  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Will 
County,  111.,  and  settled  four  miles  south  of  Joliet, 
in  Jackson  Township,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  adjoining  lands 
from  Robert  Duncan,  an  old  settler  of  Joliet. 
For  sixteen  years  he  engaged  in  the  cultivation 
of  that  place.  He  then  sold  it  and  bought  a  farm 
in  the  southern  part  of  Lockport  Township, 
where  he  improved  a  valuable  tract  of  one- half 
section.  He  died  there  November  5,  1S71,  at 
the  age  of  seventy- one  years.  His  wife,  who  died 
in  1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven,  was  Rose,  a 
daughter  of  Owen  Curren,  a  farmer  of  County 
Tyrone,  but  during  his  last  years  a  resident  of 
Will  County,  where  he  and  his  wife  died  in  old 
age.  Edward  and  Rose  Kelly  had  two  sons, 
Thomas  J.,  and  Joseph  A.,  of  Joliet,  and  two 
daughters,  Catherine  and  Bridget,  of  Chicago. 

Accompanying  his  parents  to  this  country, 
our  subject  remained  in  New  York  City  for  a 
year  after  they  came  west,  and  in  1849  he  joined 
them  on  a  farm  in  Will  County.  In  1854  ne 
entered  Notre  Dame  University  at  South  Bend, 
Ind.,  where  he  studied  for  eighteen  months. 
Later  he  spent  two  years  at  St.  Mary's  College, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


427 


Wilmington,  Del.  In  i860  he  graduated  from 
the  Jesuit  College  in  Montreal,  after  which  he 
returned  to  the  farm  and  remained  there  for  seven 
years.  He  began  in  business  in  Wilmington  in 
1867,  the  following  year  moved  to  Joliet,  and  has 
since  carried  on  a  store  on  Jefferson  street. 

At  Lockport,  111.,  in  186S,  Mr.  Kelly  married 
Marjr,  daughter  of  Patrick  Fitzpatrick,  who  in 
1832  came  from  Ontario  to  this  county  and  set- 
tled on  the  west  bluff.  Mr.  Kelly  and  his  wife- 
are  faithful  and  prominent  members  of  St.  Mary's 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  he  has  contributed 
generously  to  its  various  charities.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  the  Joliet 
Sharpshooters'  Association.  He  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  welfare  and  progress  of  Joliet,  and 
has  given  liberally  of  his  time  and  influence  to 
promote  enterprises  of  undoubted  value  to  the 
city. 


0  LIVER  S.  CHAMBERLIN.  Among  those 
who,  through  unaided  exertions  and  the  ex- 
ercise of  sound  judgment,  have  risen  from 
humble  positions  in  youth  to  places  of  honor  and 
influence  among  their  fellow-citizens,  may  be 
mentioned  Mr.  Chamberlin,  who  for  years  was 
an  enterprising  business  man  and  farmer  of  this 
county,  but  is  now  living  retired  at  No.  1 1 12  Cass 
street,  Joliet.  He  was  born  in  southeastern 
Canada,  near  Vermont,  September  14,  1825,  a 
son  of  Franklin  and  Rebecca  (Leavitt)  Chamber- 
lin, natives  of  Waterford,  Me.,  and  Stoke,  Vt. 
His  paternal  ancestors  were  from  England  and 
settled  on  the  coast  of  New  England  during 
colonial  days.  The  grandfather,  John  Chamber- 
lin, a  native  of  Waterford,  engaged  in  business 
as  proprietor  of  a  packing  house.  After  the  close 
of  the  war  of  1812  he  moved  his  family  into  the 
dense  woods  of  Canada  East,  one  hundred  miles 
from  Montreal.  Cutting  down  the  timber,  he 
"grubbed,"  cleared  and  improved  a  farm,  and  on 
it  spent  his  remaining  active  years.  Up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  he  retained,  in  full,  his  physical 
and  mental  powers,  and  the  death  summons  came 


suddenly  to  him  while  seated  at  the  breakfast 
table  one  morning  in  the  home  of  his  son,  John, 
near  Montreal.  He  had  only  two  children, 
Franklin  and  John.  The  latter,  a  lifelong  resi- 
dent of  Canada,  was  especially  active  in  church 
matters  and  served  as  a  deacon  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Born  January  22,  1797,  Franklin  Chamberlin 
was  a  boy  when  his  parents  settled  in  Canada, 
and  there  he  grew  to  manhood.  In  1837  ne 
journeyed  by  wagon  from  Canada  to  Chicago, 
thence  came  to  what  is  now  Will  County  and 
took  up  laud  at  Twelve  Mile  Grove.  After  seven 
years  he  moved  to  Blue  Island.  In  185 1  he 
moved  to  Black  Oak  Grove,  now  known  as  Oak 
Lawn,  of  which  he  was  a  pioneer.  During  his 
residence  there  he  represented  the  town  of  Worth 
as  a  member  of  the  Cook  County  board  of  super- 
visors for  several  years,  and  was  a  leader  in  local 
politics.  On  the  farm  which  he  improved  there 
he  died,  when  eighty-four  years  of  age.  His 
wife  died  at  the  home  of  their  daughter,  Mrs. 
Adams,  in  Utah,  in  1889,  aged  ninety-two  years. 
Of  their  seven  children,  Sallie  Ann  died  at 
Nachusa,  111. ;  Oliver  S.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Annie  married  Jediah  Scott,  now  of  Cali- 
fornia; Mary  married  John  Adams  and  lives  in 
Centerville,  Utah;  James  lives  in  Pasadena; 
Henry  went  to  Nevada  and  traveled  by  wagon 
from  there  to  Oregon,  settling  seventy-five  miles 
from  Lagrande,  where  he  died  in  1896;  and  one 
child  died  in  infancy. 

When  twelve  years  of  age  our  subject  accom- 
panied his  parents  from  Canada  to  Chicago,  a 
trip  that  consumed  four  months.  They  reached 
Chicago  in  the  summer  and  found  it  a  small,  in- 
significant town.  Joliet,  too,  was  a  little  hamlet 
of  no  importance.  He  assisted  in  building  a 
cabin  on  the  claim  at  Twelve  Mile  Grove,  using 
black  walnut  timber  in  the  construction  of  the 
building.  He  accompanied  his  parents  later  to 
Blue  Island,  where  he  remained  until  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age.  In  1854  he  began  to  buy 
cattle  and  afterward  engaged  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness on  a  rather  extensive  scale.  In  1857  he 
purchased  a  farm  near  Blue  Island  and  there  he 
made  his  home  for  seven  years,  meantime  buying 


428 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  selling  cattle.  In  1862  he  sold  his  farm  and 
moved  to  Joliet,  where  he  resided  for  thirteen 
years.  On  coming  to  this  citj-  he  purchased  the 
crockerj-  business  of  Thomas  Cagwin,  and  for 
some  years  sold  crockery  and  glassware.  His 
store  and  stock  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1866, 
after  which  he  opened  a  store  on  Chicago  street, 
continuing  in  the  grocery  business  there  for  a 
few  years.  In  1875  he  sold  out  and  purchased  a 
farm  on  Maple  street,  New  Lenox  Township, 
where  he  engaged  in  raising  fine  stock  and  made 
his  home  for  seventeen  years.  When  he  rented 
his  farm  in  1892  he  moved  to  the  house  formers- 
owned  by  his  father-in-law,  and  here  he  has  lived 
in  retirement  from  business  cares.  Besides  the 
property  which  he  owns,  his  wife  has  four  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  in  New  Lenox  Township, 
which  she  rents.  In  politics  he  always  votes  the 
Republican  ticket. 

In  1853  Mr.  Chamberlin  married  Eliza,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  K.  Stevens,  whose  sketch  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  volume.  They  have  one 
sou'  now  living,  Frank  E  ,  and  lost  one  son,  Al- 
bert H.,  the  elder  of  the  two,  who  was  killed  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  while  on  a  hunting  trip  on 
the  Kankakee  River.  Frank  E.  married  Vir- 
ginia C,  daughter  of  George  House,  and  they 
and  their  son,  Albert  F. ,  reside  with  his  father 
and  mother  on  Cass  street. 


qJEORGE  A.  DUCKER.  In  studying  the 
— I  lives  of  successful  business  men,  we  find 
,_J  that  they  invariabty  possess  great  energy  of 
character.  It  is  to  the  possession  of  this  quality 
that  Mr.  Ducker  owes  not  a  little  of  his  pros- 
perity, for  through  it,  and  the  exercise  of  wise 
judgment  in  all  transactions,  he  has  been  enabled 
to  build  up  a  business  that  stands  among  the 
foremost  of  Joliet  enterprises.  When  he  began, 
in  1886,  the  trade  was  small  and  the  stock  of 
goods  far  inferior  to  that  of  the  present  time. 
From  time  to  time  he  increased  his  stock  by  ad- 
ding new  departments,   and  in    1S96  he  merged 


the  business  into  a  department  store,  with  a  com- 
plete general  line  of  goods.  In  his  store  at  Nos. 
221-223  Chicago  street  he  uses  four  floors,  with 
a  frontage  of  sixty-six  feet  afid  a  depth  of  ninety 
feet.  The  basement  and  first  and  second  floors 
are  used  for  retail  purposes,  while  the  third  is  for 
storage.  Since  1896  the  business  has  been  car- 
ried on  under  the  firm  name  of  George  A.  Ducker 
&  Co.,  his  partner  being  J.  C.  Hunt,  who  has 
charge  of  the  second  floor.  In  March,  1898, 
Mr.  Ducker  became  interested  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  mercantile  house  of  Fred  Roblin  & 
Co.,  in  Waukegan,  and  he  has  since  been  a  mem- 
ber of  this  firm. 

His  ability  as  a  merchant  and  financier  Mr. 
Ducker  probably  inherits  from  his  father,  James 
Ducker,  who  was  for  years  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful business  men  in  this  count}-.  In  his 
sketch  upon  another  page  appears  the  family  his- 
tory. Our  subject  was  born  in  Mokena,  this 
county,  April  16,  1S59.  When  only  eleven  years 
of  age  he  began  to  assist  in  his  father's  store. 
After  coming  to  Joliet  in  1S74  he  was  for  two 
years  cashier  and  bookkeeper  with  his  father. 
At  the  same  time  he  studied  under  a  private  tu- 
tor. In  1876  he  became  connected  with  the  sales 
department  and  after  a  time  was  made  buyer  for 
the  store.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  went  to  Red 
Cloud,  Neb.,  and  opened  a  dry-goods  store,  but 
when  his  father  died,  in  December  of  that  year, 
he  sold  the  business  and  returned  to  act  as  exec- 
utor of  the  estate.  Since  the  estate  was  settled 
he  has  been  in  business  in  Joliet. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Ducker  is  a  member  of  Mat- 
teson  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Joliet  Chapter,  and 
Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T. ,  also  Medinah 
Temple,  N.  M.  S.  In  the  order  of  Elks  he  is  a 
member  of  the  local  board  of  trustees,  and  he  is 
also  actively  connected  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  Socially  he  is  identified  with 
the  Union  Club.  A  Democrat  in  politics,  he 
was  in  the  spring  of  189S  elected  assistant  super- 
visor of  Joliet  Township,  and  since  his  election  to 
the  board  has  been  chairman  of  the  purchasing 
committee  for  the  courthouse  and  jail,  and  a 
member  of  other  committees.  In  religion  he  is 
a  Universalist.    In  this  city  he  married  Florence, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


429 


daughter  of  Valentine  Rathburn,  who  was  for 
years  a  farmer  in  Dupage  Count}-,  111.,  but  died 
in  Joliet.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dueker  have  two  chil- 
dren, Edna  M.  and  George  A.,  Jr. 


ROBERT  ALEXANDER,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  meat  business  in  Joliet  and  is 
also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Fleischer  & 
Co.,  representing  the  Anheuser-Busch  Brewing 
Company,  was  born  in  Stuttgart,  the  capital  city 
of  Wurtemberg,  German}-,  March  2,  1853,  a  son 
of  Isaac  and  Theresa  (Neuman)  Alexander, 
also  natives  of  Wurtemberg.  His  father,  a  man 
of  superior  intelligence  and  information,  became 
interested  at  an  early  age  in  antiquities  and 
in  art,  and  gave  his  attention  to  the  collec- 
tion of  paintings,  arms  and  armor,  laces,  porce- 
lain, etc.  In  thiswayjhe  became  known  through- 
out his  entire  country,  and  his  collection  was  said 
to  be  one  of  the  finest  ever  made.  His  life  was 
wholly  given  up  to  his  family  and  his  business. 
His  wife  died  in  1869  and  he  in  1893.  Of  their 
ten  children,  three  daughters  and  two  sons  are 
still  living,  the  two  latter,  Robert  and  Henry, 
being  in  Joliet. 

After  having  completed  the  studies  of  the  high 
school  in  Stuttgart,  our  subject  came  to  America 
in  1870,  joining  two  sisters  in  North  Carolina, 
where  he  secured  work  as  a  clerk.  Later  he  was 
employed  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Memphis,  Tenu.,  and 
St.  Paul,  Minn.  The  summer  of  1S76  he  spent 
in  Bismarck,  N.  Dak.,  after  which  he  clerked  in 
Brownsville,  Tex.,  for  four  years.  In  1883  he 
went  to  Chicago  and  was  employed  in  the  office 
of  the  commanding  general,  Philip  Sheridan,  in 
that  city.  When  General  Schofield  succeeded  to 
the  command,  he  continued  with  him  as  confi- 
dential clerk,  and  also  held  a  similar  position 
with  the  next  commanding  generals,  Terry  and 
Crook.  On  the  death  of  General  Crook,  in  1890, 
he  came  to  Joliet  and  embarked  in  the  wholesale 
meat  business  with  his  father-in  law,  Jonas  Kahu, 
the    firm    title   being    Kahn    &  Alexander.      At 


first  they  acted  as  consignees  for  Armour  &  Co. , 
but  in  1894  they  settled  with  that  firm  and  en- 
gaged in  business  independently.  Since  the 
death  of  Mr.  Kahn,  March  24,  1897,  Mr.  Alexan- 
der has  been  alone,  although  he  still  retains  the 
old  firm  name. 

In  Chicago,  in  1886,  Mr.  Alexander  married 
Millie,  daughter  of  Jonas  Kohn.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  Matteson  Lodge  of  Masonry, 
is  past  high  priest  of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and 
a  member  of  the  council  of  Royal  and  Select  Mas- 
ters in  Joliet.  He  is  also  associated  with  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  Besides  his  other 
interests  he  acts  as  executor  of  the  Kahn  estate. 
He  is  an  energetic  and  capable  business  man  and 
is  justly  meeting  with  success. 


(TAMES  WALSH,  a  retired  farmer  residing 
I  in  Spencer,  New  Lenox  Township,  was  born 
\Z)  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  in  183S.  At 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  landing  in  New  York  City,  and  for  a  short 
time  working  as  a  hired  hand  on  farms,  after- 
ward engaging  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his 
own  account.  In  1851  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Joliet,  which  at  that  time  had  only  one 
business  street.  He  was  employed  on  the  Rock 
Island  Railroad  during  its  construction,  after 
which  he  rented  a  farm.  In  1855  he  bought 
property  on  section  27,  New  Lenox  Township, 
where  he  began  independent  farming.  At  dif- 
ferent times  he  bought  other  farm  land,  until  he 
now  owns  five  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as 
may  be  found  in  the  entire  county,  besides  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Livingston 
County,  111.  Besides  raising  cereals,  he  gave 
considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  stock,  and 
in  both  departments  of  agriculture  met  with  grati- 
fying success.  He  continued  to  make  his  home 
on  the  farm  until  1891,  when  he  rented  the  place 
and  purchased  a  home  in  Spencer.  It  is  his  in- 
tention to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  this 


43° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


village,  retired  from  active  labors,  and  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  comforts  his  industry  has  rendered 
possible.  Having  been  a  hard-working  man,  he 
well  deserves  the  rest  he  now  enjoys. 

The  platform  of  the  Democratic  party  repre- 
sents the  political  views  of  Mr.  Walsh,  who  has 
been  a  steadfast  supporter  of  its  men  and  meas- 
ures and  has  shown  considerable  interest  in  town 
affairs.  For  a  number  of  years  he  served  as 
school  director.  He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
His  life  shows  what  it  is  possible  for  a  man  to  ac- 
complish in  this  world,  when  he  is  industrious 
and  has  the  aid  of  a  good  wife.  In  the  early 
days  of  his  residence  here  he  was  compelled  to 
work  almost  ceaselessly,  and  often  the  hour  of 
midnight  found  him  still  in  the  field.  Equally 
hard-working  was  his  wife,  who  frequently  bound 
grain  all  night,  working  in  the  field  by  his  side 
both  night  and  day. 

Prior  to  her  marriage,  in  New  York  City,  in 
1S51,  Mrs.  Walsh  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mar- 
garet Delauey;  she  was  a  daughter  of  William 
Delaney,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland 
in  1S49.  The  six  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walsh  are  named  as  follows:  Annie,  wife  of 
James  Carroll;  John-  and  Martin,  farmers  of  this 
county;  Michael  and  James,  of  Campus,  Living- 
ston County;  and  Patrick,  a  teacher  in  the  schools 
of  this  county.  Mr.  Walsh  and  his  wife  also 
adopted  a  child  of  six  years  from  the  New  York 
St.  Joseph's  orphan  asylum.  They  gave  her  the 
name  of  Annie  Walsh,  and  she  still  remains 
with  them,  finding  a  happy  home  with  her 
adopted  parents. 


"HOMAS  J.  NEESE,  supervisor  of  Wesley 
Township,  and  a  dealer  in  agrieidtural  im- 
plements at  Ritchey,  has  been  connected 
with  the  farming  interests  of  the  township  since 
1876,  when  he  settled  on  a  farm  here.  Besides 
his  general  farming  he  has  been  engaged  in 
raising  and  feeding  cattle,  and  since  1890  has 
also  acted  as  local  representative  of  the  Deering 


Harvester  Company.  Although  he  was  reared 
in  the  Democratic  faith  he  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of 
the  part)-  to  whose  principles  he  adheres.  He  is 
very  active  in  local  politics.  Frequently  he  has 
been  chosen  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  occupy  some 
local  office  of  trust  and  honor.  For  two  years  he 
was  collector  of  the  township,  for  three  years 
served  as  assessor  and  for  six  years  was  township 
treasurer.  In  1892  he  was  elected  supervisor, 
and  this  office  he  has  since  filled  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  people,  discharging  its  duties  with 
promptness  and  fidelity.  He  has  acted  as  a 
member  of  the  county  central  committee  and  as 
delegate  to  county  and  state  conventions.  It  was 
largely  through  his  efforts  that  a  school  was 
secured  and  a  fine  building  erected  in  the  village 
of  Ritchey.  In  his  work  as  school  director  he 
has  been  instrumental  in  advancing  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  his  district  and  in  raising  the 
grade  of  scholarship. 

Before  the  Revolutionary  war  Peter  Neese 
came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Center  Coun- 
ty, Pa.  That  was  then  in  the  midst  of  a  trackless 
wilderness.  People  were  few  and  privations 
many.  In  order  to  get  feed  for  his  cattle  he  cut 
down  forest  trees  for  their  leaves.  He  became  a 
large  farmer  and  was  successful  for  those  days. 
When  a  very  old  man  he  died  in  1852.  His  son, 
William,  was  a  native  of  Center  County,  where 
he  spent  his  life  on  a  farm.  He  held  a  number 
of  minor  offices  and  supported  the  Democratic 
party.  For  some  time  he  was  an  elder  in  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  died  in  1867,  when  sixty 
years  of  age.  By  his  marriage  to  Margaret 
Hubler,  a  native  of  Center  County,  he  had  three 
children,  namely:  Thomas  J.;  Man,  wife  of  Silas 
Smith,  of  Manhattan,  111.;  and  Alexander,  who 
died  in  Kansas  when  thirty-three  years  of  age. 

On  his  father's  farm  in  Center  County,  Pa.,  our 
subject  was  born  September  6,  1847.  He  received 
a  common-school  education,  after  which  he  as- 
sisted in  cultivating  the  home  farm  for  two  years. 
In  1869  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  brother  and 
settled  in  Florence  Township,  where  he  began 
farming  and  stock  raising.  In  1S76  he  moved  to 
Wesley  Township,  and  has  since  been  one  of  its 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


43i 


best- known  men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Globe  at  Ritehey.  Ever  since  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  built  he  has  been  one  of  its 
trustees  and  has  assisted  liberally  in  all  its  enter- 
prises. In  1S67  he  married  Miss  Jane  C.  Groos- 
man,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  are  the 
parents  of  four  children,  the  eldest  being  Delia, 
wife  of  Frederick  Hiles,  of  this  township.  The 
others  are  George  William,  Sonata  S.  and  Wal- 
ter B. 


I"  REDERICK  FORKEL,  foreman  of  Barrows' 
Yy  Lock  Company,  at  Lockport,  was  born  in 
I  Dresden,  Germany,  March  29,  1861,  a  son 
of  Frederick  and  Christine  Forkel,  natives  of 
the  kingdom  of  Saxony.  His  father  wras  a 
German  soldier  and  served  in  the  Schleswig- 
Holstehi  war  of  1849;  by  trade  he  was  a  gar- 
dener and  also  a  weaver.  He  died  in  1877, 
and  his  wife  iu  1898.  Of  their  three  children, 
Adolph  is  foreman  in  a  machine  factory  in  Dres- 
den; Bertha  is  married  and  resides  in  Dresden. 
Our  subject,  who  was  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
is  the  only  one  in  America.  He  was  reared  in 
his  native  city,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
excellent  schools  there.  At  the  age  of  fourteen, 
following  the  usual  custom  in  Germany,  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  trade.  For  about  four  years  he 
worked  as  an  apprentice  in  a  machine  shop,  after 
which  he  followed  his  trade  successively  in  Ba- 
varia, Bohemia,  Vienna,  Northern  Italy,  Swit- 
zerland, Wurtemberg,  Baden,  Alsace-Lorraine, 
Belgium  and  Holland.  Afterward  he  spent  a 
year  at  his  old  home,  then  went  to  Frankenstahl 
on  the  Rhine,  and  from  there  came  to  America 
iu  1S82. 

The  first  location  of  Mr.  Forkel  iu  this  couutry 
was  at  Stamford,  Conn.,  where  he  was  employed 
as  a  locksmith  with  the  Yale  Lock  Manufacturing 
Company  for  two  years.  For  one  year  he  was 
foreman  of  the  scale  department  and  machinist 
with  the  Automatic  Scale  Company.  Upon  the 
closing  of  the  plant  he  returned  to  the  Yale  Lock 
Company  as  machinist,  remaining  for  six  months. 


Next  he  was  foreman  in  the  pattern  department 
of  the  S.  C.  Liude  Company,  at  South  Newark, 
Conn.  For  three  years  he  was  employed  at  Cress- 
kill,  N.  J.,  and  when  his  employers  moved  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  he  was  given  charge  of  the  pat- 
tern department  with  the  Perkins  Lock  Company. 
After  remaining  with  them  for  some  time,  in 
1889  he  came  to  Lockport  as  superintendent  of 
the  Barrows'  Manufacturing  Company, which  po- 
sition he  held  for  two  years.  When  the  firm  was 
changed  to  the  Barrows'  Lock  Company  he  was 
made  general  superintendent,  with  the  oversight 
of  the  one  hundred  or  more  hands  employed  in 
the  factory.  He  gives  his  attention  very  closely 
to  the  details  of  the  position,  and  has  proved  a 
most  valued  employe,  having,  in  addition  to  his 
regular  work,  also  constructed  a  number  of  im- 
provements on  the  locks  and  machines  manu- 
factured iu  the  factory. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Forkel  is  situated  on  the 
corner  of  Hamilton  and  Sixth  streets,  Lockport. 
Here  he  resides,  with  his  family,  including  his 
wife,  Mrs.  Maria  (Herbeck)  Forkel,  and  daughter, 
Mary  Elizabeth.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
Lockport  Lodge  No.  538,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Lock- 
port  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows at  Englewood,  N.J.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. His  religious  views  are  in  sympathy 
with  the  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  faith  he  was  reared. 


"DWARDL.  WILSON,  secretary  and  gen- 
's eral  manager  of  the  Manhattan  creamery, 
_ ,  and  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  on  section 
17,  Manhattan  Township,  was  born  in  Worth, 
Cook  County,  111.,  November  11,  1870,  and  is  a 
son  of  Edward  and  Magdaline  (Lendrum)  Wil- 
son, natives  of  the  north  of  Ireland.  He  was 
one  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  dead  except 
himself  and  his  brother,  Robert  J.,  of  Cook 
County.  His  father  emigrated  from  Ireland  in 
1853  and  settled  in  Cook   County,  111.,   where  he 


432 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  since  conducted  farm  pursuits  upon  an  ex- 
tensive scale,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  three  hun- 
dred acres,  on  which  he  engages  principally  in 
general  farming.  Since  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  he  has  been  a  believer  in  its 
principles.  He  has  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner and  school  director  for  several  years,  and 
is  a  man  of  high  standing  in  his  neighborhood. 
Sixty-three  years  of  activity  have  not  lessened 
his  energy  nor  weakened  his  judgment,  for  he  is 
still  au  industrious,  judicious  farmer. 

In  1890  the  subject  of  this  sketch  graduated 
from  the  commercial  department  of  Bryant  & 
Stratton's  Business  College,  Chicago.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  on  the  home  farm  until 
1895,  and  then  moved  to  his  present  farm  near 
Manhattan,  which  he  had  purchased  in  1S89 
from  W.  D.  B.  Linn,  and  which  is  one  of  the  old 
homesteads  of  the  county.  Here  he  has  since 
conducted  a  general  fanning  and  dairy  business. 
During  the  year  of  his  removal  to  this  farm  he 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Manhattan 
creamery,  in  which  he  is,  with  one  exception, 
the  largest  stockholder.  Since  coming  to  his 
present  farm  he  has  made  many  improvements, 
thereby  increasing  the  value  of  the  place.  Like 
his  father,  he  gives  his  support  to  the  men  and 
measures  advocated  by  the  Republican  party. 
In  1896  he  married  Lizzie  M.,  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward P.  Bishop,  of  Cook  County.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to 
which  his  wife  also  belongs.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Knights  of  the  Globe  at  Man- 
hattan, and  for  some  time  has  served  as  president 
of  the  order. 


(7j  1 1  >NKY  B.  PEASE.  Since  establishing  his 
/\  home  in  Joliet  in  1S72  Mr.  Pease  has  been 
\~J  engaged  in  contracting  and  building.  For 
proficiency  in  his  chosen  occupation  he  has  estab- 
lished an  enviable  reputation  and  has  been  given 
contracts  for  some  of  the  most  substantial  busi- 
ness blocks  and  finest  residences  in  the  city. 
During   the  first   years  of  his   connection  with 


Joliet  building  interests  he  drew  up  almost  all  of 
the  plans  that  he  used,  but  of  more  recent  years 
he  has  confined  his  attention  to  the  carrying  out 
of  plans  designed  by  others.  He  has  built  as 
many  as  twenty-six  residences,  besides  other 
buildings,  in  one  year.  In  addition  to  this  busi- 
ness he  is  interested  with  his  brother,  Cyrus,  in 
the  grocery  and  queeusware  business  at  Hamil- 
ton, Mo.,  the  firm  name  being  Pease  Brothers. 
He  assisted  in'  the  organization  of  the  Joliet  Na- 
tional Bank  and  has  since  been  a  member  of  its 
board  of  directors. 

Tracing  the  history  of  the  Pease  family,  we 
find  that  Abel  Pease,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  removed  to  St.  Law- 
rence Count}-,  N.  Y.,  where  he  improved  a  farm 
and  died  at  the  age  of  almost  eighty  years.  His 
son,  Samuel,  who  was  born  in  Vermont,  became 
a  farmer  near  Lawrenceville,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  at  seventy- 
seven  years.  During  Civil  war  days  he  was  a 
stanch  Abolitionist  and  a  supporter  of  the  Union. 
He  married  Irene  Hamlin,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  died  in  New  York.  She  was  a  cousin 
of  Hannibal  Hamlin,  who  was  vice-president 
with  Abraham  Lincoln.  Her  father,  Stephen 
Hamlin,  a  Yermonter,  belonged  to  an  English 
family  that  early  settled  in  Massachusetts.  In 
the  family  of  Samuel  and  Irene  Pease  were  six 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Of  these,  the  eldest, 
James,  a  soldier  in  the  Fifty-sixth  Ohio  Infantry 
throughout  the  Civil  war,  was  wounded  three 
times  at  Arkansas  Post  and  was  taken  prisoner, 
but  escaped;  Hiram  resides  in  Oregon;  Nelson, 
now  in  Colorado,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Sixtieth 
New  York  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war;  Milo 
died  in  New  York;  and  Cyrus,  also  a  member  of 
the  Sixtieth  Regiment,  is  now  living  in  Hamil- 
ton, Mo. 

The  second  of  the  sons,  Sidney  B.,  was  born 
near  Lawrenceville,  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y., 
June  9,  1S39,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm.  In 
1856  he  settled  in  Illinois,  and  for  two  years 
during  the  summers  worked  on  a  farm  near 
Dwight,  and  for  one  winter  attended  Lisbon 
Academy.  In  1S59  he  became  interested  in 
bridge  building   in  various  sections  of  the  couu- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


433 


try,  mainly  in  the  south,  but  the  growing  hos- 
tility between  the  north  and  the  south  made  it 
unpleasant  for  him  to  remain  in  a  pro-slavery 
section,  so  he  returned  to  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of 
i860  he  cast  his  ballot  for  Lincoln  and  Hamlin. 
In  April  of  the  next  year  he  enlisted  in  a  com- 
pany, but,  the  quota  having  already  been  ob- 
tained, the  company  was  disbanded.  With  two 
others,  he  went  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he  was 
admitted  into  Company  B,  Twelfth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, May  7,  1861.  His  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned for  a  time  near  St.  Louis  and  later  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Belmont,  Ky.  In  September, 
1861,  he  was  mustered  out,  but  did  not  leave  the 
service,  re-enlisting  at  once  in  the  same  company 
and  regiment.  After  the  battle  of  Fort  Douelson 
he  was  promoted  to  be  second  sergeant.  In  that 
battle  he  was  wounded  in  the  right  hip,  by  a 
minie  ball  and  returned  to  Dwight  on  a  thirty 
days'  furlough;  the  bullet  was  never  removed, 
but  has  given  him  little  trouble.  After  returning 
to  his  regiment  he  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Monterey,  Iuka  and  Corinth.  The  win- 
ter of  1863-64  he  spent  in  Tennessee.  Just  before 
this  he  had  veteranized  at  Richland  Creek,  and, 
at  an  election  of  officers,  had  been  chosen  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  B,  but,  the  company  not 
being  filled,  he  was  not  mustered  in.  After  a 
thirty  days'  furlough  in  New  York  he  rejoined 
his  regiment  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Dal- 
ton,  Resaca  and  Dallas.  At  Resaca  he  was 
wouuded  in  the  right  ear.  Later  he  was  in  the 
engagements  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Micko  Jack 
Creek  and  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  where  for  four 
mouths  there  were  continual  skirmishes.  In 
front  of  Atlanta,  July  22,  he  was  wounded  in  the 
right  foot,  but  promptly  bandaged  the  foot  and 
held  his  place  in  the  ranks.  Later  he  was  in  the 
battles  of  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy  Station,  the  capture 
of  Atlanta,  and  the  battle  of  Altoona  Pass,  where 
they  held  the  fort  until  reinforcements  arrived. 
Going  with  Sherman  toward  the  sea,  he  took  part 
in  the  battle  of  Savannah,  then  marched  north 
through  the  Carolinas,  and  was  in  a  battle  near 
Newberne,  a  hotly-contested  engagement  at  Ben- 
tonville  and  the  battle  of  Goldsborough,  after 
which  he  went  011  to  Petersburg  with  the  troops. 


At  Raleigh  word  was  received  of  Lincoln's 
assassination.  When  the  war  ended  he  took  part 
in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  after  which 
he  was  sent  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  received  a 
commission  as  first  lieutenant  of  his  company 
from  Governor  '-'Dick"  Oglesby.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Springfield,  III.,  July   18,  1865. 

After  a  short  time  in  Dwight,  in  1866  Mr. 
Pease  went  to  Johnson  County,  Kans. ,  and  en- 
gaged in  contracting.  During  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  as  a  contractor  in 
the  Southern  car  works.  In  the  spring  of  1867 
he  went  back  to  his  native  county  in  New  York 
and  there  married  Miss  Jennie  Egglestou,  who 
died  in  Joliet  in  1S92.  Of  their  five  children 
three  are  living:  William,  who  is  with  the  Illi- 
nois Steel  Company;  Marion  and  Carrie,  who  are 
graduates  of  the  Joliet  high  school.  From  1867 
to  1872  Mr.  Pease  engaged  in  contracting  in 
Dwight,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  Joliet.  He  built  and  occupies  a  comfortable 
residence  at  No.  401  Rayuor  avenue.  He  is  con- 
nected with  Bartleson  Post  No.  6,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
in  politics  has  always  been  a  strong  Republican. 


EOLL  McNAUGHTON.  The  position  held 
by  Mr.  McNaughton  at  the  bar  of  Joliet  is 
one  of  influence.  Since  coming  to  this  city, 
in  1885,  he  has  gained  a  wide  acquaintance 
among  the  people,  and  has,  by  his  character  as  a 
gentleman  of  honor,  won  the  confidence  of  his 
associates.  In  May,  1887,  upon  examination 
before  the  supreme  court  at  Ottawa,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  Illinois.  Returning  to 
Joliet,  he  soon  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Goodspeed  &  McNaughton,  but  after  one  year 
withdrew  from  the  partnership  in  order  to  accept 
the  position  of  deputy  postmaster  under  the  first 
administration  of  President  Cleveland,  and  re- 
mained in  that  office  until  May  I,  1890.  On  re- 
signing he  entered  the  firm  of  Donahue  & 
McNaughton,  and  resumed  the  general  practice 
of  law.  In  1895  and  again  in  1897  ne  was 
elected    city  attorney,    retiring   in    the   spring  of 


434 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1899,  when  he  refused  to  be  a  candidate  for  a 
third  term.  During  1897  and  1898  he  was  active 
in  letting  the  contract  for  improvements  to  cost 
$500,000,  and  between  the  spring  of  1896  and 
1S99  he  drew  up  more  ordinances  than  had  been 
prepared  or  drawn  by  the  six  attorneys  preced- 
ing him  in  the  office.  In  1S91  he  served  as  town- 
ship supervisor.  He  is  keenly  interested  in  poli- 
tics and  has  firm  convictions  regarding  tariff,  the 
currency  question,  trusts,  and  the  other  issues 
that  are  almost  constantly  before  our  people  for 
solution.  His  belief  brings  him  into  affiliation 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is  one  of  its 
leading  exponents  in  Joliet.  He  gives  his  aid  to  all 
public  measures  having  for  the  object  the  welfare 
of  the  people,  and  is  public-spirited  in  his  sup- 
port of  worthy  projects. 

At  South  End,  near  Campbellton,  Argyllshire, 
Scotland,  Mr.  McNaughton  was  born  August  11, 
i860,  a  son  of  Donald  and  Margaret  (Goudie) 
McNaughton,  natives  respectively  of  Argyllshire 
and  Ayrshire.  His  grandfather,  Thomas,  and 
great-grandfather,  Coll  McNaughton,  were  na- 
tives of  Argyllshire,  as  were  their  ancestors  for 
several  generations  before  them.  They  engaged 
in  farming.  Donald  McNaughton,  who  resided 
on  the  "Culinlougart"  estate,  brought  his  family 
to  America  in  1878,  and  settled  at  Chatham, 
Ontario,  Canada,  where  he  has  since  engaged  in 
farming.  From  his  Scotch  forefathers  he  inher- 
ited integrity,  perseverance,  a  strict  sense  of 
honor  and  a  firm  Presbyterian  faith.  His  wife, 
who  died  in  1895,  was  the  daughter  of  an  Ayr- 
shire miller.  In  the  family  there  were  eight  chil- 
dren, all  but  one  of  whom  are  still  living,  our 
subject  being  fourth  in  order  of  birth  and  the 
only  one  in  Illinois.  He  was  reared  in  Scotland, 
and  prepared  for  college  in  the  Campbellton  high 


school.  When  ready  to  enter  the  University  of 
Glasgow  his  father  decided  to  come  to  America,  . 
and  so  his  plans  were  changed.  Instead,  how- 
ever, of  accompanying  his  parents  to  Canada,  he 
went  to  Michigan,  securing  employment  with  his 
axe  in  the  woods  near  St.  Clair.  In  February, 
1879,  he  entered  Chatham  Collegiate  Institute, 
where  he  studied  fora  term.  The  summer  of  the 
same  year  he  spent  as  a  sailor  on  the  lakes.  In 
August,  1879,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Cana- 
dian Pacific  Railroad,  and  assisted  in  building 
the  road  along  Portage  and  Lake  of  the  Woods. 
In  the  fall  he  started  to  Canada,  but  stopped  in 
Oswego,  111.,  to  visit  an  uncle,  and  two  days 
after  arriving  there  he  passed  an  examination  for 
a  teacher's  certificate  and  secured  a  school.  He 
continued  to  teach  there  until  the  spring  of  1885. 
Meantime  he  had  been  studying  law,  getting  law- 
books from  James  R.  Flanders,  of  Joliet.  He 
has  been  a  constant  student  of  his  profession,  not 
ceasing  his  studies  with  his  admission  to  the  bar, 
but  continuing  a  devoted  student  of  all  works 
bearing  upon  the  principles  of  jurisprudence. 
Not  only  is  he  a  brilliant  lawyer,  but  one  whose 
knowledge  of  the  profession  is  deep  and  profound, 
and  who  is  equipped  for  successful  practice  by  a 
thorough  acquaintance  with  all  the  authorities. 
Fraternally  Mr.  McNaughton  is  a  Council  and 
Royal  Arch  Mason,  a  past  officer  in  Matteson 
Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  at  one  time 
was  junior  warden  of  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4. 
He  attends  and  supports  the  Universalist  Church, 
and  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  religious  enter- 
prises. He  married  Agues,  daughter  of  John 
Conlon,  a  native  of  New  York  and  an  early  set- 
tler of  Joliet,  where  Mrs.  McNaughton  was 
born.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  daughters, 
Bessie  and  Jean  McNaughton. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


437 


the  Mcdonald  family. 


'HE  McDONALD  FAMILY.  As  is  in- 
dicated by  their  name,  the  McDonald  (or 
Macdonald)  family  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
Will  County,  in  Illinois,  is  of  Scottish  extraction, 
but  whether  directly  descended  from  one  of  the 
survivors  of  the  massacre  of  Glencoe  the  little 
history  or  legend  which  remains  fails  to  show. 
The  pedigree  is  traced,  however,  to  Michael  Mc- 
Donald, a  sea-faring  man,  whocamefrom  the  old 
country  through  Canada  and  began  life  in  Amer- 
ica in  New  England.  In  olden  times  when  St. 
Michael  was  revered  as  a  patron  saint  by  the  high- 
landers  of  Scotland,  the  name  was  more  of  a 
favorite  in  family  nomenclature  than  it  is  at 
present;  the  descendants  of  Ireland  are  now 
monopolizing  it. 

Juue  20,  1766,  Michael  married  a  widow,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Asa, 
and  a  daughter,  Betsey,  the  latter  dying  young. 
He  moved  with  his  family  to  Liverpool,  near 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  left  them  there  to  pursue 
his  calling  as  a  sailor,  and  it  was  rumored  that 
he  was  drowned  in  Lake  Ontario.  But  rumor 
again  states  that  he  was  the  head  of  two  fam- 
ilies, and  that  he  passed  the  balance  of  his  days 
with  the  other  branch. 

Asa  became  the  main  support  of  the  family 
and  soon  displayed  an  ability  to  perform  this 
duty.  Before  he  was  of  age  he  served  as  a 
drummer  in  a  company  raised  to  oppose  the 
British  at  Niagara,  in  the  last  war  with  England. 
He  became  prominent  in  the  New  York  militia 
as  a  captain  and  expert  musician.  Following 
various  avocations  until  1836,  he  then  emigrated 
from  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Will  County, 
111.,  and  settled  at  first  in  Joliet,  then  at  Five 
Mile  Grove,  and  afterwards  bought  a  farm  on 
Spring  Creek,  in  New  Lenox.  He  married  Olive 
22 


Rudd  at  Syracuse  and  reared  a  family  of  six 
daughters  and  one  son,  namely:  Rosanna  E., 
Jane  C,  Jonathan  S.,  Clarissa  C,  Harriet,  Lovina 
and  Ellen,  of  whom  the  son  and  Rosanna  E., 
Jane  C.  and  Lovina  are  surviving  at  this  date. 
Although  ostensibly  a  farmer,  Asa  employed  his 
energies  more  in  the  cultivation  and  practice  of 
music,  and  was  a  leader  in  many  public  and 
social  enterprises,  but  did  not  aspire  for  political 
preferments.  His  fame  as  a  violinist  is  well  re- 
membered by  those  who  attended  his  dances  and 
social  gatherings.  He  was  born  May  9,  1802, 
and  died  December  4,  1857.  His  wife,  Olive, 
was  born  September  23,    1805,   and  died  March 

1,  1873- 

Jonathan  S.  McDonald  was  born  at  Liverpool, 
N.  Y.,  April  17,  1829;  he  was  therefore  seven 
years  old  when  the  family  settled  in  Joliet.  Being 
the  only  son,  his  place  would  naturally  be  on  the 
farm,  but  this  proved  to  be  too  tame  a  life  for  him 
to  follow.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  began 
teaching  a  district  school  in  the  winter  and 
worked  on  the  farm  in  summer,  but  when  the 
California  gold  fever  broke  out  he  crossed  the 
plains  in  1849  and  spent  four  years  in  the  mines, 
returning  with  a  moderate  "pile"  with  which  to 
start  in  business  at  home.  His  effort  to  acquire 
a  college  education  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  lasted  only 
two  weeks.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
banking  at  Lockport,  at  which  he  was  engaged 
until  the  Civil  war  began  in  1859,  when  the  turn 
of  events  almost  despoiled  him  of  his  wealth. 
December  12,  1857,  he  married  Louisa,  the 
daughter  of  Col.  George  Snoad,  who  was  born  in 
England.  Immediately  after  his  failure  as  a 
banker  he  visited  the  newly  discovered  gold 
mines  at  California  Gulch,  Colo.,  but  returned 
in  the  following  spring  and  recruited  a  company 


438 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


at  Lockport,  which  became  a  part  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  had  command 
of  this  in  the  battles  of  Perryville,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  and  numerous  skirmishes  and  was 
"promoted  for  meritorious  conduct  in  the  field." 
He  was  wounded  at  Stone  River  and  is  now  quite 
deaf  as  a  consequence.  After  the  war  he  served 
as  a  cashier  in  railroad  business  in  Chicago,  then 
returned  to  Will  County  and  engaged  in  politics 
and  newspaper  publications  until  increased  deaf- 
ness compelled  him  to  turn  his  attention  to  other 
enterprises.  The  Highland  Scotch  are  noted  for 
possessing  a  tendency  to  mysticism  and  "second 
sight,"  and  this  faculty  seems  to  have  developed 
in  him;  he  is  now  engaged  in  philosophical  pur. 
suits,  and  has  become  noted  in  occult  circles  as 
the  author  of  several  books  on  ancient  magic  and 
esoteric  philosophy. 

Leon  McDonald,  son  of  J.  S.  McDonald,  was 
born  November  2,  1860,  in  the  township  of  New 
Lenox,  Will  County,  111.  His  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  public  school  at  Lockport,  and  at 
the  Wisconsin  State  University.  He  learned  the 
printing  and  publishing  trade  in  his  father's  office, 
serving  in  all  capacities  from  "printer's  devil" 
to  editor.  In  18S0  he  went  to  work  on  the  re- 
portorial  staff  of  the  Joliet  News,  afterward  oc- 
cupying the  chair  of  the  city  editor  on  the  same 
paper.  He  left  the  News  to  engage  with  two 
others  in  the  founding  and  publishing  of  the 
Joliet  Daily  Press.  This  venture  was  an  ex- 
traordinary success  while  the  original  founders 
remained  in  possession.  Mr.  McDonald  sold  out 
his  interest  in  1884  and  returned  to  Lockport, 
the  home  of  his  parents,  where  he  assumed  con- 
trol of  the  publication  of  the  Lockport  P/weu /.v, 
this  paper  being  still  owned  and  published  by 
him.  Since  attaining  his  majority  he  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  county  and  state  politics.  For 
nineteen  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  coun- 
ty Republican  central  committee,  and  during 
nearly  all  of  the  time  a  member  of  the  executive 
committee  of  that  body.  Locally  he  has  a  num- 
ber of  times  been  called  to  positions  of  public 
trust  and  honor,  among  other  things'  serving 
two  terms  as  president  of  the  village  council.  It 
was  during  his  second  term  of  office  that   Lock- 


port's  excellent  system  of  water  works  was  built. 
In  1897  he  was  appointed  general  superintendent 
of  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  canal,  which  position 
he  still  holds.  Since  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
this  position  the  canal  has  passed  through  some 
of  the  most  critical  experiences  of  its  existence. 
The  authorities  of  the  sanitary  district  of  Chicago 
avowedly  sought  to  destroy  it  and  acquire  valu- 
able rights  belonging  to  the  state,  held  under  the 
care  and  control  of  the  canal  officers.  The  con- 
test that  ensued,  both  from  an  engineering  and 
legal  standpoint,  was  a  huge  one  and  most  bit- 
terly fought.  It  resulted,  however,  in  a  victory 
for  the  canal  people  on  every  point  and  saved  to 
the  state  property  and  rights  worth  several  mil- 
lions of  dollars.  For  the  part  he  had  in  achiev- 
ing this  result,  Mr.  McDonald  earned  and  re- 
ceived a  great  deal  of  credit. 

He  was  married  September  21 ,  1S9S,  to  Claire 
Augusta  Rudd,  daughter  of  Charles  H.  and 
Esther  (Leonard)  Rudd.  Miss  Rudd  was  born 
April  26,  1875;  was  formerly  a  resident  of  Ober- 
liu,  Ohio,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  college  in  that 
city.  They  have  one  daughter,  Louise E.,  born 
July  13,  1899. 


30SEPH  STOOS,  deceased,  was  at  one  time 
prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  Joliet,  and 
served  as  alderman  from  the  third  ward; 
also  held  the  office  of  assistant  supervisor,  and  for 
two  terms  was  city  treasurer.  He  was  born  in 
Oppeuheim,  Alsace,  France,  and  in  boyhood 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  under  his  father, 
Sebastian,  who  was  a  contractor  and  builder  of 
bridges  and  arches.  When  a  young  man  he  came 
to  America  with  his  brother,  Andrew,  now  of 
Naperville,  111. ,  and  after  a  short  time  in  the  lat- 
ter city  he  came  to  Joliet  in  1S54.  He  was  an 
expert  builder,  and  had  110  difficulty  in  securing 
work  at  his  trade.  He  was  superintendent  and 
architect  of  the  Jefferson  street  bridge,  which  has 
since  been  torn  down  by  order  of  the  drainage 
commissioners.  He  had  charge  of  the  building  of 
St.  Francis'  convent,  Porter's  brewer)- buildings, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


439 


St.  Joseph's  hospital  and  St.  John's  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  He  also  erected  the  residence 
that  he  occupied  at  No.  515  North  Hickory  street. 
Some  of  the  most  substantial  structures  in  the 
city  were  erected  under  his  supervision,  and  he 
continued  actively  engaged  in  the  business  until 
ten  years  before  his  death,  when  he  retired.  In 
the  organization  of  St.  John's  Church  he  took  an 
active  part,  and  afterward  for  years  was  one  of 
its  trustees  and  a  trustee  of  the  academy.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Sharpshooters'  Association. 
Politically  he  gave  his  support  to  the  Democratic 
party  and  voted  for  its  men  and  measures.  As  a 
citizen  he  was  patriotic,  and,  although  always 
retaining  a  love  for  his  native  land,  no  native- 
born  resident  of  the  United  States  was  more  loyal 
to  its  welfare  than  he.  His  death  occurred  April 
16,  1890. 

In  Joliet,  November  19,  1856,  Mr.  Stoos  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Anna  Hassinger,  who  was  born  in 
Herbstheim,  Alsace.  Her  grandfather,  Michael 
Hassinger,  was  a  stoue  mason  and  contractor  in 
Alsace,  where  he  died.  Her  father,  Joseph,  was 
also  a  contracting  mason.  In  the  spring  of  1846 
he  brought  his  family  to  America,  making  the 
voyage  from  Havre  to  New  York  on  a  sailing 
vessel,  thence  going  up  the  Hudson  to  Albany, 
from  there  on  the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  and 
thence  via  lake  to  Chicago,  and  finally  to  Will 
County.  Here  he  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building.  He  had  the  contract  for  all  of  the  cul- 
verts on  the  Plainfield  road.  Besides  this,  he 
operated  a  stoue  quarry  and  superintended  land 
that  he  purchased  here.  His  death  occurred 
when  he  was  over  sixty  years  of  age.  His  wife 
was  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Anton  Drendel,  a 
farmer  of  Alsace.  She  died  in  this  county  in  1S84, 
when  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  Her  three 
daughters,  Mrs.  Stoos,  Mrs.  Michael  Sheidt  and 
Mrs.  Peter  Gans,  reside  in  Joliet.  Mrs.  Stoos 
was  eight  years  old  when  the  family  came  to 
Joliet,  where  she  was  educated.  She  is  well 
known  among  the  members  of  St.  John's  Church, 
having  long  been  a  member  of  this  parish. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stoos.  Only  four  are  now  living.  The 
son,  Alfred  J.,  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 


volume.  Theresa  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Braun, 
Jr.,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page. 
Mar)-  married  Prof.  Henry  Rolf,  of  Joliet,  and 
Josephine  is  the  wife  of  Robert  P.  Kiep,  also  ol 
this  city. 


30HN  C.  BAKER,  of  Manhattan  Township, 
was  born  in  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1842,  a  son  of  Clark  and  Luciua  (Welsh) 
Baker.  His  paternal  ancestors  came  from  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  Rhode  Island  in  an  early  day. 
His  grandfather,  Jirah  Baker,  moved  from  Rhode 
Island  to  New  York  and  cleared  a  farm  from  the 
wilderness,  making  his  home  on  that  place  until 
he  died  at  ninety  years  of  age.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  politics  and  served  as  a  delegate  to 
the  constitutional  convention.  His  father,  Ben- 
jamin Baker,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
with  two  of  his  sons,  one  of  whom  died  during 
his  term  of  service. 

Clark  Baker  was  born  in  Rensselaer  County  in 
1796  and  for  years  followed  farming  and  survey- 
ing, laying  out  the  county  lines  and  the  township 
lines  in  the  town  of  Hoosick.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  served  in  the  war  of  181 2.  In 
1845  he  settled  in  Will  County,  purchasing  a 
tract  of  timber  laud  in  what  is  now  Manhattan 
Township  and  engaging  extensively  in  farming 
and  stock-raising.  He  became  the  owner  of  about 
twelve  hundred  acres  of  good  laud.  He  made  a 
specialty  of  breeding  Merino  sheep  and  also  raised 
Shorthorn  cattle.  For  about  twenty  years,  alto- 
gether, he  held  the  office  of  supervisor,  and  dur- 
ing the  same  time  he  was  justice  of  the  peace. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  died  at  his 
home  in  1892,  when  ninety-six  years  of  age.  His 
wife,  daughter  of  George  Washington  Welsh,  was 
born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  died  in  this  county  at 
eighty-five  years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  two  of  them  survive,  our  subject 
and  Mary  E. ,  widow  of  J.  B.  Russell. 

Having  come  to  this  county  in  early  childhood, 
our  subject  knows  no  other  home  but  this.  When 
his  father  retired  from  active  cares  he  succeeded 


44Q 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  his  management  of  the  estate.  He  has  en- 
gaged in  breeding  Percheron  horses,  Shorthorn 
cattle  (having  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  head 
of  cows)  and  fine  sheep,  and  owning  a  farm  of 
more  than  one  thousand  acres.  Associated  with 
Jones  Brothers  in  Manhattan,  in  1S93  he  pur- 
chased the  Thayer  elevator  and  established  the 
Manhattan  bank,  of  which  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent. The  company  has  built  up  a  grain  and 
coal  trade  and  a  general  banking  business.  Mr. 
Baker  is  strong  in  his  advocacy  of  good  roads, 
and  politically  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  the  first 
master  of  the  Manhattan  Grange  and  is  connected 
with  the  county  Grange.  His  first  wife,  Eliza- 
beth Hoopson,  whom  he  married  in  1871  and 
who  died  in  1888,  left  three  children;  while  by 
his  present  wife,  who  was  Mary  Jones,  he  has 
two  sons,  Robert  and  Clark. 


"DWARD  H.  VAN  DUSER,  who  is  en- 
't)  gaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  in  New 
„_  Lenox  Township,  was  born  on  the  place 
where  he  now  lives  December  2S,  1856.  He  is 
a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  the  county.  His 
father,  George  Van  Duser,  a  native  of  New  York, 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  east,  but  not  being  con- 
tent to  adapt  himself  to  the  grooves  of  farm  work 
there  he  decided  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  great 
west.  Coming  to  Illinois  he  spent  a  year  in  Chi- 
cago. He  then  settled  in  Will  County,  where  he 
secured  employment  in  the  old  Red  mill  on  the 
Higinbotham  homestead.  November  25,  1840, 
he  married  Elmina  Mellen.  The  following 
spring  he  brought  his  wife  to  New  Lenox  Town- 
ship and  settled  upon  the  farm,  where  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  As  he  was  pros- 
pered he  added  to  his  possessions,  and  at  the 
same  time  acquired  valuable  stock.  Through  his 
combined  efforts  in  farming  and  stock-raising  he 
became  well-to-do,  and  held  a  place  among  the 
prosperous  men  of  the  township.  His  interest 
in  local  affairs  was  noticeable  throughout  his  life. 
As  a  Democrat  he  identified  himself  with  town- 


ship and  county  politics.  He  frequently  was 
chosen  to  serve  as  a  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions, and  for  a  number  of  years  he  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Grange.  In  religious  views  he  was  of  the 
Universalist  faith.  He  was  permitted  to  enjoy 
eighty  active  and  busy  years;  and  then,  in  May, 
1898,  while  still  as  strong  and  robust  as  many  men 
twenty  years  his  junior,  he  was  killed  by  a  runa- 
way team.  His  wife  had  died  five  3rears  before 
his  death.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Emily,  who  is  the  widow  ofjohn 
Widney,  of  Kendall  County,  111.;  Adelaide,  who 
married  Joshua  Barrett,  of  Iowa;  Jerome,  a 
farmer  of  Iowa;  Ida,  deceased;  Gilbert,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Kansas;  Edward  H.;  and 
Flora,  who  married  Frank  Gorham,  of  Iowa. 

Upon  completing  a  common-school  education 
in  country  and  city  schools  our  subject  took  up 
farming  in  connection  with  his  father,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  the  latter's  accidental  death  in 
189S.  The  following  year  he  rented  the  land, 
though  still  maintaining  a  general  supervision  of 
the  place,  which  comprises  eighty  acres  of  till- 
able land  and  a  timbered  tract.  In  educational 
affairs  he  takes  an  interest,  and  as  school  director 
has  aided  the  schools  of  his  own  district.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Grange.  Politically  he  believes 
that  the  man  should  be  supported  whose  char- 
acter and  abitity  are  unexceptional  and  whose 
fitness  for  the  office  in  question  cannot  be  dis- 
puted. As  a  citizen  he  is  public-spirited,  favor- 
ing measures  for  the  benefit  of  the  people  and  the 
advancement  of  the  community's  welfare. 


(ILLIAM  A.  STRONG,  who  was  long  presi- 
dent of  the  Joliet  Gas  Company,  was  born 
in  New  York  in  1828,  and  received  a 
public-school  education  in  his  native  town  of 
Waterloo.  There  he  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  from  1845  until  1850.  During  the  lat- 
ter year  he  came  to  Joliet  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  uncle,  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  A. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


441 


Strong  &  Co.  In  1855  the  title  was  changed  to 
Strong  &  Co. ,  Messrs.  Brooks  and  Barrett  being 
admitted  into  partnership.  Under  different  firm 
names  the  business  was  successfully  conducted 
until  1865.  On  retiring  from  the  company,  our 
subject  accepted  the  position  of  president  of  the 
Joliet  Gas  Company,  and  through  his  wise  over- 
sight and  sound  judgment  the  corporation  be- 
came a  very  successful  one.  He  also  was  con- 
nected with  other  interests  of  a  private  or  public 
nature,  and  until  his  death  was  one  of  Joliet's  most 
prominent  men.  The  confidence  reposed  in  him 
was  shown  by  his  selection  to  take  charge  of  the 
settlement  of  various  large  estates.  As  bank  direc- 
tor and,  for  a  few  years,  as  an  owner  of  stock  in  a 
quarry  business,  he  had  diversified  interests.  His 
fellow-citizens,  appreciating  his  business  ability 
and  high  character  as  a  man,  selected  him  to  rep- 
resent them  in  the  city  council  and  as  mayor  of 
Joliet,  where  his  administrative  and  executive 
faculties  found  a  useful  sphere  of  activity.  Early 
in  his  residence  in  Joliet  he  bought  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres  of  land,  which  he  platted  in 
a  subdivision  known  as  Glenwood. 

In  1855  Mr.  Strong  married  Miss  Charlotte  A. 
Buell,  who  died  at  Thomasville,  Ga.,  March  20, 
1889.  Of  their  four  children,  two  were  daughters 
and  two  sons.  One  of  the  daughters,  Mrs.  Bud- 
long,  died  in  January,  1885. 


EHARLES  W.  HOSTMER,  superintendent 
of  the  car  department  of  the  Michigan  Cen- 
tral Railroad  at  Joliet,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  June  22,  1839,  a  son  of  Gottlieb 
and  Minnie  (Myers)  Hostmer.  He  was  one  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  besides  himself  only  two 
survive,  Henry,  a  retired  business  man  of  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind  ,  and  Louis,  a  contractor  and  builder 
in  Fort  Wayne.  His  father  learned  the  milling 
business  in  youth,  and,  through  good  manage- 
ment and  industrious  efforts,  in  time  became 
proprietor  of  a  grist  mill,  but  in  later  years  turned 
his   attention  to  farming.     In    1836  he  came  to 


America,  proceeding  from  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  to 
Indiana  and  settling  on  a  farm  near  Fort  Wayne. 
There  he  spent  his  last  years  in  retirement  from 
business  cares.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  in  politics  a  Democrat. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Germany  in  1803  and  died 
in  1892. 

When  our  subject  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  a  dry-goods  store  at  Fort  Wayne,  with 
the  intention  of  adopting  the  mercantile  business 
as  his  life  work.  However,  his  plans  were  sub- 
sequently changed.  After  three  years  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  apprenticed  himself  to  the  car- 
building  trade  in  the  Illinois  Central  shops.  On 
the  completion  of  his  apprenticeship  he  remained 
in  the  same  place  as  a  salaried  workman,  and  for 
twenty  years  he  worked  with  them  as  a  coach 
builder.  He  was  then  promoted  to  the  foreman- 
ship  of  the  car  department  of  the  passenger 
equipment,  and  remained  in  that  important  posi- 
tion until  1889,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  his 
present  place  with  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad, 
where  he  has  charge  of  both  the  passenger  and 
freight  departments. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hostmer  married  Miss  Betty 
Battershall,  who  was  born  near  Albany,  N.  Y., 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Emma  (Wilcox) 
Battershall,  both  natives  of  York  state.  Her 
father  came  to  Illinois  in  1861  and  bought  a  farm 
at  Hinesville,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time. 
He  then  removed  into  Chicago  and  opened  a 
boarding  house  on  the  south  side,  where  he  re- 
sided up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hostmer  had  only  one  child,  Charles,  and  he  is 
now  deceased. 

While  not  connected  by  membership  with  any 
church,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hostmer  attend  the 
Methodist  Church  and  subscribe  liberally  to  its 
support,  as  well  as  to  the  support  of  other  worthy 
movements  and  charitable  enterprises.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Hostmer  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
fraternally  is  connected  with  Home  Masonic 
Lodge  No.  508,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Chicago.  The 
credit  for  his  success  is  due  to  himself  wholly. 
Beginning  life  in  humble  circumstances,  but  step 
by  step,  with  commendable  perseverance,  he  ac- 
quired a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  car-building 


442 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


business  and  thus  fitted  himself  for  a  position  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  His  success  is  a  fitting 
example  of  what  is  in  store  as  a  reward  for  energy 
and  directness  of  purpose.  He  is  a  good  repre- 
sentative of  the  progressive  and  enterprising  men 
of  this  county  who  are  of  German  parentage  and 
who  retain  the  industrious,  thrifty  habits  of  that 
nationality. 


(TJlMEON  S.  TYLER,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
/\  insurance  and  real-estate  business  in  Joliet, 
\zJ  was  born  in  this  county  May  i,  1S49.  He 
is  a  member  of  a  family  whose  genealogy  is 
traced  back  to  13 17  in  England  and  Holland  and 
whose  members  have  been  prominent  in  Ameri- 
can history  since  early  colonial  days.  To  the 
same  family  belongs  John  Tyler,  president  of  the 
United  States,  1841-45.  Simeon  B.  Tyler,  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  whither  he  came  from  Bethel, 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  at  the  same  time  with 
Squire  Flagg.  He  built  the  sawmill  on  the  Du- 
page River  at  Plainfield.  In  it  he  sawed  the 
lumber  that  was  hauled  to  Chicago  by  Squire 
Flagg  and  used  in  the  building  of  the  first  frame 
house  in  the  town.  His  own  impressions  of  Chi- 
cago had  not  been  favorable.  He  had  landed 
from  a  boat  in  Chicago  and  found  a  town  of 
tents.  He  was  offered  for  ten  shillings  an  acre, 
the  land  where  the  court  house  now  stands,  but 
it  looked  so  uninviting  that  he  had  no  desire  to 
become  its  purchaser,  even  for  that  small  sum. 
Coming  to  Plainfield  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  to  which  he  added  later.  He  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade  and  erected  many  of  the  first 
buildings  in  Plainfield.  Some  years  afterward 
he  took  up  farm  work,  in  which  he  continued 
until  his  death.  Active  in  religious  work  he 
was  a  leading  Baptist  of  his  locality  and  assisted 
in  building  two  churches  in  Plainfield.  He  did 
not  take  any  part  in  public  affairs,  preferring 
private  business  to  office.  After  coming  to  this 
county  he  married  Ruth,  sister  of  Jason  Flanders, 
a  pioneer  of  Plainfield.      Nine  children  were  born 


to  their  union,  four  of  whom  are  living.  A.  H. 
Tyler,  who  died  February  8,  1900,  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army  in  1862,  when  only  fifteen  years 
of  age,  and  served  for  three  years  as  a  member  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry.  Lansing 
H.  is  a  large  farmer  of  Remington,  Iud.;  Ralph 
\Y.,  for  many  years  a  traveling  salesman,  makes 
his  home  in  Galesburg,  111. ;  and  Esther  R  mar- 
ried Wesley  Simmons,  a  farmer  and  stockman  of 
Fairbury,  Neb. 

The  first  among  the  four  now  living  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  article.  He  was  reared  in  Plainfield, 
where  his  father  resided  from  1832  until  his 
death  in  February,  18S9.  When  he  was  a  boy 
his  older  brothers  started  to  the  front  to  aid  in 
defending  the  Union.  One  of  them,  Hubbard  A., 
who  was  then  seventeen  years  old,  died  of  ty- 
phoid fever  at-Nashville,  Teun.,  during  his  term 
of  service.  Unable  on  account  of  his  youth  to  go 
with  his  brothers,  our  subject  was  forced  to  con- 
tent himself  with  the  routine  of  study  in  the  vil- 
lage school.  Later  he  studied  in  the  Northwest 
ern  College  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  which 
was  then  in  Plainfield,  but  is  now  in  Naperville. 
His  first  venture  in  business  was  as  a  merchant 
in  Evansville,  Ind.  After  some  time  he  came  to 
Joliet.  Later  he  made  a  trip  to  Kansas  and 
selected  laud  near  Dodge  City,  on  the  old  Santa 
Fe  trail.  Locating  there  he  was  for  three  and 
one-half  years  engaged  in  the  clearing  and  culti- 
vating of  his  land,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Joliet.  As  an  insurance  agent  he  represents 
twelve  of  the  old-line  standard  companies.  Since 
he  started  in  the  insurance  business  nearly  twen- 
ty-five years  ago  he  has  represented  a  number  of 
these  companies  steadily,  which  speaks  volumes 
for  his  ability  and  knowledge  of  the  business. 
From  early  boyhood  his  sympathies  have  been 
with  the  Republican  party,  which  he  was  reared 
to  believe  the  party  of  advance  and  progress. 
His  father  had  on  his  place  a  station  of  the 
underground  railroad  and  was  a  stanch  Aboli- 
tionist and  Republican,  and  his  brothers  were  no 
less  strong  in  their  political  sympathies.  How- 
ever, he  has  never  cared  for  office  and  has  never 
been  active  in  politics.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  4.2,  A.  F.  & 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


443 


A  M.  In  1888  he  erected  on  Eastern  avenue 
the  comfortable  residence  where  he  and  his  fam- 
ily, have  since  made  their  home.  He  was  mar- 
ried, November  18,  1874,  to  Miss  Lovice  B. 
Towne,  a  daughter  of  Caroline  (Hammond) 
Towne,  of  Waupun,  Wis.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Walter  S.  and  Dorris,  the  former  a  student 
in  the  Illinois  University.  The  family  are  con- 
nected with  Central  Presbyterian  Church. 


|"~  RANK  SPRAGUE,  an  enterprising  farmer 
r^  and  dairyman  of  Lockport  Township,  was 
I  *  born  July  22,  1S58,  in  Dupage  Township 
on  the  Plainfield  road,  where  his  father,  Thomas 
J.,  located  on  settling  in  Will  County.  Through- 
out his  entire  life  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
farming  interests  of  this  county,  and,  in  addition, 
has  had  other  interests  of  an  important  character. 
His  education  was  received  in  country  schools 
and  the  Lockport  high  school.  Growing  to  man- 
hood on  a  farm,  familiar  from  his  earliest  recol- 
lections with  agricultural  pursuits,  he  was  well 
fitted  for  the  management  of  a  farm  of  his  own, 
and  on  arriving  at  man's  estate  chose  for  his 
life  work  the  occupation  with  which  he  was  most 
familiar.  He  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  when 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  His  first  in- 
dependent venture  was  the  renting  of  the  home 
farm,  which  he  carried  on  alone  for  two  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1883,  in  connection  with  his 
brother,  Charles  N.  (a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  as  does  also  that  of  their 
father),  Mr.  Sprague purchased  his  present  farm. 
In  the  spring  of  1884  he  settled  on  the  place.  At 
once  he  began  its  improvement  and  cultivation. 
Besides  the  raising  of  general  farm  products  he 
gave  considerable  attention  to  the  dairy  business. 
In  1894  he  sold  a  part  of  the  farm  south  of  the 
railroad  to  the  Joliet  Limestone  Company;  at  the 
same  time  he  bought  his  brother's  interest  in  the 
remainder  and  has  since  operated  it  alone.  He 
is  a  dealer  in  all  kinds  of  farm  and  dairy  feed, 
shipments  to  him  being  made  in  car  load  lots  by 


means  of  a  side  track  on  his  place.  He  milks 
about  twenty  head  of  cows  and  sells  the  milk  to 
dealers.  He  owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  choice  farm  land.  In  the  fall  of 
1890  he  opened  up  a  quarry  on  the  farm,  quarry- 
ing a  fine  grade  of  rock.  In  1894  he  sold  the 
stone  quarry,  then  opened,  to  the  Joliet  Lime 
Stone  Company,  after  which  he  opened  another 
quarry.  In  March,  1S99,  he  rented  it  to  the 
Keltie  Stone  Company.  The  presence  of  the 
rock  in  the  strata  of  his  land  greatly  enhances  the 
value  of  the  place. 

Politically  Mr.  Sprague  votes  with  the  Demo- 
crats at  national  elections,  but  in  local  affairs 
gives  his  support  to  men  whom  he  considers  best 
qualified  to  represent  the  people.  He  has  always 
refused  official  positions  for  himself.  His  mar- 
riage took  place  June  2,  1881,  and  united  him 
with  Florence  E.,  daughter  of  Philip  S.  Tripp,  of 
Hillsdale  County,  Mich.  Ten  children  were 
born  of  their  union,  of  whom  seven  are  living, 
namely:  Florence  Olive,  Vila  May,  Libbie  Elsie, 
Charles  Albert,  Philip  T.,  George  C.  and 
Alice  C. 


0  AMUEL  HOOD,  a  retired  physician,  resides 
?\  on  section  16,  Crete  Township.  He  was 
C*y  born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  June  25, 
1815.  His  father,  Samuel  Hood,  Sr.,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  but  of  English  ancestry,  came  to 
America  in  1840  and  settled  on  new  land  in  Cook 
County,  HI.,  remaining  thereuntil  his  death  at 
eighty-seven  years.  He  married  four  times,  the 
mother  of  our  subject  being  Maria  E.  Vanhaften, 
who  was  born  in  Bombay,  and  was  first  married 
to  a  surgeon-general  in  an  East  Indian  Company. 
After  his  death  she  married  Mr.  Hood.  Of  her 
two  children  our  subject  alone  survives.  He 
began  to  study  medicine  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  first  serving  three  years  in  an 
apothecary  shop  and  then  entering  a  medical 
college  in  London,  England.  Three  years  later 
he  graduated,  after  which  he  set  sail  for  America. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  practiced  in  different 


444 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


places  in  Pennsylvania,  then  moved  to  Gentry 
County,  Mo.,  and  after  four  years  came  to 
Illinois,  where  he  carried  on  practice  for  twenty 
years. 

In  Butler  County,  Pa.,  Dr.  Hood  married  Ellen 
Stewart,  who  was  born  in  County  Donegal,  Ire- 
land, and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  in 
girlhood.  Nine  children  were  born  to  their 
union,  but  death  has  removed  a  number  of  these 
from  the  home  they  once  brightened  by  their 
presence.  Thomas  died  when  twenty-one,  Samuel 
when  eighteen  and  David  when  seven.  Two  died 
in  infancy.  John  J.  became  a  farmer  in  the 
upper  peninsula  of  Michigan.  Mary  married 
Nelson  Seymour,  a  farmer  at  Homewood,  Cook 
County.  Maria  married  Henry  Seymour,  engi- 
neer of  the  Crete  Manufacturing  Company.  Har- 
riet became  the  wife  of  Robert  Hewes,  a  farmer 
of  Crete  Township. 


HARVEY  B.  PORTER,  who  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  of  Channahon 
Township,  was  born  in  Newburg,  Cuya- 
hoga County,  Ohio,  June  i,  i860,  a  son  of  Leman 
and  Arzelia  (Benedict)  Porter.  He  was  second 
among  five  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Alice 
A.,  is  principal  of  the  musical  department  in 
"  The  Western,"  a  university  for  women  at  Ox- 
ford, Ohio.  The  youngest,  Alta  S.,  is  the  wife 
of  Sherman  Lewis,  a  farmer  of  Will  County. 
The  others,  Alma  R.  and  Edgar  S.,  reside  with 
their  mother  on  the  old  homestead.  In  the 
house  where  our  subject  was  born  the  birth  of  his 
father  occurred  November  1,  1831,  and  there  he 
made  his  home  until  1866.  He  then  came  to 
Will  County  and  bought  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  Channahon  Township.  Here  he  settled 
down  to  farm  pursuits.  The  ensuing  years  were 
spent  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  sowing  of  seed  and 
harvesting  of  grain.  Stock-raising,  too,  received 
some  of  his  attention.  Five  years  after  he  settled 
here  he  bought  an  adjoining  eighty-acre  tract, 
which  made  his  farm  one-half  section  in  acreage. 


He  was  an  educated  man,  a  broad  reader,  and 
was  well  informed  on  all  public  questions. 
Politically  an  ardent  Republican  he  did  much  to 
advance  the  Republican  cause  in  his  township. 
He  was  not  a  seeker  after  office,  and  always  re- 
fused to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  as  a  candidate. 
However,  he  made  an  exception  in  cases  of 
school  offices,  and  for  some  years  filled  the  office 
of  school  trustee.  He  died  at  his  homestead 
August  28,  1895. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Harvey  Porter, 
was  a  descendant  of  Puritan  stock.  His  father 
served  under  General  Washington  during  the 
Revolutionary  war;  in  an  earl)-  day  he  removed 
to  New  York  and  settled  in  Schoharie  County, 
where  the  grandfather  was  born.  The  latter,  in 
1818,  when  a  young  man,  went  to  Ohio  and 
established  his  home  in  Cuyahoga  Count}',  where 
he  resided  until  his  death  in  1861.  During  three 
months  in  the  war  of  181 2  he  served  in  the  army, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  British  attack  on  Fort  Erie 
he  was  doing  detailed  duty  at  the  Batavia  arsenal, 
from  which  point  the  noise  of  cannon  and  the 
firing  of  guns  could  be  distinctly  heard. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  also  of  good  old 
Revolutionary  ancestry.  She  and  her  parents, 
Julius  S.  and  Mary  (Rogers)  Benedict,  were 
natives  of  Vermont,  whence  they  removed  to 
Ohio,  settling  near  Bedford  when  she  was  three 
years  of  age.  Her  grandfather  Rogers  was  a 
general  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  served  on 
Washington's  staff.  Mrs.  Porter  was  born  in 
1829,  and,  though  now  advanced  in  years,  is  still 
hearty  and  strong.  Since  her  husband's  death 
she  has  remained  with  her  children  on  the  old 
homestead,  where  her  declining  days  are  bright- 
ened by  the  affection  of  her  children  and  the 
esteem  of  her  friends. 

After  having  studied  for  some  time  in  the  high 
school  at  Channahon  our  subject  entered  theTri- 
State  Normal  at  Angola,  Ind.,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  188S.  For  four  months  afterward 
he  taught  a  district  school,  but  pedagogy  was  not 
congenial  and  he  sought  a  position  more  to  his 
liking.  Returning  to  Angola,  for  two  years  he 
was  employed  in  a  machine  shop  as  a  model 
maker.      From  there  he  went  to  Jolief,  where  he 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


445 


carried  on  a  model-making  shop  for  two  years. 
The  failing  health  of  his  father  rendered  his 
presence  at  the  old  home  advisable.  He  went 
back  and  assumed  the  management  of  the  farm. 
Since  then  he  has  superintended  the  cultivation 
of  the  land  and  the  selling  of  the  farm  products, 
in  which  work  he  shows  decided  ability  and  en- 
terprise. Politically  he  is  a  Republican  and 
works  in  the  interests  of  his  party.  In  1894  he 
was  elected  highway  commissioner  of  Channa- 
hon  Township,  which  office  he  filled  for  three 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
and  one  of  its  trustees.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Channahon  Lodge  No.  262,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Kalon  Camp  No.  4282,  M.  W.  A.,  and 
Channahon  District  Court  of  Honor. 


"HOMAS  J.  SPRAGUE.  One  of  the  men 
who  by  personal  sacrifice  and  persevering 
industry  wrested  a  home  and  fortune  from 
the  raw  prairie  land  of  Will  County,  and  who 
will  be  long  remembered  by  those  among  whom 
he  made  his  home,  was  the  well-known  pioneer, 
Thomas  J.  Sprague.  Coming  here  when  the  re- 
gion was  wild  and  uncultivated,  he  bore  his  part 
in  the  development  of  the  land  and  assisted  in 
bringing  Will  County  to  its  present  high  stand- 
ing among  the  counties  of  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  Hamburg,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  November  23, 
1810,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm.  After 
having  for  two  years  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business,  in  1838  he  came  west  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Dupage  Township,  Will  County.  Here 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild 
prairie  land  on  which  scarce  a  furrow  had  been 
turned  nor  an  attempt  at  improvement  made. 
The  task  of  improving  the  place  was  no  small 
one,  but  he  succeeded  in  doing  so  and  met  with 
more  than  ordinary  success  as  a  pioneer  farmer. 
By  the  purchase  of  canal  and  government  land 
he  finally  became  the  owner  of  over  five  hundred 
acres,  which  he  held  until  his  death.  After  years 
of  arduous  labor  as  a  farmer  he  accumulated  suf- 


ficient to  give  him  a  nice  income,  and  he  then 
retired  from  active  labors  and  came  to  Joliet, 
where  he  made  his  home  from  1890  until  he 
passed  from  earth,  October  22,  1898,  after  an  ill- 
ness of  one  week.  Financially  he  was  a  success- 
ful man;  nor  was  he  less  successful  in  winning 
the  esteem  of  his  associates  and  the  warm  regard 
of  his  friends.  In  politics  he  was  always  stanch 
in  his  adherence  to  the  Democratic  party.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  connected  with  Lockport  Lodge 
No.  538,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  While  he  was  not  iden- 
tified with  any  denomination  he  was  a  believer  in 
Christianity  (his  parents  having  been  Quakers) 
and  in  his  life  endeavored  to  live  up  to  the  teach- 
ings of  Christ.  It  was  his  pleasure  in  his  last 
years  to  contrast  the  improvements  of  the  present 
with  the  privations  of  the  past,  and  to  call  the 
attention  of  others  to  the  wonderful  transforma- 
tion wrought  in  this  county  during  his  sixty 
years  of  residence  here.  No  one  rejoiced  more 
than  he  in  the  county's  upward  growth  and  prog- 
ress. 

January  9,  1845,  Mr.  Sprague  married  Mrs. 
Lydia  (Swift)  Godfrey,  daughter  of  Shubael  and 
Eunice  (Olmstead)  Swift.  Her  father  was  born 
and  reared  in  Austerlitz,  Columbia  County,  N.Y., 
and  engaged  in  farming  there  until  1835,  when 
he  drove  through  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  what 
is  now  Dupage  Township,  Will  County.  Pre- 
empting a  tract  of  wild  land  he  gave  his  attention 
to  its  improvement.  Later  he  added  to  it  by  the 
purchase  of  canal  land.  A  number  of  years  later 
he  sold  the  farm  and  moved  to  Waukegan,  where 
he  died  at  ninety-four  years  of  age.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife  had  died  in  New 
York  when  thirty -seven  years  of  age,  leaving 
three  children.  One  of  these,  Lydia,  was  born 
December  28,  18 18,  on  the  homestead  at  Auster- 
litz, where  her  father's  eyes  had  first  opened  to 
the  light.  She  accompanied  her  father  to  this 
county  in  1835,  and,  having  received  an  excel- 
lent education  in  the  east,  she  secured  a  position 
as  teacher  in  Dupage  Township,  continuing  in 
that  occupation  until  her  marriage.  In  1839  she 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  Godfrey,  who  came  to 
this  county  from  the  east  in  1833.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  their  marriage,  viz.:  Eunice  E., 


44ri 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


wife  of  Reuben  W.  Kilmer:  Joseph,  a  resident  of 
Joliet;  and  Mrs.  Julia  M.  Lord,  of  Joliet.  A  few 
years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Godfrey  his  widow 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Spra'gue.  Of  the  children 
born  to  this  union  three  died  when  young  and 
Thomas  J.  died  in  Joliet  October  3,  1893, 'after 
having  gained  a  good  practice  as  a  physician. 
Two  other  sons,  Charles  N.  and  Frank,  are  rep- 
resented on  other  pages  of  this  volume.  The 
daughters  are:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jonathan  Math- 
er; Harriet,  widow  of  Albert  Phelps,  of  Dupage 
Township;  and  Celia,  widow  of  George  E.  Royce, 
of  Naperville,  111. 


ROBERT  MANN  WOODS.  One  of  the  best 
known  men  of  Illinois  is  the  subject  of  this 
article,  who  won  the  title  of  major  during 
the  Civil  war  and  whose  record,  both  in  military 
and  civil  affairs,  is  one  of  which  he  and  his  may 
well  be  proud.  He  is  a  member  of  a  family  de- 
scended from  old  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterian  stock. 
His  father,  William  J.  Woods,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade,  removed 
from  the  east  to  Illinois  in  1842  and  settled  in 
Pike  County.  He  was  the  only  man  in  that 
county  who  voted  for  James  G.  Birney  for  presi- 
dent. He  was  an  Abolitionist  and  Prohibitionist 
as  far  back  as  1825.  In  1S48  he  moved  to  Gales- 
burg,  111.,  where  he  published  a  free-soil  paper, 
the  Galesburg  Free  Democrat,  in  which  office  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  learned  the  printer's  trade. 
In  1855  Mr.  Woods,  Sr.,  was  one  of  several  gen- 
tlemen who  founded  the  Western  Industrial  and 
Scientific  Institution  and  organized  the  college  at 
College  Springs,  Iowa.  At  a  later  date  he  moved 
to  Minneapolis,  Kans.,  and  there  died  May  10, 
1900,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five  years.  He  was 
three  times  married.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah 
Lyon  Mann,  a  native  of  Maryland,  daughter  of 
Maj.  Robert  Mann,  a  soldier  of  iSi2,  and  of  the 
family  of  Horace  Mann,  the  great  educator.  She 
was  a  kin  to  Mary  Lyon,  founder  of  Mt.  Holyoke 
Seminary.  By  their  union  ten  children  were 
born,  of  whom  the  major  was  the  fifth. 


Born  in  Greenville,  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  April 
17,  1S40,  Major  Woods  was  two  years  old  when 
the  family  settled  in  Illinois.  His  earliest  recol- 
lections are  of  the  pioneer  surroundings  and  in- 
cidents of  Pike  County.  While  living  at  Gales- 
burg he  attended  Knox  College.  In  1858  he 
went  to  Iowa  and  taught  school  there  and  in 
Missouri  for  three  years.  At  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  war  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Yates  to 
a  position  in  the  office  of  the  quartermaster-gen- 
eral and  afterwards  that  of  the  governor,  where 
he  remained  until  June,  1864.  He  was  then 
made  adjutant  of  Yates'  Sharpshooters,  which 
formed  the  Sixty-fourth  Illinois  Regiment.  He 
served  in  this  through  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
after  which  he  was  detailed  as  a  mustering  officer. 
Later  he  served  on  the  staff  of  Maj. -Gen.  Giles 
A.  Smith,  taking  part  in  the  march  to  the  sea 
and  the  campaign  through  the  Carolinas.  His 
commissions  as  captain  and  major  were  the  re- 
ward of  gallantry  and  valor  on  the  field  of  battle. 

After  taking  part  in  the  grand  review  at  Wash- 
ington and  also  serving  as  a  mustering-out  officer 
for  General  Sherman's  army  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
Major  Woods  was  summoned  to  Springfield,  111., 
by  Adj. -Gen.  I.  N.  Haynie,  and  there  he  com- 
piled the  regimental  histories  (filling  nine  vol- 
umes) of  all  the  Illinois  regiments.  In  the  spring 
of  1866  he  wrote  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  which  was  or- 
ganized by  Dr.  B.  F.  Stephenson,  and  of  which 
Major  Woods  was  the  first  adjutant-general. 
Soon  afterward  he  organized  the  various  depart- 
ments throughout  the  northwest.  The  first  char- 
ter issued,  that  of  Decatur  Post  No.  1,  has  his 
name  upon  it.  In  186S  he  went  to  Chicago.  For 
some  years  he  was  chief  clerk  during  the  con- 
struction of  the  United  States  custom  house  and 
postoffice  in  that  city.  In  1S77  he  was  made 
insurance  examiner  of  Illinois,  a  position  of  great 
responsibility  and  one  which  he  filled  most  cred- 
itably. During  the  time  in  that  position  he  was 
obliged  to  close  up,  in  the  courts  of  the  state, 
ever}-  life  insurance  company  then  organized 
under  this  state. 

As  a  newspaper  man  Major   Woods  began  his 
career  in  1S79,  when  he  purchased  the  Joliet  Re- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


447 


publican  from  James  Goodspeed.  This  paper  he 
conducted  successfully ,  proving  that  the  ability 
which  had  made  itself  manifest  in  the  arm)-  and 
in  business  was  also  fitted  for  the  field  of  journal- 
ism. In  1SS3  he  purchased  the  Joliet  Sun,  which 
he  merged  into  the  Republican .  By  the  subse- 
quent  purchase  in  1888  of  the  Daily  and  Weekly 
Press  he  extended  his  influence  as  a  newspaper 
man,  merging  the  three  papers  into  the  Republic 
and  Sun,  a  popular  and  influential  daily  and 
weekly  paper,  which  took  a  leading  part  in  all 
the  activities  of  the  local  Republican  organization. 
There  was  also  a  job  department  and  a  book 
binder}-.  In  1892  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
the  newspaper  business.  Organizing  the  St. 
Louis  Paving  Brick  Company  of  Galesburg,  he 
became  its  secretary  and  treasurer.  He  after- 
ward organized  the  Peerless  Portland  Cement 
Company  of  Union  City,  Mich.,  of  which  he  was 
vice-president.  He  now  has  an  office  in  Chicago 
and  goes  to  that  city  daily,  but  still  makes  his 
home  in  Joliet,  being  too  devoted  to  this  place  to 
desire  to  transfer  his  citizenship  elsewhere. 

October  5,1867,  Major  Woods  married  Miss  May 
Florence  Miner,  who  was  born  in  Harding,  111., 
April  S,  1851,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  E.  and 
Aseuath  (Darrow)  Miner.  The  Miners  and 
Darrows  were  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut 
Yankees,  having  had  six  ancestors  who  were 
minute  men  at  Lexington  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  twelve  in  the  war  of  1812.  Major  and 
Mrs.  Woods  have  two  children,  Alice  M.  and 
Miner  R. 

From  this  rfeum^  of  the  life  of  Major  Woods  it 
will  be  seen  that  he  is  a  man  who  has  wielded  a 
potent  influence  in  public  affairs,  bearing  a  part 
in  many  lines  of  activity  that  have  been  far- 
reaching  and  powerful.  Ever}-  duty  of  life  he 
has  discharged  faithfully  and  well.  As  a  soldier 
he  performed  duties  that  were  hazardous.  In  all 
the  hardships  and  responsibilities  of  forced 
inarches,  bloody  battles  or  monotonous  camp- 
life,  he  proved  himself  a  true  son  of  Mars,  giving 
unmistakable  evidence  of  endurance,  patience 
and  heroism.  From  the  ordeal  of  a  soldier's  life 
he  emerged  with  laurels  won  upon  sanguinary 
battlefields  and   with   an   official    rank   that  had 


been  well  earned.  Nor  has  his  subsequent  career 
as  a  private  citizen  been  less  meritorious.  The 
same  qualities  that  brought  him  success  in  the  one 
contributed  to  his  advance  in  the  other.  When 
in  the  world  of  journalism  he  used  his  influence 
to  promote  enterprises  of  undoubted  merit,  whose 
success  would  mean  the  enhancement  of  Joliet' s 
progress.  Realizing  the  power  of  the  press,  he 
sought  to  make  his  paper  a  power  for  good,  a 
factor  in  the  moral,  educational  and  commercial 
advancement  of  his  town.  In  the  real-estate  and 
loan  business,  to  which  some  of  his  best  years 
have  been  given,  he  has  won  many  warm  friends 
and  built  up  a  patronage  that  is  valuable  and  of 
a  high  class.  The  wisdom  governing  his  actions 
has  inspired  confidence  in  his  judgment,  and  his 
entire  circle  of  acquaintances  concede  to  him  high 
ability  and  unwavering  integrity. 


30HN  C.  COWING  was  born  at  Lisbon, 
N.  H.,  June  6,  1833,  a  son  of  David  and 
Polly  (Jessemen)  Cowing.  His  father,  who 
was  born  at  Lisbon  February  6,  1795,  became  a 
minister  in  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  He 
was  married  at  Sugar  Hill,  Grafton  County, 
N.  H.,  in  1814,  to  Poll\-  Jessemen,  who  was  born 
June  24,  1795.  They  both  died  at  Elk  Grove, 
Cook  County,  111.,  his  death  occurring  Septem- 
ber 17,  1848,  while  his  wife  passed  away 
March  3,  1850.  They  had  come,  with  their 
family,  to  Illinois  in  1844,  arriving  in  Chicago 
on  the  9th  of  November,  and  settled  first  at 
Half  Day,  on  the  Desplaines  River,  in  Lake 
County,  111,  but  shortly  afterward  removed  to 
Chicago. 

After  the  decease  of  his  mother,  our  subject 
made  his  home  in  Richmond,  McHenry  County, 
111.,  for  a  short  time,  but  during  the  same  year 
(1850)  went  to  Twelve  Mile  Grove,  Will  Coun- 
ty, 111.,  and  thence  to  Rockford  in  1852.  He  was 
married  in  Beloit,  Wis.,  December  29,  1853,  to 
Elizabeth  Bradshaw,  of  Rockford,  111.,  who  was 
born  in  Derry  Township,  Columbia  County,  Pa., 


448 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


January  31,  1S34,  and  died  on  their  farm  at  West 
Peotone,  Will  County,  111.,  September  22,  1896. 
In  1854  he  settled  in  the  township  of  Wilton, 
Will  County,  but  sold  his  property  there  and  set- 
tled on  section  19,  Peotone  Township,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1855.  He  still  resides  there  and  is  the  old- 
est permanent  settler  in  the  town.  His  first  pur- 
chase in  the  township  was  eighty  acres.  By  sub- 
sequent purchases  he  became  the  owner  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  but  of  this  he  has  sold 
a  large  part,  and  now  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres.  He  is  an  active  Republican. 
He  has  filled  some  township  and  local  offices,  in- 
cluding those  of  constable,  commissioner  of  high- 
ways and  school  director.  An  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he  is  steward 
and  a  trustee  of  his  congregation,  and  has  the 
honor  of  having  organized  the  first  Sunday- 
school  in  his  district.  For  some  years  he  has 
been  practically  retired,  having  given  the  man- 
agement of  his  farm  (on  which  he  still  resides)  to 
his  youngest  son. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Cowing  married  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Judge  Bradshaw,  who  sat  on 
the  bench  at  the  trial  of  Charles  II.  Her  father, 
George  Bradshaw,  in  early  life  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school,  but  later  cultivated  a  farm.  On  coming 
west  he  made  his  home  in  Rockford,  111.,  for  some 
time,  but  finally  removed  to  Lee  County,  this 
state,  where  he  died.'  One  of  his  sons,  B.  H. 
Bradshaw,  was  a  power  in  the  Republican  party 
and  an  active  man  in  public  affairs,  serving 
several  terms  as  a  member  of  the  Illinois  leg- 
islature and  holding  other  offices  of  trust  and 
honor. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cowing  comprised 
the  following  sous  and  daughters:  Mary  Luella, 
who  was  born  in  Wiltou  Township,  September  29, 
1854,  and  died  in  Peotone,  III.,  July  6,  1885; 
Albert  H.,  who  was  born  in  Peotone,  May  29, 
1857,  being  the  oldest  surviving  male  child  born 
in  the  township  of  Peotone;  George  J.,  born  in 
Peotone,  March  25,  1859;  John  F.,  who  was  born 
in  Peotone,  February  12,  1869,  and  died  in  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  February  5,  1884,  while  a  student 
in  the  law  department  of  the  State  University; 
Addie   M.,  who   was  born   in   Peotone,   April  4, 


1866,  and  who  resides  with  her  father;  Herbert  H. , 
who  was  born  in  Peotone,  January  9,  1869,  and 
died  September  29  of  the  same  year;  Arthur  B., 
who  was  born  January  10,  1871,  and  is  now  pre- 
paring for  the  profession  of  law;  and  James  R., 
who  was  born  in  Peotone,  May  25,  1873,  and  now 
has  charge  of  the  home  farm. 


^JEORGE  J.  COWING.  This  well-known 
—  attorney  of  Joliet,  member  of  the  firm  of 
J  Cowing  &  Young,  is  one  of  the  native-born 
sons  of  Will  County.  He  was  born  in  Peotone 
Township,  March  25,  1S59,  and  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  public  schools  and  under 
private  tutors.  From  seventeen  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  taught  in  district  schools,  and 
with  the  money  thus  earued  he  began  a  course  of 
study  in  the  Northwestern  University  in  1880, 
but  his  incessant  labor  had  impaired  his  health 
and  he  was  obliged  to  temporarily  discontinue 
his  studies.  In  the  spring  of  1881  he  went  to 
Colorado,  where  he  remained  for  fifteen  months, 
returning  in  the  summer  of  1S82.  Soon  after- 
ward he  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of 
Michigan  University,  where  he  took  the  regular 
course  of  lectures,  graduating  in  1884.  Among 
his  classmates  was  the  since  well-known  "Dick" 
Yates,  who  has  become  a  power  in  Republican 
circles  of  Illinois. 

Constant  devotion  to  his  studies  had  again  af- 
fected Mr.  Cowing's  health  and  after  graduating 
he  found  it  necessary  to  spend  several  months 
recuperating.  As  soon  as  he  had  recovered  his 
health  he  came  to  Joliet  and  began  the  practice 
of  law,  associating  himself  with  the  law  firm  of 
Olin  &  Phelps.  After  eighteen  months  with 
them  he  opened  an  office  at  No.  317  Jefferson 
street,  in  an  office  adjoining  that  of  Hon.  Edward 
C.  Aiken,  to  whose  large  and  valuable  law  li- 
brary he  had  free  access.  Soon  afterward  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Col.  J.  B.  Fithian,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Fithian  &  Cowing,  and  this 
firm    built   up   a   large   practice.      In    1889  their 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


449 


partnership  was  dissolved.  Soon  after  this  Mr. 
Cowing  entered  into  partnership  with  Hon.  Ben- 
jamin Olin,  which  continued  until  Mr.  Oliu 
was  elected  county  judge.  In  his  canvas  for  that 
office  Mr.  Olin  had  no  supporter  more  active 
than  his  law  partner,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the 
candidate  was  a  Democrat  and  his  partner  a 
stanch  Republican.  In  1892  Mr.  Cowing  asso- 
ciated himself  with  George  W.  Young  and  Octo- 
ber i,  1898,  they  removed  their  office  to  the  Cut- 
ting building,  where  they  have  a  well-equipped 
suite  of  three  rooms. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Cowing  is  identified  with  Mat- 
teson  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Paul  Re- 
vere Lodge  No.  371,  K.  of  P.,  in  which  he  was 
chancellor  commander;  and  Mound  City  Camp, 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  admirably 
fitted  for  successful  work  in  his  profession  and  in 
the  public  service,  being  systematic,  exact  and 
business-like,  and  at  the  same  time  well-informed, 
genial  and  accommodating.  He  is  connected  with 
the  Richards  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  In  1890  he  married  Miss 
Stella  Titsworth,  daughter  of  H.  M.  Titsworth, 
of  Aurora.  They  have  three  children,  Luella  A., 
Glen  L.  and  John  C. 


IILLIS  A.  STRAIGHT,  a  well-known 
manufacturer  residing  in  Manhattan,  was 
born  in  Fairbury,  Livingston  County,  111., 
August  5,  1859,  a  son  of  Hon.  R.  C.  and  Fran- 
cina  (Abbey)  Straight,  natives  respectively  of 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather, 
Arba  Straight,  who  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  came 
from  New  York  to  Illinois  in  1849,  and  settled  at 
Fairbury.  From  that  time  until  his  death  he 
tilled  the  soil  in  Livingston  County.  A  man  of 
deep  religious  convictions,  he  took  an  active 
part  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and,  at  his  own  ex- 
pense, erected  a  house  of  worship  for  that  denom- 
ination in  Fairbury.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  ninety-four  years  of  age. 

At  the  time  of  coming  to  Illinois  in  1849,  Hon. 


R.  C.  Straight  established  his  home  in  McLean 
County,  but  ten  years  later  he  moved  to  Fair- 
bury, where  he  followed  farm  pursuits  for  a  time. 
Later,  for  ten  years  he  manufactured  tile  in  that 
city,  being  the  first  to  embark  in  that  business 
in  his  section  of  the  state.  Not  only  was  he  a 
pioneer  in  the  business,  but  a  large  manufacturer 
as  well.  In  1887  he  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness cares,  and,  at  sixty-six  years  of  age,  is 
passing  his  time  in  the  supervision  of  his  prop- 
erty interests  and  continues  to  make  his  home  in 
Fairbury.  In  politics  a  Republican,  he  was 
elected  on  that  ticket  as  the  representative  of 
Livingston  County  in  the  state  legislature,  and 
at  other  times  has  held  various  local  offices.  Of 
his  eight  children  all  but  two  are  living.  They 
are:  W.  A.;  Lee  S.,  who  lives  in  Fonda,  Iowa; 
Lizzie  M.,  wife  of  William  Wilson,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Paxton,  111.;  Nellie  V.,  a  widow  living 
in  Pasadena,  Cal.;  Guy  H.,  in  Iowa;  and  Es- 
tella,  who  has  been  prominent  in  educational 
matters  and  for  several  years  held  the  principal- 
ship  of  the  schools  of  El  Paso,  111. 

After  studying  for  some  years  in  the  district 
schools  and  Fairbury  high  school,  our  subject, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  began  to  work  in  his  father's 
tile  factory,  and  soon  became  familiar  with  the 
business.  In  January,  1883,  he  and  his  brother, 
Lee  S. ,  came  to  Manhattan  and  built  a  factory 
for  the  manufacture  of  tile,  at  the  same  time  or- 
ganizing the  firm  of  Straight  Brothers,  which 
continued  for  some  years,  until  Lee  S.  sold  his 
interest  to  his  brother.  The  latter  has  since  en- 
larged the  plant,  which  now  has  a  capacity  for 
ten  thousand  tile  per  day.  These  he  sells  through 
agents,  in  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and 
Missouri;  where  he  has  built  up  a  large  trade. 
While  he  resides  in  the  village,  he  owns  and  man- 
ages a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on 
which  he  raises  Norman  horses  aud  other  stock; 
and  he  also  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Livingston  County,  which  he  rents.  By 
his  marriage  to  Nellie  M. ,  daughter  of  Wesley 
D.  Jones,  of  Mokena,  111.,  he  has  six  children, 
Natalie,  Floyd  W.,  Helen  F.,  Arby  R.,  La- 
Dessa  and  Willis  W. 

Politically     Mr.    Straight    favors    Republican 


45° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


principles.  For  four  years  he  served  as  super- 
visor of  Manhattan  Township.  He  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  the  Globe  at  Manhattan, 
and  has  passed  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  order,  of 
which  he  is  now  the  chief  justice.  Having  been 
familiar  with  the  tile  business  from  youth,  he  is 
fitted  to  carry  it  forward  advantageously.  He  is 
one  of  three  brothers,  all  of  whom  have  been  suc- 
cessful manufacturers,  and  at  one  time  five 
factories  were  owned  by  members  of  the  family. 


OUIS  J.  FREDERICK,  M.  D.,  a  successful 
It  physician  and  surgeon  of  Joliet,  is  one  of 
L/  the  skilled  professional  men  of  this  city  and 
has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  in  his  chosen 
calling.  Since  he  began  in  practice  here,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1896,  he  has  won  many  friends,  both 
professional  and  social,  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  rising  men  in  the  medical  field.  He  has 
his  office  in  the  Armory  block,  on  the  corner  of 
Chicago  and  Clinton  streets.  His  success  is  at- 
tributable to  the  close  attention  which  he  gives 
his  profession  and  his  careful  study  of  every  form 
of  disease,  with  the  remedial  agencies  best  ad- 
apted to  each.  Genuine  love  for  his  profession 
makes  him  a  student,  united  with  which  are 
painstaking  care  and  genial,  gentlemanlycourtesy, 
all  being  important  factors  in  success. 

The  doctor's  father,  Louis  Frederick,  a  native 
of  Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  in  boy- 
hood and  during  the  Civil  war  served  in  a  Mas- 
sachusetts regiment.  For  many  years  he  was 
engaged  iu#  business  in  Chicago  and  he  is  still 
living  in  that  city,  but  is  now  retired.  He  mar- 
ried a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Waukegan, 
111.,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  our  subject  being  the  oldest  of 
the  family.  He  was  born  in  Chicago  October 
8,  1867,  and  received  his  education  in  the  city 
schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  18S4. 
Afterward  he  clerked  in  a  drug  store,  in  which 
way  he  became  familiar  with  pharmacy,  a  knowl- 
edge that  was  extended  by  a  year's  study  in  the 
Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy.     While  employed 


in  the  drug  business  he  studied  medicine  under 
Dr.  A.  L.  Farr.  In  1S89  he  entered  Rush  Med- 
ical College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1892, 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  In  1S92  he  received 
from  Governor  Fifer  the  appointment  of  assistant 
surgeon  at  the  Illinois  state  penitentiary  and  con- 
tinued in  that  position  until  September,  1896, 
when  he  resigned  in  order  to  engage  in  private 
practice.  Since  coming  to  this  city  he  has  estab- 
lished domestic  ties,  his  wife  being  Lula,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Charles  Rost,  who  is  a  prominent 
resident  of  Will  County.  Mrs.  Frederick  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  but  has  spent  her  life  prin- 
cipally in  or  near  Joliet,  and  is  well  known  in  the 
most  select  social  circles.  She  is  identified  with 
Central  Presbyterian  Church  and  contributes  to  its 
maintenance. 

All  matters  connected  with  his  profession  re- 
ceive Dr.  Frederick's  attention  and  enlist  his  in- 
terest. At  this  writing  he  is  physician  for  Will 
County  and  surgeon  for  the  Western  Stone  Com- 
pany. It  has  been  his  aim  to  keep  abreast  with 
every  development  made  in  therapeutics,  and  for 
this  reason  he  is  a  constant  student  of  his  profes- 
sion. In  1896  he  took  a  course  in  the  Post- Grad- 
uate Medical  School  in  Chicago,  and  during  the 
summer  of  1899  he  went  east,  in  order  to  study  in 
the  Bellevue  Hospital  College  of  New  York. 
While  he  is  well  informed  in  every  department  of 
medicine,  his  specialty  has  been  diseases  of 
women  and  children,  in  which  field  of  practice  he 
has  been  exceptionally  successful.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Chicago  and  Will  County  Medical  So- 
cieties, and  has  served  the  latter  as  secretary. 
Fraternally  he  is  connectedwith  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  North  American  Union, 
of  which  latter  he  is  examining  physician.  In 
politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 


3OHN  FREDRICK,  who  has  been  connected 
with  the  E.  Porter  Brewing  Company  as 
chief  engineer  since  July  18,  1S93,  was  born 
December  2,  1857,  under  the  stars  and  stripes 
aboard  an  American  sailer  on  the  Atlantic  ocean 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


45i 


between  Havre  and  New  York.  He  was  the 
third  in  a  family  consisting  of  four  daughters 
and  three  sons,  all  of  whom  are  still  living.  His 
father,  Joseph,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  and  studied 
the  trade  of  wood  engraver  and  dyer  under 
his  father,  who  bore  the  same  name  as  himself. 
During  the  year  1852  he  came  alone  to  America 
and  settled  in  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  three  years.  Being  favorably  impressed 
with  this  country  he  determined  to  settle  here 
permanently,  and  accordingly,  in  1856,  returned 
to  Germany  for  his  family.  In  the  latter  part  of 
1S57  they  made  the  journey  across  the  ocean  and 
settled  with  him  in  Troy.  Later  the  family  re- 
moved to  Albany,  the  same  state,  thence  went  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  In  the  latter  city  he  engaged  in 
the  oilcloth  business  until  obliged  to  close  out  on 
account  of  the  war.  In  1865  he  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  Wausau,  Wis.,  where  he  became 
interested  in  the  sawmill  business.  Afterward 
he  moved  to  Milwaukee  and  again  engaged  in  the 
oilcloth  business,  but  failed  in  that.  He  then 
operated  a  machine  shop,  in  which  were  manu- 
factured some  inventions  of  his  own.  Finally  he 
retired  from  business  cares,  and  now,  at  eighty- 
two  years  of  age,  he  makes  his  home  in  St.  Paul, 
Minn.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army,  serving  in  Company  B,  Second  Mis- 
souri Infantry,  under  the  gallant  "Phil"  Sheri- 
dan. His  wife  was  Magdalina  Richter,  who  was 
born  in  Weisensultz,  Bohemia,  and  died  in  Mil- 
waukee, Wis. 

When  the  family  moved  from  Wausau  to  Mil- 
waukee the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  nine  years 
of  age.  He  soon  began  to  work  in  his  father's 
machine  shop,  where  he  learned  the  machinist's 
trade.  At  thirteen  he  became  an  apprentice  to 
the  trade  in  Johnson's  machine  shop,  where  he 
served  for  four  years.  In  order  to  meet  the  re- 
quirements of  the  government  when  his  appren- 
ticeship was  ended  he  secured  employment  on  a 
schooner,  where  he  remained  for  one  year,  after 
which  for  a  similar  period  he  was  fireman  on 
the  "City  Burge,"  out  from  Milwaukee.  He 
then  successfully  passed  an  examination  as  chief 
engineer.  Following  this,  he  was  for  one  year 
each  employed  as  engineer  on  the  barge  "Hick- 


cock,"  the  "Josephine"  and  the  "Norman." 
For  a  time,  during  the  winter  months,  he  engaged 
as  engineer  on  the  "St.  Paul,"  between  Milwau- 
kee and  Prairie  du  Chien.  In  1887  he  became 
engineer  for  the  P.  H.  Best  Brewing  Company, 
and  later  was  made  their  chief  pump  man.  On 
the  formation  of  the  Pabst  Brewing  Company  he 
took  a  position  in  their  brewery  and  continued 
there  until  he  resigned.  Since  July,  1893,  ne 
has  been  with  the  E.  Porter  Brewing  Company; 
and  under  his  supervision  a  number  of  improve- 
ments have  been  made  in  the  plant,  a  new  elec- 
tric light  having  been  introduced  and  one  new 
boiler  put  in  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  horse 
power.  The  plant  has  two  ice  machines  and  all 
the  modern  improvements. 

In  politics  Mr.  Fredrick  is  independent.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Court  of  Honor. 
His  home  is  at  No.  114  South  Broadway.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Milwaukee  to  Miss 
Annie  Schwrien,  who  was  born  in  Mechlenburg, 
Germany,  and  came  to  America  with  her  father, 
August  Schwrien,  who  was  a  blacksmith  in  Mil- 
waukee. The  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fredrick  are  Lillian  and  Mamie. 


GlLFREDJ.  STOOS  has  the  distinction  of 
LI  being  the  youngest  dry-goods  merchant  in 
/  I  Joliet.  He  was  born  in  this  city  January 
18,  1870,  and  is  a  sou  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Stoos, 
who  are  represented  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
In  the  parochial  schools  principally  the  rudi- 
ments of  his  education  were  obtained.  He  then 
entered  St.  Joseph's  College  at  Teutopolis,  111., 
where  he  continued  a  student  until  the  junior 
year,  but  at  that  time  discontinued  his  studies  in 
order  to  engage  in  business.  His  first  position 
was  as  cash-boy  in  Mr.  Calmer's  dry-goods 
store,  and  later  he  was  a  clerk  and  bookkeeper 
in  the  same  establishment.  January  7,  1892,  he 
was  admitted  into  the  firm  as  owner  of  one-half 
interest  in  the  business,  and  the  title  was  changed 
to  Calmer  &  Stoos.     In  January,  1895,  M.  Cal- 


452 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mer  purchased  the  interest  of  H.  C.  Calmer,  but 
the  firm  title  remained  unchanged.  January  12, 
1897,  the  junior  partner  disposed  of  his  interest 
in  the  company  and  immediately  began  plans  for 
a  business  of  his  own. 

March  25,  1S97,  Mr.  Stoos  opened  a  store  in 
the  first  floor  of  the  Barber  building,  where  he 
has  ample  accommodations,  66x120  feet,  and 
carries  a  complete  assortment  of  dry -goods, 
cloaks  and  millinery.  By  reason  of  his  good 
judgment  in  purchases  he  is  enabled  to  sell  at 
low  prices,  while  the  excellent  quality  of  all  his 
stock  brings  him  a  large  patronage  among  the 
best  people  of  Joliet.  There  is  in  the  business 
world  only  one  class  of  men  who  can  attain  suc- 
cess, and  tint  is  the  class  possessing  energy  that 
never  wearies,  enthusiasm  that  never  yields  to 
discouragement,  and  good  judgment  that  always 
holds  the  enthusiasm  in  check.  Such  a  man  is 
Mr.  Stoos.  He  is  a  representative  of  a  family 
whose  members  for  generations  have  been  up- 
right, persevering  and  energetic,  and  these  quali- 
ties are  his  by-  inheritance. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Stoos  is  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  connected  with 
the  Sharpshooters'  Association  and  the  Western 
Catholic  Union.  Some  years  ago  he  married,  his 
wife  being  Miss  Helen  Gallinger,  daughter  of 
Alexander  Gallinger,  a  lumberman  of  Oshkosh, 
Wis. 


G]  MANDAS  S.  SPEICHER,  a  leading  busi- 
L_|  ness  man  of  Plainfield,  was  boru  in  Berks 
/  1  County,  Pa.,  December  23,  1859.  When 
he  was  eight  years  of  age  his  parents  settled  on  a 
farm  and  there  his  youthful  years  were  passed, 
his  education  being  obtained  in  neighboring 
schools.      In  18S1  he  started  out  for  himself  and, 


coming  to  Plainfield,  worked  by  the  month  on  a 
farm  near  the  village.  He  saved  $350,  and  with 
this  for  a  start  he  married  and  established  his 
home  in  Plainfield.  He  rented  a  farm  adjoining 
the  city  limits,  and  for  four  years  superintended 
its  ninety-five  acres.  At  first  he  was  prospered, 
but  finally  a  disastrous  fire  caused  a  loss  of  $1,900 
in  grain  and  property.  Meantime  he  had  started 
a  dray  and  teaming  business  in  town,  and  after 
the  fire  he  returned  to  the  village,  where  he 
opened  a  coal  yard.  This  he  conducted  for  two 
and  one-half  years,  in  connection  with  his  team- 
ing. On  selling  the  coal  business  he  opened  a 
livery,  which  he  has  since  conducted.  At  the  ' 
same  time  he  began  to  sell  buggies  and  other 
vehicles,  a  line  of  work  that  he  has  since  con- 
tinued, having  built  up  the  leading  business  of 
its  kind  in  the  town.  In  1S98  he  added  imple- 
ments and  binders  to  his  stock  in  trade.  During 
the  summer  of  1899  fire  again  caused  a  heavy 
loss,  but  he  immediately  rented  new  quarters  and 
has  since  been  prospered.  Teaming,  the  livery 
business,  and  the  sale  of  buggies  and  implements, 
engross  his  attention  and  keep  him  constantly 
occupied.  Being  strictly  honest  in  all  of  his  deal- 
ings he  has  gained  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
other  business  men.  Notwithstanding  the  mis- 
fortunes by  fire  with  which  he  has  met,  he  has 
never  allowed  himself  to  become  discouraged,  but 
has  pressed  forward  with  renewed  energy,  and 
has  now  placed  his  affairs  upon  a  sound  financial 
basis,  with  ever}-  prospect  for  future  success. 

In  politics  Mr.  Speicher  is  a  Republican  and 
takes  a  lively  interest  in  local  affairs.  He  has 
never  sought  office  and  has  never  held  any  local 
position  except  that  of  policeman.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  Plainfield  Lodge  No.  536,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  January  19,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Ada- 
line  Neisweuder,  of  Plainfield,  and  they  now  have 
three  children,  William  Guy,  Paul  and   Louella. 


of  raE 

UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


*Tj*^U&-4tJC#+t*L^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


455 


COL.  FRED  A.  JACKSON. 


EOL.  FRED  A.  JACKSON,  late  of  the  Third 
Illinois  Infantry,  Spanish-American  war, 
and  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Third  Illinois 
National  Guard,  has  made  his  home  in  Joliet 
since  1853.  His  connection  with  military  affairs 
dates  from  1876,  when  he  entered  the  Joliet  city 
corps  as  a  private.  Soon  chosen  first  sergeant, 
in  1878  he  was  elected  first  lieutenant,  and  Jan- 
uary 23,  1880,  was  elected  captain,  which  office 
he  held  for  more  than  twelve  years.  The  title  of 
major  was  conferred  upon  him  in  July,  1892. 
During  this  time  he  served  successively  in  the 
Tenth  and  Twelfth  Battalions,  and  Fourth  and 
Third  Regiments  of  Illinois  National  Guard. 
On  the  reorganization  of  the  Third  he  was 
elected  and  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel, 
which  office  he  held  until  July,  1899,  when  he 
resigned  and  retired  from  the  army.  His  regi- 
ment rendered  active  service  at  the  time  of  the 
Braidwood  strike  in  1877,  the  LaSalle  strike  in 
1878,  the  Chicago  strike  in  1894,  again  at  La- 
Salle in  1894,  and  twice  at  Lernont. 

When  troops  were  called  for,  to  serve  in  the 
war  with  Spain,  the  Third  Regiment  volunteered 
and  he  was  commissioned  major  of  the  same. 
After  a  time  in  the  camp  at  Springfield  the  regi- 
ment proceeded  to  Chickamauga  and  thence  to 
Newport  News.  On  the  3d  of  August  they 
lauded  at  Porto  Rico,  being  the  first  soldiers  to 
occupy  Aroyo  and  that  part  of  the  island.  With 
the  Fourth  Ohio  they  advanced  in  an  attack  on 
Guyatna.  August  13  they  marched  up  Coyey 
road,  where  they  expected  a  fight,  but  news  being 
received  of  the  signing  of  the  protocol,  they  were 
ordered  back  to  Wyama  and  thence  to  the 
United  States.     They    arrived    in    this  country 


October  3,  1898,  and  were  mustered  out  at  their 
home  station.  The  Third  continued  to  have  the 
same  officers  until  its  reorganization,  when  its 
major  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
afterward  continued  as  such  until  his  retirement 
from  the  guard.  In  the  spring  of  1899  he  was 
nominated  for  town  clerk  on  the  Republican 
ticket  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  thirteen 
hundred  and  twenty-six,  this  being  the  largest 
majority  ever  received  by  a  Republican  candi- 
date in  Joliet  Township.  He  took  the  oath  of 
office  April  23  for  a  term  of  one  year. 

Colonel  Jackson  was  born  in  Springville,  Sus- 
quehanna County,  Pa.,  December  7,  1844,  a  son 
of  Thomas  and  Julia  A.  (Mussey)  Jackson,  na- 
tives respectively  of  the  north  of  Ireland  and 
Connecticut.  His  father,  at  eighteen  years  of 
age,  went  to  Canada,  but  soon  crossed  into  New 
York  and  settled  in  Springville,  where  he  carried 
on  a  dry-goods  business.  In  1853  he  came  to 
Joliet,  where  he  bought  grain  for  George  Wood- 
ruff. When  the  Michigan  Central  elevator  was 
started  he  managed  the  same  for  J.  L.  Hurd  & 
Co.,  of  Detroit,  holding  the  position  until  his 
death,  in  1884.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  His  wife  died 
in  1896.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and 
one  daughter,  of  whom  two  are  living,  Fred  A. 
and  Henry  B.,  both  of  Joliet.  When  our  subject 
was  nine  years  of  age  he  accompanied  the  family 
to  Joliet.  In  1863  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company  as  bill 
clerk,  and  continued  with  them  for  twelve  years, 
after  which  he  was  with  Hobbs  &  Knowlton.  In 
1880  he  became  a  clerk  with  the  Illinois  Steel 
Company,   and  later   was   cashier,    holding  the 


23 


456 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


position  from  1884  to  1892,  when  he  resigned. 
On  the  Republican  ticket  he  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent the  first  ward  upon  the  board  of  aldermen 
and  served  until  he  moved  from  the  ward.  He 
now  resides  just  outside  of  the  city,  where  he  has 
a  comfortable  home  on  Maple  street.  At  one 
time  he  was  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  was  married  in  Newcastle,  Pa.,  to 
Miss  A.  S.  Crawford,  who  was  born  there.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  sous,  namely:  Cleve  F., 
who  is  night  foreman  with  the  Bates  Machine 
Company;  Thomas  L-,  a  locomotive  engineer, 
who  was  sergeant  of  Company  L,  Third  Illinois 
Infantry,  in  the  Spanish  war;  David  C,  a  loco- 
motive eugiueer  with  the  Grand  Rapids  & 
Northern  Indiana  Railroad;  and  Dean  H.,  at 
home. 


WILLIAM  F.  BARRETT,  late  of  Joliet,  now 
deceased,  was  born  in  Lenox,  Berkshire 
County,  Mass.,  January  iS.iSiS.  He  was 
the  oldest  of  three  children,  who  were  orphaned 
by  their  father's  death  in  early  life.  When  he 
was  fifteen  he  went  to  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
clerked  for  Chester  Yale,  a  brother  of  his  mother. 
In  1S35  Mr-  Yale  removed  to  Jackson,  Mich., 
establishing  a  hardware  store  in  that  city.  The 
young  man  accompanied  him  as  a  clerk  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  was  made  a  partner  in  the 
business,  the  two  continuing  together  until  the 
uncle  died  in  1843,  after  which  the  nephew  grad- 
ually closed  out  the  business.  Coming  to  Joliet 
in  July,  1850,  he  secured  work  at  the  tinsmith's 
trade  with  W.  A.  Strong,  on  the  corner  of  Ex- 
change and  Bluff  streets.  After  little  more  than 
a  year  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  business,  and 
the  firm  title  became  Strong,  Brooks  and  Barrett. 
Several  years  before  the  war  he  bought  the  in- 
terest of  his  partners  and  continued  the  business 
in  the  same  location  alone,  but  finally  business 
reverses  came  and  in  1867  he  sold  to  T.  P.  Ford. 
Becoming  interested  in  the  stone  business, 
Mr.  Barrett  purchased  Weaver's  quarry,  but 
after  two  years  sold  it   and  bought   Capt.  George 


R.  Dyer's  hardware  store  on  Jefferson  street. 
In  1872  he  admitted  his  son,  John  Onderdonk 
Barrett,  as  a  partner,  the  fiim  title  becoming  W. 
F.  Barrett  &  Son,  and  the  two  remained  together 
until  he  died,  June  5,  187S.  For  several  terms 
he  represented  the  fourth  ward  in  the  common 
council,  being  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
He  aided  in  the  organization  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  of  which  he  long  served  as  a 
trustee,  and  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the 
church  he  was  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee. In  1859  he  erected,  on  the  corner  of 
Hickory  and  Oneida  streets,  the  residence  where 
his  widow  now  makes  her  home. 

October  31,  1844,  Mr.  Barrett  married  Cla- 
mana  Onderdonk,  who  was  born  in  Holley,  Or- 
leans County,  N.  Y.,  September  10,  1S23.  She 
was  one  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom  came 
to  Illinois.  Of  these,  John  T. ,  who  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1S49,  returned  to  Illinois  in  poor  health 
and  died  before  the  Civil  war;  a  sister,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Gauson,  died  in  Idaho  Springs,  Colo. 
Her  father,  John  Onderdonk,  was  a  son  of 
Thomas  Onderdonk,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war  and  a  farmer  on  the  Hudson  River.  The 
remote  ancestors  came  from  Holland  to  New 
York  and  settled  at  Nyack,  on  the  west  banks  of 
the  Hudson.  John,  who  was  born  in  Ramapo, 
Rockland  County,  N.Y. ,  became  a  clothier  in  New- 
York  City,  thence  removed  to  Lyons,  Wayne 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  married,  and  then 
settled  in  Holley,  N.  Y.  In  1831  the  family  re- 
moved to  New  York  City,  but  in  1836  settled  in 
Jackson,  Mich.,  where,  and  in  Albion,  Mich.,  he 
also  followed  the  clothing  business.  In  1850  he 
established  his  home  in  this  county,  purchasing 
a  farm  three  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of  Jo- 
liet, in  Joliet  Township,  and  farming  the  land  for 
a  few  years,  after  which  he  retired.  He  died  at 
the  home  of  his  daughter  in  Joliet  when  eighty- 
four  years  of  age.  His  wife,  Charity,  was  born 
in  Nyack,  N.  Y.,  in  1802,  and  died  at  the  home 
of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  William  F.  Barrett, 
when  seventy-six  years  of  age.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Acker,  a  farmer  near  Lyons, 
N.  Y.,  who  in  1831  became  a  pioneer  of  Con- 
cord,   Jackson   County,  Mich.,  later  removed  to 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


457 


Joliet,  and  died  at  the  home  of  John  Onderdonk 
when  lacking  only  six  months  of  one  hundred 
years.  He  was  of  Holland  descent.  His  son, 
Henry,  became  a  merchant  of  Concord,  Mich., 
and  represented  his  district  in  the  Michigan 
legislature.  Mrs.  Barrett  was  educated  in  pri- 
vate schools  in  Jackson,  Mich.,  and  Haskell's 
Academy  in  Ypsilanti.  In  religion  she  is  a 
Presbyterian,  and  her  life  has  been  that  of  an 
earnest,  consistent  Christian. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barrett  consists  of 
three  daughters  and  three  sons.  Of  these,  Sarah 
Emily,  the  eldest,  married  T.  D.  Baird,  M.  D., 
of  Walseuburg,  Colo.;  Charity  is  the  wife  of  H. 
H.  Carson,  of  Joliet;  John  O.,  the  first-born  son, 
is  at  the  head  of  the  Barrett  Hardware  Company, 
in  Joliet;  William  F. ,  Jr.,  is  traveling  salesman 
for  D.  B.  Fisk  &  Co.,  of  Chicago;  Elizabeth 
Acker  resides  in  Joliet.  Edward  C.,  the  young- 
est of  the  family,  was  born  in  Joliet  February 
16,  1864,  and  in  1880  entered  the  Barrett  store 
as  an  apprentice  to  the  trades  of  plumber,  tinner, 
and  gas-fitter.  Since  1SS3  he  has  had  charge  of 
the  manufacturing  department.  In  1885  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm,  and  upon  the  incor- 
poration of  the  company  was  chosen  secretary 
and  treasurer,  which  offices  he  now  fills.  He 
married  as  his  first  wife  Jennie  Cullom,  a  niece 
of  Senator  Cullom.  His  present  wife  is  Antoin- 
ette, daughter  of  Thomas  Hobbs,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Mary. 


GlLICK  LUNDSTRUM.  It  was  largely 
LI  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Lundslrum  that 
/  I  the  Joliet  Builders'  Association  was  organ- 
ized and  he  was  elected  its  first  secretary,  an  of- 
fice which  he  still  efficiently  fills.  When  he 
came  to  Joliet  in  18S8  he  secured  employment  as 
a  carpenter.  Four  years  later  he  commenced  to 
take  contracts  and  has  since  had  charge  of  the 
erection  of  many  public  buildings  and  private 
residences,  not  only  in  his  home  town,  but 
throughout  Will  County  and  in  Grundy  and 
Kendall    Counties.     Among     his    contracts    are 


those  for  the  Farragut  school  on  the  west  side, 
the  residences  of  M.  F.  Loughran,  Jerome  P. 
Stevens,  C.  Howard  Calmer  and  S.  F.  Good- 
speed  in  Joliet,  and  the  high  school  in  Center- 
ville,  Iowa.  He  has  erected  churches,  schools, 
business  blocks,  residences  and  buildings  of  all 
kinds,  and  has  a  business  that  is  constantly  in- 
creasing. Having  made  a  special  study  of  arch- 
itecture, he  is  enabled  to  draw  up  the  designs  for 
buildings,  and  shows  considerable  taste  in  this 
direction.  He  owns  his  residence  at  No.  118 
Akin  avenue,  and  is  interested  in  other  real  es- 
tate. 

Mr.  Lundstrum  was  born  in  Westrebothen, 
Sweden,  March  3,  1868.  His  father,  Erick,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  the  same  place,  followed 
the  carpenter's  trade  and  engaged  for  years  in 
the  building  business  in  his  native  country.  In 
1869  he  took  his  family  to  Sundswall,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  ten  years.  Crossing  the 
ocean  in  1879,  accompanied  by  his  family,  he 
settled  in  Lockport,  111.,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment as  a  millwright  and  carpenter  with  Nor- 
ton &  Co.  In  1887  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
has  since  worked  at  his  trade,  having  had  charge 
of  jobs  for  which  his  sou  holds  the  contracts. 
He  is  still  quite  active,  notwithstanding  his  six- 
ty-five useful  years.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Anna  L.  Bostrom,  was  born  in 
Sweden,  the  daughter  of  a  farmer;  she  died  in 
Lockport  in  1881,  leaving  six  children,  viz.: 
Mrs.  Emma  Anderson,  of  Lockport;  Alick;  Mrs. 
Lydia  Walters,  of  Lockport;  Freda  L-,  wife  of 
D.  B.  Coleman,  of  Lockport;  Anna,  who  resides 
with  her  father  at  No.  114  Akin  avenue;  and 
Otto,  a  carpenter. 

The  early  boyhood  days  of  Mr.  Lundstrum 
were  passed  in  Sundswall,  where  his  education 
was  begun.  When  he  was  eleven  years  of  age 
he  came  to  America  with  his  parents,  crossing  to 
Hull  and  Liverpool  and  from  there  taking  a 
steamer  to  Boston.  After  his  arrival  in  Lock- 
port  he  spent  a  year  in  the  public  school,  but 
after  that  was  obliged  to  begin  work  and  could 
attend  school  only  at  infrequent  intervals.  He 
has  been  familiar  with  carpentering  from  his  ear- 
liest recollection  and  has  always  been  handy  with 


458 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tools.  Iu  1882  he  was  employed  in  the  building 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  Joliet.  When 
he  was  sixteen  he  secured  a  position  in  the  dry- 
goods  store  of  George  B.  Norton,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  thirteen  mouths.  Afterward  he  was 
in  the  grocery  establishment  of  Skoglund  &  Co. , 
for  a  year,  and  spent  a  similar  period  in  the  store 
owned  by  F.  F.  Stowe  &  Son.  In  1S88  he 
came  to  Joliet,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  possesses  excellent  executive  ability,  with  the 
power  to  plan  and  the  energy  to  execute  work  of 
an  important  nature.  His  contracts  have  been 
filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  and  his 
reputation  is  that  of  a  first-class  builder. 

A  man  of  strong  temperance  principles,  Mr. 
Lundstrum  has  accomplished  much  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  cause  of  temperance.  He  has 
organized  many  lodges,  particularly  of  the  order 
of  Sous  of  Temperance,  and  at  one  time  served 
as  grand  worthy  patriarch  of  the  state  of  Illinois. 
In  politics  he  is  independent  and  in  fraternal  re- 
lations a  member  of  Matteson  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  married,  in  Unionville,  Iowa,  Miss 
Christine  Herteen  (originally  Hjertiu),  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Sweden. 


REV.  PATRICK  W.  DUNNE.  The  history 
of  St.  Patrick's  Church  of  Joliet,  which  has 
been  under  the  spiritual  oversight  of  Father 
Dunne  since  January  29,  1886,  dates  back  to  a 
very  early  period  in  the  history  of  Illinois.  The 
present  pastor  has  iu  his  possession  the  records  of 
the  congregation  extending  from  its  organization 
to  the  present  time.  The  grandest  event  in  the 
history  of  the  Roman  Catholic  work  in  Joliet  was 
the  celebration,  in  1889,  of  the  golden  jubilee  of 
the  church,  and  the  occasion  will  long  live  in  the 
memory  of  all  who  witnessed  the  attending  cere- 
monies. The  pontifical  high  mass  was  celebrated 
by  Bishop  Burke,  of  Cheyenne,  and  Archbishop 
Riordan,  of  San  Francisco,  delivered  the  jubilee 
sermon. 

At  the  time  Father  Dunne  accepted  this  pastor- 


ate the  church  building  was  iu  a  dilapidated  condi- 
tion and  the  work  in  a  condition  far  from  satisfac- 
tory. He  at  once  entered  upon  his  duties  with 
enthusiasm.  In  the  remodeling  of  the  church  his 
father  proved  most  helpful,  and  it  was  the  latter's 
pride  that  the  last  work  he  ever  did  was  the  fit- 
ting of  a  house  for  the  worship  of  God.  A  slate 
roof  was  put  on  and  other  improvements  made. 
The  church  building  stands  four  hundred  feet 
on  Hickory  and  three  hundred  feet  on  Broad- 
way. In  connection  with  it  is  St.  Patrick's  paro- 
chial school,  started  by  the  present  pastor,  and 
occupying  a  modern  building  that  cost  $25,000. 
The  six  large  rooms  and  a  commodious  hall  fur- 
nish adequate  accommodations  for  the  two  hun- 
dred pupils.  The  building  is  heated  by  steam 
and  lighted  by  electricity.  The  school  is  in 
charge  of  the  Ladies  of  Loretto,  under  whose 
supervision  the  pupils  are  given  a  thorough  edu- 
cation in  all  the  common  branches  up  to  the  high 
school  grade. 

Father  Dunne  was  born  in  Watertown,  Wis., 
March  4,  1852,  a  son  of  Edward  and  Mary  (Finn) 
Dunne,  natives  respectively  of  Queens  County, 
Ireland,  and  Prince  Edward  Island,  and  a  grand- 
son of  Patrick  Dunne,  a  farmer,  who  emigrated 
from  Ireland  to  Prince  Edward  Island,  but  died 
in  Chicago.  In  1849  Edward  Dunne  settled  in 
Watertown,  Wis.,  making  the  trip  to  Chicago 
via  boat,  thence  soon  afterward  to  Watertown, 
where  his  family  joined  him.  He  built  the  first 
church  iu  the  town  and  the  first  bridge  over  the 
Rock  River;  the  latter,  which  is  still  standing, 
was  built  of  oak  timber  resting  on  wooden  pegs. 
In  1853  he  went  to  Chicago  and  afterward  built 
some  of  the  first  bridges  in  and  near  that  city. 
He  died  in  Joliet  July  2,  1888,  and  was  buried 
from  St.  Jarlath's  Church,  Chicago,  on  the  4th. 
He  was  one  of  nine  children,  there  being  seven 
brothers  who  came  to  America.  One  of  them, 
Dennis,  was  vicar-geueral  of  the  Chicago  diocese 
for  years,  holding  the  position  at  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1867.  During  the  Civil  war  he  organ- 
ized a  regiment  tbat  was  known  as  the  Dunne 
legion  (later  the  Irish  legion.)  The  crowning 
work  of  his  life  was  the  building  and  conduct  of 
an  orphan  asylum   on  Archer  avenue,  Chicago, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


459 


and  it  was  through  overwork  in  the  carrying  for- 
ward of  this  work  that  his  fatal  illness  was 
brought  on. 

In  man}'  respects  Edward  Dunne  possessed 
more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  was  exceedingly 
quick  in  grasping  plans  and  ideas,  and  in  the 
completion  of  contracts  was  prompt  and  ener- 
getic. He  built  the  first  Magdaline  asylum  in 
Chicago,  but,  just  before  the  work  was  com- 
pleted, the  building  burned  to  the  ground,  entail- 
ing a  heavy  loss  upon  him.  He  was  a  faithful 
church  member  and  for  thirty -five  years  had  the 
same  pew  in  church.  His  fifteen  children  were 
reared  to  usefulness  and  habits  of  honesty  and 
energy,  and  the  ten  still  living  are  men  and 
women  of  intelligence.  One  son,  William,  gradu- 
ated from  Rush  Medical  College  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class,  and  during  the  Civil  war  was 
a  surgeon  in  the  Second  Illinois  Infantry,  after 
which  he  was  city  physician  of  Chicago  for  years; 
his  death  occurred  in  Chicago.  A  daughter, 
Rose,  is  a  sister  in  the  order  of  Loretto,  in  To- 
ronto, Canada.  Michael  is  assistant  manager  of 
the  New  Planter's  Hotel  in  Chicago;  Felix  is  a 
bookkeeper  in  that  city;  and  Dennis  will  com- 
plete his  education  and  enter  the  priesthood  in 
1 901.  The  mother,  who  was  the  only  child  of 
Felix  Finn,  resides  with  her  daughter  in  Chicago, 
and  is  now  seventy  years  of  age.  For  the  past 
nineteen  years  not  a  week  has  elapsed  without 
her  son,  Patrick,  visiting  her. 

From  an  early  age  Father  Dunne  was  destined 
for  the  priesthood.  He  was  educated  in  Chris- 
tian Brothers'  Academy,  on  Adams  and  Des- 
plaines  streets,  Chicago;  St.  Charles  College  at 
Ellicott  City,  Md. ,  where  he  studied  the  classics 
from  1869  to  1S75;  and  St.  Mary's  Seminary, 
where  he  took  two  years  in  philosophy  under  the 
direction  of  the  Sulpician  Fathers  and  three  years 
in  theology.  December  20,  1879,  he  was  or- 
dained by  Cardinal  Gibbons  in  the  Cathedral  in 
Baltimore,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Chicago 
diocese.  Returning  west,  he  was  sent  to  Joliet 
as  assistant  of  St.  Mary's  parish,  where  he  re- 
mained for  six  years,  under  Father  Burke,  now 
bishop  of  the  St.  Joe  (Mo.)  diocese.  On  the 
death  of  Father  Power,  of  St.  Patrick's,  he  was 


assigned  to  this  place,  which  was  his  first  and  has 
been  his  only  pastorate.  This  is  the  ' '  mother  ' ' 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  churches  of  Joliet,  and  out 
of  it  have  sprung  five  other  organizations  that 
have  become  potent  factors  in  the  religious  life  of 
these  several  localities. 


0LAGUS  B.  LUNDAHL,  who  is  one  of 
Joliet' s  most  reliable  stone  masons  and 
cutters,  first  came  to  this  city  in  1870,  but 
the  following  year  went  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
and  secured  work  at  his  trade.  He  did  not  re- 
turn to  Joliet  until  1 891,  twenty  years  after  he 
had  first  come  to  the  town.  Since  then  he  has 
successfully  engaged  at  his  trade  here,  and 
has  been  selected  to  act  as  superintendent  of  dif- 
ferent contracts,  among  them  the  building  of  the 
Silver  Cross  hospital,  Universalist  block,  Wood- 
land schoolhouse,  Park  avenue  schoolhouse  and 
the  Bush  block.  He  built  the  house  at  No.  607 
Second  avenue,  where  he  makes  his  home. 

Four  miles  from  Gottenburg,  near  Alingsas,  in 
Elsborslaen,  Weslrejutland,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  March  21,  1S39,  a  son  of 
Borg  and  Catherine  Martinson.  His  father,  who 
was  a  farmer's  son,  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  which  he  continued  to  follow  as  long  as 
he  lived.  In  religion  he  and  his  wife  were  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
of  whom  two  sons  (one  in  Sweden  and  the  other 
in  America)  are  now  living.  Olagus  B.  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  and  from  a  very  early 
age  aided  in  the  cultivation  of  the  land,  thus  be- 
ing prevented  from  attending  school  regularly. 
In  1868  he  came  to  this  country.  His  first  loca- 
tion was  at  Mankato,  Minn.,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  stone  mason  for  two  years.  From 
there  he  went  to  Chicago,  111.,  in  1870,  but  dur- 
ing the  same  year  secured  employment  at  his 
trade  in  Joliet.  1111871  he  went  to  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  where  for  eight  years  he  was  employed  in 
the  cutting  of  granite  and  sandstone  for  the  state 


460 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


capitol.  When  the  eapitol  building  was  com- 
pleted he  began  to  work  as  a  contractor  in  the 
stone-cutting  business,  and  continued  in  the  same 
city  until  his  return  to  Joliet.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Stone  Cutter's  Union  and  takes  a  warm 
interest  in  even-thing  pertaining  to  the  stone 
business.  He  has  never  been  active  in  politics, 
although  he  is  well  posted  concerning  public 
affairs  and  votes  with  the  Republican  part}-.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
and  has  been  a  member  of  its  board  of  trustees. 
During  his  residence  in  Des  Moines  Mr.  Lun- 
dahl  was  married,  in  that  city,  December  27, 
[872,  to  Miss  Mary  Peterson,  who  was  born  in 
Stavager,  Norway.  They  have  three  daughters, 
Anna,  Ida  and  Nellie.  Mrs.  Lundahl  was  one  of 
nine  children,  all  but  two  of  whom  attained  man- 
hood or  womanhood  and  six  are  now  living,  two 
sons  being  in  Iowa,  while  the  others  (except 
herself)  remain  in  Norway.  She  crossed  the 
ocean  in  1870  on  a  sailing  vessel,  arriving  in 
New  York  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks.  After 
spending  a  short  time  in  Story  County,  Iowa,  she 
settled  in  Des  Moines,  where  she  met  and  mar- 
ried Mr.  Lundahl.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Oleson,  a  farmer,  who  owned  the  homestead 
"Haaland."  Her  mother,  Gunnill,  was  a 
daughter  of  Storkaare,  a  farmer  who  owned 
"Ostenstad."  Mr.  Oleson  passed  away  some 
time  ago,  but  his  wife  is  still  living,  and  remains 
at  the  old  homestead  in  Norway. 


HENRY  BENJAMIN  SMITH.  The  family 
represented  by  this  well-known  citizen  of 
Joliet  was  founded  in  America  by  Thomas 
Smith,  a  weaver  of  Ramsey,  England,  who  came 
to  the  United  States  prior  to  1635  and  settled  in 
Ipswich,  Mass.  During  1635  he  removed  to 
Newbury,  Mass.  His  second  son  and  third  child, 
James,  was  born  September  10,  1645,  and  during 
the  colonial  wars  held  the  office  of  lieutenant  in 
the  army.  The  eighth  child  born  of  his  marriage 
to   Sarah    Coker  was    Benjamin,   who  was   born 


August  21,  1 68 1,  and  who  married  Mrs.  Hannah 
Sooms.  Their  third  child,  Benjamin,  was  born 
August  g,  17 1 2,  and  married  Dorothy  Ballard,  of 
Andover,  Mass.  The  second  child  born  of  their 
marriage  was  Benjamin,  whose  birth  occurred 
October  15,  1736.  By  his  union  with  Johanna 
Lund,  the  second  child  was  Benjamin,  born  June 
2,  1765.  The  latter,  when  a  mere  boy,  enlisted  in 
the  colonial  army  and  served  in  the  first  war  with 
England.  While  in  the  army  he  carried  a  flint- 
lock gun,  which  he  had  made  himself  and  which 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  married  Edy  Adams  and  their  oldest 
child,  Benjamin,  born  March  26,  1791,  married 
Alma  Maranda  Strong,  April  26,  1826.  The 
next  generation  was  represented  by  Henry  Sum- 
ner Smith,  our  subject's  father,  who  was  born 
August  3,  1832,  in  Rutland,  Yt.  Reared  on  his 
father's  farm,  he  left  home  to  learn  the  ma- 
chinist's trade,  and  this  occupation  he  followed 
for  a  short  time.  When  gold  was  discovered  in 
California  and"  the  news  reached  his  far-away 
eastern  home,  he,  with  the  enthusiasm  of  youth, 
determined  to  seek  his  fortune  on  the  Pacific 
shore.  Taking  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel,  he 
went  around  the  Horn  and  finally  reached  his 
destination.  He  engaged  in  mining  both  in  Cali- 
fornia and  Nevada.  Finding,  however,  that 
mining  was  not  very  congenial  nor  profitable,  he 
returned  to  San  Francisco  and  engaged  in  the 
iron  manufacturing  business.  The  firm  of  Pren- 
dergast  &  Smith  became  one  of  the  largest  of  its 
kind  in  the  west,  and  their  products,  especially 
their  marine  and  stationary  engines,  had  a  large 
sale  throughout  the  country.  In  public  affairs 
he  was  for  years  a  leading  figure  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, being  a  local  Republican  leader,  and  atone 
time  he  was  his  part3r's  candidate  for  congress. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  most  prominent  Masons  in 
California  and  held  official  positions  of  great 
responsibility  in  the  fraternity.  He  died  in  San 
Francisco  November  12,  1S7S,  when  forty-six 
5-ears  of  age. 

August  18,  1861,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
Henry  Sumner  Smith  to  Clara  Record,  who  was 
born  near  Bath,  Me.,  and  died  in  San  Francisco, 
Cal.,  December  4,  1S75.     They  were  the  parents 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


461 


of  six  children.  Henry  Benjamin,  the  oldest  of 
the  family,  was  born  in  San  Francisco  October  6, 
1862.  His  education  was  acquired  principally  in 
the  California  Military  Academy  at  Oakland. 
Upon  leaving  school  he  came  to  Joliet  to  make 
his  home  with  his  uncle,  Horace  S.  Smith,  who, 
at  that  time,  was  general  superintendent  of  the 
Joliet  Steel  Company.  For  a  time  he  studied  in 
the  Bloomington  (111.)  high  school.  He  entered 
the  machine  shop  of  the  Joliet  Steel  Company  as 
an  apprentice  to  the  trade,  serving  for  four  years, 
and  afterward  continuing  the  trade.  In  1S89  he 
was  made  assistant  superintendent  of  the  rod  mill 
under  William  Garrett,  the  inventor  and  builder 
of  the  same.  When  the  works  were  shutdown, 
in  1893,  be  was  appointed  safety  inspector  and 
claim  adjuster  for  the  company,  a  position  that 
he  has  since  held.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Sun 
Printing  Company,  job  printers  and  publishers  of 
the  Joliet  Daily  Sun,  which  later  was  sold  to  the 
Joliet  Republican  Printing  Company.  At  the 
organization  of  the  Royal  Oil  Company  he  was 
appointed  president  and  continued  as  such  until 
the  works  were  sold  to  the  American  Oil  Com- 
pany. 

In  Bloomington,  111.,  February  1,  1894,  Mr. 
Smith  married  Miss  Lucy  Delia  Luce,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Albert  Hull  and  Lucinda  (Dawson)  Luce. 
Her  great-grandfather  Luce  brought  his  family 
to  America  and  settled  in  Wayne  County,  N.  Y., 
where  her  grandfather,  Joseph  Luce,  was  born 
and  reared.  Her  father,  a  pioneer  physician  of 
McLean  County,  111.,  first  practiced  in  Leroy, 
but  soon  removed  to  Bloomington,  where  he  re- 
mained a  popular  physician  and  esteemed  citizen 
until  his  death  in  1885.  He  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  McLean  County  Medical  Association. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Bloomington  Town- 
ship, McLean  County,  in  1826,  is  now  making 
her  home  with  Mrs.  Smith.  She  is  a  descendant 
of  Revolutionary  forefathers.  Her  father,  John 
Henry  Dawson,  and  a  Mr.  Hendricks,  were  the 
two  first  white  settlers  in  McLean  County,  and  he 
became  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  land,  but  his 
last  days  were  spent  in  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  where 
he  died  a  very  aged  man.  He  served  under  the 
famous  leader   William   Henry  Harrison  during 


the  war  of  18 12,  and  it  was  while  in  the  army  that 
he  had  his  first  glimpse  of  western  life,  and  he 
was  so  pleased  with  the  prospects  that  he  deter- 
mined to  locate  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Smith  was 
given  excellent  advantages  when  a  girl  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Chicago  Female  College.  In  re- 
ligion she  is  of  the  Episcopalian  belief  and  at- 
tends Christ  Church.  The  only  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith  is  named  Horace  Benjamin,  and  was 
born  November  18,  1895.  He  represents  the 
tenth  generation — in  direct  descent,  and  is  the 
seventh  to  bear  the  name  "Benjamin." 

The  connection  of  Mr.  Smith  with  military 
matters  dates  from  1883.  He  then  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  B,  Fourth  Illinois  Infantry. 
The  next  year  he  was  appointed  regimental 
quartermaster-sergeant.  In  July,  1886,  Governor 
Oglesby  commissioned  him  first  lieutenant  in  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  and  later  he  wasappointed  quar- 
termaster in  the  Third  Regiment.  By  a  special  act 
of  the  legislature  the  quartermaster  was  given  the 
rank  and  title  of  captain,  which  he  has  since  held. 
May  7,  1898,  he  enlisted  in  the  Third  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  which  he  accompanied  to 
Chickamauga  National  Park,  Ga. ,  thence  to 
Newport  News  and  from  there  to  Porto  Rico, 
where  he  participated  in  the  island  campaign  in  the 
war  with  Spain.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Joliet 
with  the  regiment,  after  an  honorable  and  offi- 
cial service,  January  24,  1899. 


(qJEORGE  BURGESS,  master  mechanic  of  the 
I—  Joliet  plant  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company, 
\J(  became  a  machinist  at  J.  P.  Withrow's,  in 
Newcastle,  Pa.  He  next  worked  under  Robin- 
son &  Ray,  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  for  two  years  and 
then  in  the  Union  Works  of  the  old  Illinois 
Steel  Company  in  Chicago.  After  one  year  he 
was  made  foreman  of  the  machine  shop,  and  con- 
tinued as  such  for  two  years.  His  next  position 
was  that  of  night  master  mechanic.  After  a  year 
he  became  assistant  master  mechanic  of  the  works. 
When  the  mill  shut  down  he  went  to  South  Chi- 


462 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


eago  as  chief  engineer  of  the  rail  mill  of  the  Illi- 
nois Steel  Company.  On  the  reopening  of  the 
Union  mill  he  returned  as  assistant  master  me- 
chanic and  in  1895  was  promoted  to  be  master 
mechanic.  In  1896  the  mill  closed  down  again 
and  he  was  sent  to  Joliet  to  take  charge  of  the 
plant  in  this  city,  where  he  has  remained  ever 
since. 

Tracing  the  ancestry  of  the  Burgess  family,  we 
find  that  John  Burgess,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Spain, 
his  father  having  gone  to  that  country  from  Scot- 
laud.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  settled  in 
New  Jersey.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  canning  of  oysters  along  the  Chesapeake. 
He  now  resides  in  Philadelphia.  His  wife,  Eliz- 
abeth, is  still  living,  and  is  ninety-two  years  of 
age.  Their  son,  John,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Camden, 
N.  J.,  and  learned  the  saddler's  trade  in  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.  At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  en- 
listed twice,  but  each  time  the  company  was  dis- 
banded before  being  called  into  service.  On  his 
third  enlistment  he  was  detailed  in  the  garrison 
at  Pittsburg,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  harness.  When  the  war  ended  he  started 
in  the  harness  business  in  Newcastle,  Pa.  From 
there,  in  1893,  he  removed  to  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
where  he  now  makes  his  home.  In  politics  he 
favors  he  Republican  party,  in  religion  is  an  elder 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  frater- 
nally is  connected  with  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  is  a  man  of  strong  temperance  princi- 
ples and  upright  life. 

The  wife  of  John  Burgess,  Jr.,  was  Annie  Tay- 
lor, who  was  born  in  Wellsville,  W.  Va. ,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Annie  Taylor,  natives  of  Eng- 
land. Her  father,  on  coming  to  America,  engaged 
in  mining  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  Before  railroads  had 
been  built  he  crossed  the  Alleghanies  to  West 
Virginia,  where  he  followed  coal  mining  until 
his  death.     His  wife  also  died  in  West  Virginia. 

The  family  of  John  Burgess,  Jr.,  consisted  of 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  three  of  whom  re- 
side in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  George,  the  old- 
est, in  Joliet,  111.  He  was  born  in  Newcastle, 
Pa.,  August  14,  1S64,  and  studied  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  native  town.  When  sixteen  years 
of  age    he   began    to    study    dentistry    with    Dr. 


Green  of  Newcastle,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  four  years.  Meantime,  however,  he  had  be- 
come interested  in  mechanical  work,  and  his 
taste  in  that  direction  was  so  pronounced  that  he 
abandoned  dentistry.  He  entered  the  machine 
shop  of  Withrow  &  Gordon,  with  whom  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  three  years.  Afterward  he 
was  employed  in  the  building  of  the  water  works 
at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  for  two  years.  In  18S4  he 
started  west,  intending  to  go  to  California,  but, 
instead,  stopped  in  Chicago,  and  he  has  since 
made  his  home  in  this  state.  He  was  married  in 
Chicago  to  Miss  Marie  Cklacy,  a  native  of  New 
York  City.  They  have  three  sous,  George,  Jr., 
Lorain  and  Eugene. 

In  politics  Mr.  Burgess  is  a  Republican.  He 
was  made  a  Mason  in  Lodge  No.  310,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  in  Chicago,  and  later  became  connected 
with  Lafayette  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Apollo 
Commandery,  K.  T.,  of  Chicago.  During  his 
residence  in  Newcastle  he  was  a  member  of  the 
lodge  and  encampment  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he 
is  now  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 


0AYID  D.  BARRETT,  a  well-known  busi- 
ness man  of  Joliet,  was  born  in  Jackson 
Township,  this  county,  September  3,  1S54, 
a  son  of  Lansing  and  Margaret  A.  (Hampton) 
Barrett,  natives  respectively  of  Ontario,  Canada, 
and  the  Isle  of  Man.  His  paternal  grandfather 
about  1840  brought  his  family  from  Canada  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Jackson  Township,  Will 
County,  where  he  improved  a  farm  from  the 
wild  prairie.  He  died  in  Joliet  when  almost  one 
hundred  years  of  age.  The  maternal  grandfa- 
ther, John  Hampton,  who  was  born  on  the  Isle 
of  Man,  April  1,  1800,  grew  to  manhood  and 
married  there.  On  coining  to  America  he  settled 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  after  one  year,  in  1S41, 
he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  improving  a  farm  from  a 
bare,  unimproved  tract  of  land.  He  aided  in  the 
building  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  through 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


463 


his  township  and  a  station  was  established  on  his 
farm  that  was  called  Hampton.  Prominent  in 
local  affairs  he  wielded  an  influence  for  good 
among  his  fellow-citizens.  He  died  in  Joliet  in 
1884. 

Reared  on  a  farm,  Lansing  Barrett  became  a 
stock-dealer  and  brought  from  Canada  the  first 
merino  sheep  introduced  into  this  count}'.  Dur- 
ing the  gold  excitement  of  1859  he  went  to 
Pike's  Peak,  intending  to  bring  back  to  Illinois 
a  bunch  of  mountain  horses,  but  was  taken  sick 
on  the  way  and  compelled  to  return.  He  died 
shortly  afterward,  when  only  twenty-six  years  of 
age.  His  wife  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home 
at  No.'  216  Cassaday  avenue,  Joliet.  Our  sub- 
ject, who  was  the  only  child  born  of  the  mar- 
riage, was  taken  into  the  home  of  his  mother's 
father,  but  at  the  age  of  seven  went  to  St.  Louis 
to  make  his  home  with  an  uncle.  He  attended 
the  schools  of  that  city  until  he  was  fourteen.  On 
his  return  to  this  county  he  took  charge  of  his 
grandfather's  farm,  but  after  four  years  he  came 
to  Joliet,  and  for  two  years  attended  school.  The 
cooper's  trade  he  learned  under  Joseph  Winter- 
bottom,  for  whom  in  time  he  became  superin- 
tendent, remaining  with  the  same  employer  for 
fourteen  years. 

June  12,  18S7,  Mr.  Barrett  started  in  the  liv- 
er}- business,  buying  Mr.  Bennett's  interest  in 
the  firm  of  Cook  &  Bennett,  and  continuing  with 
L.  M.  Cook  under  the  title  of  Cook  &  Barrett. 
After  eighteen  months  he  sold  out  and  ten  days 
later  he  bought  out  Merrill  &  Potter,  on  the 
corner  of  Scott  and  Van  Buren  streets,  where  he 
has  since  carried  on  a  large  business.  The  build- 
ing which  he  occupies  is  60x160,  with  an  L 
60x120,  being  the  largest  barn  under  one  roof  in 
the  city.  In  the  livery,  boarding  and  transfer 
business  he  has  built  up  a  large  trade,  and  he 
also  has  horses  on  sale,  owning  a  number  that 
are  unusually  fine.  His  "David  H."  is  a  three- 
year  old  pacer,  with  a  record  of  2:20.  He  also 
raised  "Minnie  B.,"  that  paced  one- half  mile  at 
1:09,  when  two  years  of  age,  but  before  the  next 
season  was  accidentally  injured. 

In  national  politics  Mr.  Barrett  is  a  Republi- 
can.    He  is  connected   with   the  Modern  Wood- 


men of  America  and  the  Uniform  Rank,  K.  of  P. 
He  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Bondfield,  111., 
with  Isabelle,  daughter  of  John  Linebarger, 
a  grain  dealer  in  El  wood,  this  county.  They  are 
the  parents  of  three  children,  Howard,  Gladys 
and  Mabel. 


HON.  A.  B.  HALLOCK,  postmaster  of  Peo- 
tone,  and  a  former  member  of  the  Illinois 
legislature,  was  born  at  Lake  Zurich,  Lake 
County,  111.,  May  20,  1S54,  a  son  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Addison  and  Maria  (Brockway)  Hallock.  Of  the 
original  family  of  six,  all  but  one  are  still  living. 
Minerva  is  the  widow  of  John  W.  Kreamer,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  noted  law  firm  of  Hurd, 
Booth  &  Kreamer,  of  Chicago;  Roby  is  the  wife 
of  H.  H.  Kleinmau,  of  South  Chicago;  Isadore 
married  L.  H.  Fountain,  an  expert  bookkeeper 
and  accountant,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  V.;  and  Eleanor 
is  the  wife  of  F.  H.  Hague,  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  Chicago  Knife  works. 

Rev.  Joseph  Addison  Hallock  was  a  first  cousin 
of  Fitzgreen  Hallock,  the  famous  poet.  He  was 
born  at  Peru,  Clinton  County,  N.  V.,  in  1811  and 
acquired  his  education  in  Burlington  (Vt.)  Col- 
lege. At  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  entered  the 
Methodist  ministry  as  a  circuit  rider  in  western 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  of  Quaker  parentage  and 
was  the  first  of  the  family  to  leave  the  faith.  He 
was  among  the  first  agitators  of  anti-slavery  and 
had  on  his  place  a  station  of  the  underground 
railroad,  by  which  means  many  black  men  and 
women  were  assisted  across  the  border.  That 
early  anti-slavery  agitator  and  martyr,  Lovejoy, 
of  Alton,  111.,  frequently  visited  him,  and  Allen 
Pinkerton  was  also  a  familiar  figure  at  his  fireside. 
As  early  as  1842  he  was  one  of  three  men  in  Elk 
County,  Pa.,  to  cast  a  vote  for  an  anti-slavery 
candidate  for  president.  Because  of  the  attitude 
of  the  Methodist  Church  toward  slavery,  he  sev- 
ered his  connection  with  that  denomination  early 
in  the  beginning  of  the  anti-slavery  crusade,  and 
united  with  the  Congregational  Church,  filling 
various  of  its  important  pulpits.      In  1883,  when 


464 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  went  to  Florida  as  a  missionary  among  the 
freedmen,  he  connected  himself  with  the  Presby- 
terians. Returning  north  in  1890,  he  settled  at 
Peotone,  111.,  where  during  the  next  five  years 
he  preached  occasionally,  but  accepted  no  regular 
charge.  In  1895  he  went  to  Chicago  and  there 
the  last  years  of  his  life  were  spent  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Hague.  His  entire  mature  life 
was  devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  during 
his  more  than  sixty  years  of  labor  in  the  ministry 
he  was  instrumental  in  accomplishing  much  for 
the  spiritual  uplifting  of  his  fellowmen.  He  had 
come  west  in  1S42,  settling  in  Lake  County,  111., 
where  he  homesteaded  a  tract  of  land,  the  deed 
to  which  was  signed  by  James  K.  Polk.  He  was 
familiar  with  Chicago  when  the  now  magnificent 
city  was  a  straggling  village.  One  of  his  brothers, 
Hon.  Isaac  Hallock,  had  settled  in  Chicago  in 
1  S3 1,  when  the  town  had  but  fifty-two  inhabitants 
outside  the  fort,  and  when  it  was  a  common  sight 
to  see  wolves  crossing  the  river  at  Randolph  street. 
The  Hallocks  are  descended  from  Peter  Hal- 
lock,  one  of  the  thirteen  Pilgrim  Fathers  (in- 
cluding Rev.  John  Youngs),  who  came  from  Eng- 
land in  1640  and  landed  in  New  Haven.  There, 
on  the  2 1  st  of  October,  of  the  same  year,  Mr. 
Youngs  gathered  his  congregation  together  under 
the  auspices  of  Rev.  John  Davenport  and  Hon. 
Theophilus  Eaton,  governor  of  the  New  Haven 
colony,  which  had  been  planted  two  years  before, 
April  iS,  1638,  under  a  spreading  oak  tree;  a 
virtual  theocracy,  taking  the  Bible  as  its  code  of 
laws,  ecclesiastical  and  civil.  With  his  congre- 
gation, Mr.  Youngs  crossed  the  sound  to  Long 
Island  in  the  latter  part  of  1640,  and  took  up  his 
abode  in  Southold,  landing  at  the  harbor  of  what 
is  now  Southold  village.  These  thirteen  men  and 
their  families  were  the  first  white  settlers  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  Long  Island.  Peter  Hallock 
was  the  first  of  the  thirteen  to  step  on  the  shore. 
Fearlessly  he  left  the  boat  and  stepped  out  among 
the  Indians  who  gazed  wonderingly  upon  their 
strange  visitors.  That  part  of  Southold  is  to  this 
day  known  as  Hallock's  Neck.  From  the  Indians 
he  purchased  the  tract  since  called  Oyster  Ponds. 
Returning  to  England,  he  brought  back  his  fam- 
ily, but  found  the  Indians  had   resold  his  tract, 


and  he  then  purchased  ten  miles  west  of  Southold 
a  farm  extending  from  Long  Island  Sound  to  Pe- 
conic  bay,  a  distance  of  three  miles.  He  settled 
in  Aquebogue,  two  miles  west  of  Mattituck  vil- 
lage and  creek,  all  of  these  places  being  then  in 
Southold  Township.  William,  the  only  son  of 
Peter  Hallock,  had  four  sons,  of  whom  John,  our 
subject's  ancestor,  was  the  only  one  to  leave  the 
church  of  his  forefathers  and  unite  with  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends.  For  this  act  he  was  disinherited. 
His  son,  Peter,  was  the  father  of  Peter  and  the 
grandfather  of  Rev.  Joseph  Addison  Hallock. 

Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather  was  John 
Smith,  but  when  a  child  of  six  weeks  he  was 
adopted  into  the  Brockway  family  and  was  always 
known  as  John  Brockway.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  his  father  and  father-in-law 
were  Revolutionary  soldiers. 

When  only  four  years  of  age  our  subject  was 
given  his  first  glimpse  into  text-book  wisdom,  his 
teacher  being  his  father,  who  at  that  time  taught 
at  Lake  Zurich,  Lake  County,  111.  Three  years 
later  his  parents  removed  to  Palatine,  111.,  where 
he  studied  in  the  common  schools.  After  six 
years  there  the  family  removed  to  Salem,  Iowa, 
where  his  father  preached  for  a  year.  Later, 
while  his  mother  was  visiting  at  Lake  Zurich, 
she  was  taken  ill  and  died.  The  father  then 
took  the  family  to  Chicago  and  established  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Leavitt  Street  Congrega- 
tional Church,  on  Leavitt  and  Adams  streets. 
Later  our  subject  spent  two  years  with  relatives 
on  a  farm  in  Kankakee  and  Will  Counties.  At 
twenty  years  of  age  he  returned  to  Chicago  and 
began  his  business  career.  September  10,  1S74, 
he  was  sworn  into  the  clerical  service  of  the  Chi- 
cago postoffice,  where  he  remained  until  April  14, 
1875.  He  was  then  appointed  letter  carrier,  and 
for  eight  years  was  employed  in  that  capacity, 
resigning  March  1,  1S83,  in  order  to  accept  an 
appointment  as  deputy  sheriff  under  Seth  Han- 
chett.  After  fourteen  months  of  service  he  was 
relieved  by  the  sheriff  because  he  refused  to  be- 
tray General  Logan  when  the  latter  was  a  candi- 
date for  president  in  1SS4,  Mr.  Hallock  having 
been  appointed  through  the  personal  request  of 
General  Losran  and  his  friends.     Later  the  sheriff 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


465 


sent  for  him  and  wished  to  reinstate  him,  but  Mr. 
Halloek  refused  to  accept.  He  then  left  Chicago 
and  came  to  Peotone,  where  he  was  engaged  at 
various  occupations. 

In  1889  Mr.  Halloek  was  appointed  postmaster 
at  Peotone  under  President  Harrison.  On  Cleve- 
land's second  election,  Mr.  Halloek,  on  account 
of  his  activity  as  a  Republican,  was  removed  from 
the  position.  He  then  purchased  a  photographic 
business,  which  he  continued  up  to  1897.  He 
was  elected  in  November,  1S94,  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket,  to  the  state  legislature  by  the  largest 
majority  ever  recorded  in  the  district  up  to  that 
time.  He  served  in  the  thirty-ninth  general 
assembly  with  credit  to  himself  and  honor  to  his 
constituents.  During  his  service  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  fish  and  game  laws  and  was 
active  in  Will  County's  interests  on  the  draina^i 
canal  legislation,  also  worked  for  the  school  text 
book  bill.  In  1897  he  was  elected  first  assistant 
doorkeeper  of  the  fortieth  general  assembly,  re- 
ceiving sixty-five  out  of  eighty-three  votes.  In 
May,  1897,  he  was  again  appointed  postmaster 
at  Peotone.  Largely  through  his  efforts  the  of- 
fice has  since  been  made  one  of  the  third  class. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Halloek,  July  3,  1877, 
united  him  with  Miss  Margaret  Bruce,  who  was 
born  in  Lockport,  this  county,  a  daughter  of 
Hugh  and  Ann  (Arthur)  Bruce,  natives  of  Scot- 
land. Her  parents  immigrated  to  America  after 
the  birth  of  several  children  and  settled  in  Canada 
about  1842.  A  few  years  were  spent  there,  and 
they  then  came  to  Illinois,  settling  first  in  Lock- 
port  and  later  in  Peotone,  where  they  were  pion- 
eers. During  the  Civil  war  the  family  gave  three 
sons  to  the  Union  service.  One  of  these,  William 
Bruce,  gave  his  life  for  his  country  and  is  now  in 
a  soldier's  grave  at  Mission  Ridge.  Another, 
Hugh,  Jr.,  returned  home  from  the  front,  but 
soon  died  of  wounds  received  in  the  service. 
The  third,  James  Bruce,  resides  at  Lake  City, 
Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Halloek  have  two  daugh- 
ters, Laura  M.  and  Belle  M.  The  former  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Peotone  schools  and  now  holds 
the  position  of  assistant  postmaster.  The  latter 
is  now  attending  a  normal  school  and  has  a 
teacher's  certificate. 


Fraternally  Mr.  Halloek  is  connected  with  Peo- 
tone Lodge  No.  636,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  and  Green 
Tree  Camp  No.  1405,  Modern  Woodmen  of  Am- 
erica, in  which  he  is  Venerable  Counsel  and 
which  he  has  represented  in  the  head  camp  at  all 
conventions  held  since  the  organization  of  the 
camp  at  Peotone.  In  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Peotone  he  is  a  trustee  and  a  Sunday- 
school  worker.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Woodman 
quartet,  well-known  campaign  singers  of  this  sec- 
tion, whose  voices  have  been  heard  and  encored 
at  some  of  the  largest  political  gatherings  in  this 
part  of  the  state,  and  whose  four  members  are 
also  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  choir. 


GlUGUST  G.  LUTH,  superintendent  of  the 
LI  cooper  shop  of  Norton  &  Co.,  at  Lockport, 
/  I  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  September 
30,  1857,  a  son  °f  John  and  Mary  Luth,  also 
natives  of  Prussia.  His  father,  who  was  the  son 
of  a  hero  of  Waterloo,  was  for  years  connected 
with  a  large  estate  in  Prussia,  but  in  1871 
brought  his  family  to  America  and  settled  in  De- 
troit, Mich.,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
Of  his  five  children,  the  second  forms  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  was  educated  principally  in 
his  native  land.  In  1871  he  came  with  the  family 
from  Hamburg  to  New  York,  thence  to  Detroit, 
where  he  was  employed  in  a  tobacco  house  for  a 
time.  For  two  years  he  worked  at  the  painter's 
trade,  but  the  business  proved  very  unhealthful, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  make  a  change.  Next  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  to  the 
cooper's  trade  in  a  large  cooper  shop  in  Detroit, 
after  which  he  worked  with  John  Wagner,  of  the 
same  city,  for  ten  years.  His  next  position  was 
in  the  Anchor  works,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
He  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Detroit  Co- 
operative Cooper  Works,  and  was  the  first  super- 
intendent  of  the  shop,  which  he  managed  for  two 
years.  On  resigning  the  position  he  traveled  for 
B.  M.  Madlock  in  the  cooper  business,  his  route 
extending  through  New  York,  Maryland,  Penn- 


466 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sylvania,  New  Jersey,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan 
and  Canada.  After  two  years  as  traveling  sales- 
man he  resigned  the  position. 

The  year  1893  found  Mr.  Luth  in  Lockport  as 
superintendent  of  the  large  cooper  shop  of  Norton 
&  Co. ,  which  position  he  has  since  filled  with 
recognized  efficiency.  The  shop  turns  out  more 
than  one  thousand  barrels  per  da}',  and  other  ar- 
ticles of  a  similar  nature  are  also  manufactured. 
Under  his  supervision  the  machinery  was  re- 
modeled and  the  plant  enlarged,  thus  increasing 
the  producing  quality.  He  devotes  himself  very 
closely  to  his  work  and  takes  little  time  for  recre- 
ation or  participation  in  public  affairs.  While  he 
is  not  active  in  politics,  he  keeps  himself  posted 
and  votes  with  the  Republican  party  in  national 
elections.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Order  of  Rebekahs. 

In  Detroit,  Mich.,  Mr.  Luth  married  Miss 
Catherine  Lockman,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren. Edward  is  with  his  father  in  the  cooper 
shop.  William,  the  second  son,  was  accidentally 
shot  in  the  hand  by  a  blank  cartridge  on  the  4th 
of  July,  1899.  Blood  poisoning  set  in  and  he 
died  of  lockjaw  on  the  gth  of  the  same  month. 
The  other  children  are  August,  Ella,  Emma  and 
Harry. 


(TAMES  D.  FRAZER,  of  Homer  Township, 
I  was  born  in  Pittsford,  Monroe  Count}',  N.  Y., 
(2/  October  5,  1821,  a  son  of  James  G.  and  Mary 
(Hawkins)  Frazer,  natives  respectively  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut.  His  maternal  ances- 
tors came  from  Holland,  and  his  paternal  from 
Scotland.  The  first  of  the  Frazer  family  in  this 
country  settled  in  Massachusetts  during  the  col- 
onial period  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  near  Boston 
June  24.  17S9,  and  during  the  war  of  1812  served 
in  the  American  army  near  Lake  Champlain. 
When  about  twenty-five  years  of  age  he  removed 
to  New   York   and    there    engaged    in    farming, 


abandoning  the  trade  of  hatter  which  he  had  pre- 
viously learned.  In  1850  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
made  his  home  with  his  son,  James  D.,  dying 
here  in  1S69,  when  eighty  years  of  age.  His  wife 
also  died  in  this  county  when  seventy-two  years 
old.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  but 
only  three  are  now  living,  James  D. ;  Martha,  the 
widow  of  Mahlon  Gregg,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  and 
Jane,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  Hindman,  of  Co- 
rumia,  Mich. 

From  an  early  age  our  subject  was  familiar 
with  the  work  of  a  farm  and  on  leaving  home  he 
hired  out  to  farmers  by  the  month.  In  1849  he 
and  his  brother  Harmon  V.  came  to  Illinois  and 
bought  land  in  section  30,  Homer  Township,  this 
county,  where  they  embarked  in  farm  pursuits. 
The  brother  continued  to  reside  here  until  his 
death,  May  5,  1892.  In  1863  our  subject  settled 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and  on  this 
place  he  conducts  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  Since  coming  west  he  has  resided  con- 
tinuously in  this  county  with  the  exception  of 
nineteen  months  (1852-53)  spent  in  the  mines  of 
California,  principally  in  the  Mount  Shasta  re- 
gion, where  he  met  with  fair  success  as  a  miner. 
For  several  years  he  served  as  supervisor  of  Ho- 
mer Township,  and  he  has  aided  in  the  building 
of  schools  and  churches,  and  in  other  improve- 
ments for  the  benefit  of  the  community.  Politi- 
cally he  is  independent.  He  was  the  first  treas- 
urer of  Lockport  Lodge  No.  538,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. , 
of  which  he  was  the  first  treasurer.  He  assisted 
in  organizing  the  Homer  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  of  which  he  was  president  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

In  1857  Mr.  Frazer  married  Miss  Mary  F.Lane, 
who  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  MonroeCounty,  N.  Y., 
September  4,  1830,  and  was  brought  to  Illinois  by 
her  parents  in  1833.  Through  her  mother,  she 
traces  her  lineage  to  James  Olmstead,  who  landed 
in  New  England  in  1 632 ,  and  established  his  home 
in  the  wilds  of  Connecticut.  The  Olmstead  fam- 
ily originated  in  Germany,  but  in  the  early  part 
of  the  sixteenth  century  settled  in  Cambridge, 
England,  and  from  there  came  to  America.  Mrs. 
Frazer  is  a  daughter  of  John  Lane,  Sr. ,  who  was 
born  in  Maine  on  the  Kennebec  River  and  in  1833 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


467 


took  up  a  claim  in  Yankee  settlement  (now  Ho- 
mer Township)  this  county,  where  he  became 
known  as  the  "village  blacksmith."  As  the  in- 
ventor of  the  first  steel  plow  he  gained  promi- 
nence among  agriculturists.  By  his  marriage  to 
Lucy  Olmstead,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  he  had 
four  children,  but  only  two  survive,  Mrs.  Martha 
Warner,  of  Albion,  Mich.,  and  Mrs.  Frazer.  The 
family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frazer  consists  of  three 
children,  namely:  John  D.,  a  farmer  in  Homer 
Township;  Mattie  J.,  who  married  J.  H.  Corvell 
and  resides  in  York,  Neb.;  and  Mary  F.,  wife  of 
W.  M.  Nye,  of  Monroe  County,  N.  Y, 


3OHN  LANE,  Sr.  The  following  account  ot 
the  origin  and  history  of  the  first  steel  plow, 
with  which  the  name  of  Mr.  Lane  is  indissol- 
ubly  associated,  was  written  by  the  late  Dr.  John 
F.  Daggett. 

At  the  ninth  annual  meeting  of  the  old  .settlers 
of  Will  County,  held  in  Joliet  in  September,  1890, 
the  writer  was  appointed  one  of  the  committee  to 
gather  facts  relating  to  the  invention  and  manu- 
facture of  the  steel  plow,  the  use  of  which  has 
proved  of  national  importance,  and  is  essential 
to  agricultural  progress  and  the  convenience  of 
farming.  The  older  members  of  this  community 
can  recall  the  inconvenience  and  vexation  caused 
by  the  old  wooden  plow.  The  history  oi  the  plow 
is  interesting  and  important,  as  by  its  use  the  civ- 
ilized nations  of  the  globe  are  fed  and  nourished. 
A  history  of  this  implement,  tracing  its  gradual 
progress  from  the  ancient  type  to  the  improved 
form  of  the  present  day,  is  necessarily  a  history 
of  agriculture;  so  much  is  this  the  case  that  a 
tolerably  correct  estimate  of  the  progress  of  the 
art  in  any  country,  whether  in  ancient  or  modern 
times,  may  be  formed  by  ascertaining  the  struc- 
ture of  the  plow  in  use  at  any  date. 

The  principal  object  of  this  address  is  to  do  a 
deserved  but  long  neglected  honor  to  the  memory 
of  John  Lane,  Sr.,  who  was  the  inventor  and 
maker  of  the  first  steel  plow  that  was  ever  made 


in  this  or  any  other  country.  The  value  of  this 
invention  to  the  world  cannot  be  overestimated. 
The  name  of  John  Lane,  Sr. ,  should  stand  side  by 
side  with  that  of  Fulton,  Morse  and  McCormick, 
as  one  of  the  great  inventors  of  the  country.  The 
first  steel  plow  was  made  in  1835  by  Mr.  Lane 
(who  was  an  accomplished  mechanic  as  well  as' 
practical  farmer)  at  his  shop  on  section  20,  in  the 
town  of  Homer  (early  and  commonly  known  as 
Yankee  settlement) ,  in  the  county  of  Will,  state 
of  Illinois.  He  was  assisted  in  the  making  of  the 
plow  by  Levi  Hartwell,  who  was  then  quite  a 
young  man.  In  1835,  after  years  of  hard  labor 
and  delay  in  cleaning  his  old  wooden  or  cast  iron 
plow  (using  a  wooden  paddle  to  remove  the  sticky 
soil),  Mr.  Lane  was  inspired  with  the  idea  of 
making  a  plow  of  steel,  which  he  thought  would 
keep  bright  and  need  no  cleaning.  At  that  time 
there  was  no  steel  manufactory  in  the  United 
States  where  the  mould  board  of  a  plow  could  be 
constructed.  Mr.  Lane  secured  an  old  mill  saw 
from  the  West  Lockport  sawmill.  The  saw  was 
cut  in  pieces  of  the  required  length,  and  the 
edges  welded  .together  to  get  the  needed  width 
for  the  mould  board.  This  was  then  hammered 
or  pressed  into  proper  shape,  then  ground  and 
polished  to  working  condition.  To  get  the  best 
shape,  Mr.  Lane  would  test  the  workings  of  the 
plow  in  his  own  fields,  and  alter  the  shape  as  his 
judgment  dictated.  The  woodwork  of  the  plow 
was  made  by  John  Griswold  of  Lockport,  as  was 
the  woodwork  of  hundreds  of  Lane  plows  there- 
after. The  plow  was  sold  to  Comstock  Hanford 
of  Lockport,  and  used  until  it  wore  out.  The 
oldest  steel  plow  made  by  Mr.  Lane,  now  in  ex- 
istence, is  in  the  possession  of  J.  D.  Frazer,  and 
was  made  in  1849. 

Mr.  Lane  continued  to  manufacture  the  plow 
for  a  year  or  more  before  steel  was  manufactured 
wide  enough  for  a  mould  board.  The  mould 
boards  of  the  first  two  hundred  plows  were  made 
of  old  sawmill  saws,  obtained  in  Chicago  at  $1 
per  foot.  The  first  steel  plate  wide  enough  to  use 
was  obtained  from  a  firm  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.  From 
that  date  he  manufactured  with  Mr.  Hartwell, 
but  the  demand  was  greater  than  the  supply  and 
in  time  became  worldwide.     Factories  were  es- 


468 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tablished  and  shipments  made  to  distant  points. 
Iu  1854  one  hundred  plows  were  shipped  via  New 
York  and  the  cape  to  California,  and  were  the  first 
steel  plows  sent  to  the  Pacific  coast.  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Lane,  which  occurred  October  5, 
1S57,  when  he  was  sixty-five  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Hartwell  continued  the  manufacture  of  the  plow, 
and  John  Lane,  Jr.,  who  had  learned  the  trade 
in  his  father's  shop,  carried  on  the  manufacture 
in  Lockport  for  many  years.  He  became  the  in- 
ventor and  patentee  of  a  number  of  important  im- 
provements in  the  manufacture  of  plate  steel  for 
plows. 

Though  often  advised  to  do  so,  John  Lane,  St., 
absolutely  refused  to  have  his  invention  patented, 
saying  that  if  others  could  be  benefited  by  his 
ideas  he  was  glad  to  be  of  service  to  them  and 
wished  no  remuneration  for  it. 


(JOHN  C.  OWENS,  M.  D.  That  Dr.  Owens 
I  is  a  man  of  versatile  ability,  his  successful 
(2/  connection  with  various  enterprises  amply 
proves.  It  is,  however,  to  his  profession  that  he 
has  been  most  devoted  and  in  which  he  has  been 
most  deeply  interested.  Since  1881,  the  year  of 
his  graduation,  he  has  largely  given  his  time  and 
attention  to  the  highest  temporal  mission  among 
men,  a  combat  with  disease  and  death.  His 
efficiency,  skill  and  signal  success  in  his  profes- 
sion are  well  known,  and  his  practice  is  not  lim- 
ited to  Plaiufield,  his  home  town,  but  extends 
throughout  the  surrounding  country.  He  is  also 
the  owner  of  a  drug  store  and  a  harness  shop  iu 
Plaiufield  and  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in 
Na-au-say  Township,  Kendall  County,  all  of 
which  he  persoualh'  superintends. 

The  Owens  family  was  established  in  New 
York  in  1832.  The  doctor's  grandfather,  Hugh 
Owens,  was  a  farmer  and  local  minister,  and  for 
some  years  resided  near  Utica,  but  his  last  days 
were  spent  in  Remseti.  Henry  Owens,  father  of 
the  doctor,  was  born  in  Wales  and  accompanied 
the  family  to  America  when  only  five  years  of 


age.  Six  years  later  he  left  home,  on  account  ot 
his  treatment  by  his  stepmother.  Afterward  he 
worked  on  a  farm.  When  he  married  he  moved 
to  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Ava,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased before  his  marriage.  Much  of  his  time 
was  spent  in  splitting  timber  in  the  woods;  this 
timber  he  used  in  the  manufacture  of  oars,  large 
sales  of  which  he  made  to  the  government  during 
the  Civil  war.  At  times  he  had  six  men  in  his 
employ.  In  1867  he  went  to  Yernon,  Oneida 
County,  where  he  carried  on  a  large  hay  and 
dairy  farm.  For  five  years' he  carried  on  a  large 
dairy  farm  near  Yernon,  after  which  he  sold  the 
place  and  moved  to  Vernon,  at  the  same  time 
buying  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-three 
acres  iu  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  For  four 
years  he  operated  that  place.  When  advanced  in 
years  he  retired  from  active  labors  and  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  was  spent  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  comforts  his  industry  rendered  possible. 
He  died  in  1891,  when  seventy  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  stanch  Republican,  but  not  a  politician, 
and  never  held  office.  Iu  religious  views  he  was 
a  Presbyterian. 

The  mother  of  the  doctor  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Nanc}-  Kees  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Alanson  and  Fanny  Kees.  She  was  born  in 
Western  Township,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
died  in  the  same  county  when  fifty  years  of  age. 
From  childhood  she  was  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  was  a  de- 
voted wife  and  mother  and  her  memory  is  dear 
to  the  hearts  of  her  children.  Her  older  son, 
James  A.,  is  now  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in 
Rome,  N.  Y.;  the  daughter,  Fannie  J.,  is  the 
wife  of  Norman  Mowers,  also  of  Rome;  the 
youngest  of  the  family  is  John  C,  of  this  sketch. 
He  was  born  in  Western  Township,  Oneida 
County,  January  3,  1857.  His  education  was 
begun  in  district  schools,  and  was  supplemented 
by  careful  reading  and  by  habits  of  observation. 
When  he  w^as  eighteen  he  left  the  farm  and  began 
to  work  in  a  drug  store,  in  that  way  gaining  his 
rudimeutary  knowledge  of  medicines.  While 
there  he  formed  a  resolution  to  become  a  phy- 
sician, but  realizing  his  need  of  a  better  literary 
education,  he  entered  Cazenovia Seminary,  where 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


469 


he  studied  for  a  year.  He  then  began  to  study 
medicine  with  Dr.  H.  C.  Palmer,  of  Rome,  N.  Y., 
with  whom  he  continued  for  six  months.  Next 
he  matriculated  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
Syracuse  University,  where  in  two  and  one-half 
years  he  completed  the  regular  three  years' 
course,  graduating  June  9,  1881.  After  a  vaca- 
tion of  three  months  he  entered  the  Rochester 
city  hospital,  where  he  continued  uutil  May, 
1882,  meantime  taking  a  special  course  in  the 
study  of  diseases  of  the  eye.  May  30,  1882,  found 
him  starting  for  the  west,  where  he  had  decided 
to  locate.  He  arrived  in  joliet  in  August,  and 
continued  there  until  January  30,  1SS3,  when  he 
came  to  Plaiufield.  Here  he  has  since  engaged 
in  continuous  practice.  Since  coming  here  he 
has  taken  a  warm  interest  in  local  affairs  and,  as 
a  Republican,  has  had  considerable  to  do  with 
the  mapping  out  of  the  party  campaigns  here. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  December  5,  1883,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  H.  Hitchcock,  of  Morris,  111., 
and  by  this  union  three  children  were  born,  one 
that  died  in  infancy,  and  Kenneth  H.  and  Jay 
C. ,  both  at  home. 


q)EORGE  M.  PEAIRS,  M.  D.,of  Joliet,  is 
_  secretary  of  the  Will  County  Medical  So- 
J  ciety  and,  since  June,  1S97,  secretary  of  the 
board  of  pension  examiners,  in  both  of  which  he 
has  been  a  leading  member.  In  1S94  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  as  their 
surgeon  in  Joliet  and  has  since  acted  in  this 
capacity.  He  is  also  surgeon  for  the  Chicago, 
Lake  Shore  &  Eastern  Railroad  and  assistant 
surgeon  for  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad, 
and  attending  physician  and  surgeon  at  St. 
Joseph's  hospital.  Among  the  residents  of  Joliet 
his  skill  as  a  physician  is  recognized  and  he  is 
given  a  high  place  in  the  medical  fraternity  of 
the  city.  He  has  his  office  in  the  Barber  build- 
ing and  gives  his  attention  very  closely  to  pro- 
fessional work.  To  keep  in  touch  with  every 
development  in   the  medical  science  has  been  his 


aim,  and  for  this  reason  he  has  been  a  constant 
student  of  the  profession.  In  the  spring  of  1899 
he  took  a  course  in  bacteriology  and  pathology 
under  Professor  Klebs  in  the  Chicago  Post-Grad- 
uate  Medical  College,  and  each  winter  he  takes 
a  course  in  surgery  under  that  eminent  surgeon, 
Dr.  Seun. 

The  Peairs  family  is  of  English  and  Welsh  de- 
scent. Henry  Peairs,  a  native  of  New  England, 
engaged  in  farming  in  Pennsylvania  and  from 
there  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  at 
Duncan's  Falls,  near  Zanesville,  where  he  died 
at  eighty-nine  years  of  age.  His  wife,  whose 
family  name  was  Robinson,  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven.  Their  son,  H.  R.,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  graduated  from  Washington  College,  Pitts- 
burg, and  entered  the  ministrj'  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  While  he  was  holding  a  pastorate 
at  Kenton,  Hardin  County,  Ohio,  his  son,  George 
M.,  was  born  December  iS,  1866.  Later  he  was 
stationed  at  Harrison,  Ohio.  In  1871  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Hey  worth,  MeLean  County,  111., 
where  he  remained  for  ten  years,  and  afterward 
was  for  four  years  at  Normal,  in  the  same  county. 
Next  he  went  to  Clayton,  Adams  County,  111., 
where  ill  health  forced  him  to  relinquish  minis- 
terial work.  He  returned  to  Normal,  111.,  where 
he  died  in  1895.  His  wife,  who  was  Sarah  A. 
Hope,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  is  now 
living  in  Normal,  111.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Edward  Hope,  a  contractor  in  Pittsburg. 

The  family  of  Rev.  H.  R.  and  Sarah  A.  Peairs 
numbered  six  children,  of  whom  four  are  living, 
Mary,  George  M.,  Harry  J.  and  Ralph.  The 
oldest  son,  who  forms  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  in  Illinois  and  received  his  education 
in  thi;  Hevworth  and  Normal  schools,  preparing 
for  college  in  the  high  school  department  of  the 
Illinois  University  at  Normal.  However,  in- 
stead of  entering  college,  he  at  once  turned  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  medicine,  reading  with 
Dr.  J.  N.  Black,  of  Clayton,  111.  In  1888  he  en- 
tered Rush  Medical  College,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1891,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  While 
there  he  took  special  courses  in  gynecology  and 
diseases  of  the  eye.  In  1891  he  accepted  an  ap- 
pointment as  surgeon  in  the  Illinois  Steel  Com- 


47° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


pany's  hospital  at  South  Chicago.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  removed  to  Morris,  111.,  where  he 
remained  for  two  years,  meantime  holding  the 
office  of  county  physician.  Since  1894  he  has 
engaged  in  practice  in  Joliet.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Inter- 
national Association  of  Railway  Surgeons,  and 
attended  the  convention  of  the  latter  organiza- 
tion in  Richmond  in  1S99.  While  he  is  not  act- 
ive in  politics  he  has  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
national  issues  and  affiliates  with  the  Republi- 
can party.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  of  Joliet,  and  Cedar  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  at  Morris. 

December  10,  1894,  Dr.  Peairs  married  Miss 
Jessie  Hayes,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Oberlin  conservatory  of  music. 
Her  father,  Gen.  P.  C.  Hayes,  a  journalist  of 
great  brilliancy,  held  the  rank  of  general  during 
the  Civil  war  and  won  lustre  through  his  skilled 
leadership  of  Union  forces.  Afterward  coming 
to  Illinois  he  held  the  position  of  editor  of  the 
Morris  Herald  and  later  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Joliet  Republican,  but  is  now  living  in  retire- 
ment in  this  city.  He  has  been  prominent  in 
the  Loyal  Legion.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Peairs  are 
members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Joliet  and  are  prominent  in  the  city's  best  so- 
ciety. They  are  the  parents  of  one  child  living, 
Muriel  Lucile. 


QETER  STAUFFENBERG.  When  a  child 
LS  of  three  years  Mr.  Stauffeuberg  was  brought 
l~)  by  his  parents  to  Will  County,  and  here  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  He  is  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  the  history  of  the  county  and  has 
assisted  in  the  development  of  its  agricultural  re- 
sources, having  from  an  early  age  engaged  act- 
ively   in    general    farm   pursuits.       In    1SS3    he 


settled  on  section  13,  Manhattan  Township, 
where  he  had  previously  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  farm  land.  He  has  since  re- 
sided on  this  place,  meantime  giving  his  attention 
to  its  cultivation  and  to  making  improvements 
that  will  increase  its  value.  His  landed  posses- 
sions aggregate  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
which  represents  his  industrious  efforts  in  past 
years. 

Mr.  Stauffeuberg  is  the  son  of  a  German  bear- 
ing the  same  Christian  name  as  his  own  and  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1840,  settling  in 
Pennsylvania.  In  1S46,  three  years  after  the 
birth  of  his  son,  our  subject,  he  came  west  to 
Illinois  and  bought  a  farm  in  Frankfort  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  he  afterward  engaged 
extensively  in  farming.  He  died  in  Greengarden 
Township  when  seventy-five  years  of  age.  By 
his  marriage  to  Catherine  Stauffenberg,  of  Ger- 
many, he  had  three  children,  Henry,  a  farmer  in 
Greengarden  Township:  Margaret  and  Peter. 
The  last-named  was  educated  in  common  schools. 
In  childhood  he  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  agricultural  pursuits.  As  soon  as  he  was 
large  enough  to  do  so,  he  began  to  plough  and 
sow.  When  he  came  to  the  time  that  it  was 
necessary  to  select  a  life  occupation,  he  chose  the 
one  with  which  he  was  most  familiar  and  from 
which  he  might  reasonably  hope  to  secure  the 
best  returns.  The  energy  with  which  he  has 
carried  on  his  work  proves  that  his  choice  was  an 
excellent  one  and  that  he  is  fitted  for  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  takes  an  interest  in  maintaining  a 
high  class  of  improvements  on  his  place  and  is 
anxious  that  his  farm  shall  compare  favorably 
with  the  best  in  the  township.  For  ten  years  he 
served  as  school  director  of  his  district,  a  position 
that  he  filled  with  fidelity  and  intelligence. 

In  1S67  Mr.  Stauffeuberg  married  Miss  Minnie 
Hansen,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  died  in 
this  county  in  1879.  The}-  were  the  parents  of 
three  children,  namely:  Edward,  John  and  Katie, 
wife  of  John  Baukow. 


UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 


^yJ^c^tr'/L   ^#//z6#- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


473 


AUSTIN  GODFREY. 


GJUSTIN  GODFREY.  As  an  example  of  the 
LI  helpful  lives  which  men  of  character  and 
I  I  perseverance  raaj-  live,  mention  may  justly 
be  made  of  Austin  Godfrey,  the  prominent 
farmer  and  dairyman  of  Lockport  Township. 
He  is  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  this 
county,  and  has  himself  made  his  home  here 
from  a  very  early  age.  He  was  born  in  Erie 
.County,  N.  Y.,  August  31,  1822.  His  father, 
Henry,  a  native  of  Vermont,  was  left  an  orphan 
at  three  years  of  age.  With  but  few  advantages 
in  youth,  he  nevertheless  became  a  man  of  fine 
character  and  excellent  standing.  Settling  in 
Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  he  took  up  a  tract  of  timber 
land  twenty-five  miles  from  Buffalo,  and  this  he 
cleared  and  cultivated.  During  the  war  of  1812 
he  served  as  quartermaster,  and  was  in  Buffalo  at 
the  time  it  was  burned.  While  living  in  New 
York  he  married  Candace  Warren,  by  whom  he 
had  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  Austin  being 
the  youngest  and  the  only  one  now  living. 

Candace  Warren  was  a  daughter  of  Jabez  and 
Hannah  (Sumner)  Warren,  the  latter  of  an  old 
family  who  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Jabez  Warren's  mother  married  a  second  time, 
her  husband  being  an  Englishman  who  was  ever 
loyal  to  King  George,  and  in  his  daily  prayers 
prayed  for  the  success  of  the  English.  This  was 
more  than  the  patriotic  spirit  of  young  Jabez 
could  brook,  and  he  ran  away  from  home  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  enlisting  in  the  colonial  army, 
and  fighting  in  many  of  the  battles  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Finally  he  settled  in  Vermont  and  reared 
his  family.  From  there  he  moved  to  Aurora, 
Erie  County,  N.  Y.  By  occupation  he  is  a  sur- 
veyor. 

When  our  subject  was  a  boy  of  eleven,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1833,  the  family  came  west  and  settled  in 
24 


Will   County,    111.      The   father   and  the  oldest 
son  took  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  each, 
a  part  of  which  is  in  what  is  now  Dupage  Town- 
ship, Will  County   (then  Cook).      When  Austin 
was  fourteen  the  land   was  divided,   and  he  and 
the  brother   next  in  age   to   him  conducted,  to- 
gether,  what  was  known    as  the  Godfrey  farm, 
on  the  stage  line  from  Chicago  to  Ottawa.     They 
had  charge  not  only  of  the  farm,  but  also  of  the 
tavern  and  stage  horses.     The  partnership  con- 
tinued until  our  subject  was  twenty-five,  when 
the  property  was  divided,  he  continuing  on  the 
same  place.  -  In    1874  he   went  to  Joliet  for  the 
purpose  of  giving   his  children   educational  ad- 
vantages.    There  he  built  a  residence  and  spent 
two   years.     On    his  return  to  the   farm  he  re- 
sumed its  management.     In  1886  he  bought  two 
hundred  and   forty-seven  acres,    comprising  the 
old  Hawley  farm.     Here  he  built   a    residence, 
granary  and   an   addition  to  the  barn.     The  old 
part  of  the  barn,  which  is  still  standing,  was  the 
first  frame  barn  of  any  size  built  in  Will  County. 
Besides  this  place,    on  which  he  lives,  he  owns 
four  other  farms,  which  he  rents.     Since  coming 
to  his  present  location  he  has  given  his  attention 
more  especially  to  the  dairy  business,  in  which 
he  has  been  notably  successful.     On  his  place  he 
has  between  fifty  and  sixty  head  of  milch  cows, 
all  of  the    Holstein    breed.     In    order  that  the 
cattle    may  go  to  either  side  of  the  main    road, 
without    necessitating  the  opening  of  gates,  he 
built  a  passage  way  under  the  road,  an  idea  that 
has  proved  an  excellent  one.     The  grain  raised 
on  the  farm  is  almost  wholly  used  for  feed.     All 
the  improvements  on  the  place  are  modern  and 
indicate  that  the  owner  is  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  progressive  spirit. 

As  a  Republican,  Mr.  Godfrey  has  been  active 


474 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  local  politics.  He  has  served  as  supervisor, 
highway  commissioner,  school  director  and 
trustee,  filling  each  office  with  the  intelligence 
and  energy  noticeable  in  his  conduct  of  private 
affairs.  His  accumulations  are  the  result  of  en- 
ergy and  industry,  intelligently  applied.  His 
enterprise  and  ability  have  won  for  him  a  popu- 
larity that  is  a  permanent  tribute  to  his  merit. 
During  the  long  years  spent  in  this  county  he 
has  seen  the  country  bloom  and  blossom  as  the 
rose,  and  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  its  prog- 
ress. As  a  citizen  he  has  always  been  public- 
spirited,  and  as  a  farmer  and  dairyman  thrifty 
and  energetic. 

By  his  first  wife,  Lavinia  Warren,  Mr.  God- 
frey had  two  children,  one  now  living,  Emma 
A.,  wife  of  George  W.  Potter,  of  Joliet.  After 
his  first  wife's  death  Mr.  Godfrey  married  Miss 
Lucy  Denton,  who  was  born  in  Henry  ville,  Can- 
ada, December  3,  1S37,  a  daughter  of  Capt. 
John  and  Sylvina  (Harrington)  Denton.  The 
latter's  mother  was  a  sister  of  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou, 
the  noted  Universalist  divine,  and  who  was  of 
French-Huguenot  descent;  her  grandfather  was 
state  surveyor  in  Vermont,  and  belonged  to  a 
noted  family  in  which  were  many  professional 
men.  Capt.  John  Denton,  who  was  a  son  of 
William  Denton,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  and  became  an  exhorter 
and  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
spent  many  years  in  Canada,  during  which  time 
he  took  part  in  the  Canadian  war  of  1837,  as  a 
captain  in  the  British  army.  From  Canada  he 
moved  to  Dupage  County,  111.,  in  1847,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  near  Naperville,  where  he  died 
two  years  afterward,  at  the  age  of  sixty.  His 
wife,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  member  of  an 
old  and  influential  family  of  that  state,  died  in 
Lockport  when  almost  eighty-two  years  of  age. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children  who 
reached  maturity  and  married,  and  of  these  five 
are  living.  Miriam  is  the  widow  of  Samuel  Wil- 
son, of  Lockport;  William  J.,  a  resident  of  Lock- 
port  for  years,  died  there  at  the  age  of  sixty-six; 
Leonora  married  Edward  Welch  and  lives  in 
Iowa;  James  L.  is  a  retired  farmer  in  this  town- 
ship; Lury  (a  twin  of  Mrs.  Godfrey)  is  the  wife 


of  Jonas  Beach,  of  Lockport;  and  Abigail,  who 
married  George  Besse,  died  when  thirty-five 
years  of  age.  When  Mrs.  Godfrey  was  nine 
years  of  age,  in  1847,  she  moved  with  hei  parents 
to  Dupage  County,  111.  Much  of  the  time  since 
then  she  has  made  her  home  in  Will  County. 
After  completing  her  schooling  she  taught  for 
three  years.  In  religion  she  is  a  Congregation- 
alism to  which  faith  all  of  her  children  also  ad- 
here. Her  second  son,  Howard,  is  deceased. 
The  others  are  named  as  follows:  Herbert  A., 
a  farmer  of  this  township;  Daisy  C,  wife  of 
Arthur  Jones,  living  in  Michigan;  Carrie,  Mrs. 
William  Monro,  also  of  Michigan;  Arthur  M., 
who  assists  in  the  management  of  the  home 
place;  Guy  R.  and  Roy  S.,  both  of  whom  are 
with  their  parents. 


GlBRAHAM  G.  NOEL,  who  is  living  re- 
I  1  tired  at  No.  304  North  Eastern  avenue, 
/  1  Joliet,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county, 
having  come  here  with  a  brother  in  1848.  Shortly 
after  his  arrival  he  bought  laud  three  and  one- 
half  miles  south  of  Joliet,  on  the  Wilmington 
road,  but  soon  afterward  he  sold  his  interest  to 
his  brother.  In  1850  he  brought  his  family  to 
this  county  from  Carroll  County,  Ind.,  arriving 
in  Joliet  October  14,  and  purchasing  a  tract  ad- 
joining his  brother's  land.  With  a  team  of  oxen 
he  broke  the  sod,  turning  the  first  furrows  in  the 
soil.  His  method  of  planting  corn  was  primi- 
tive; with  an  axe  he  cut  a  hole  in  the  sod,  into 
which  he  dropped  the  corn,  then  lightly  covered 
the  seed  with  dirt,  a  method  of  working  which 
would  be  considered  extremely  slow  in  this  pro- 
gressive age.  The  years  that  followed  were  filled 
with  cares;  yet  they  were  happy  times,  and  he 
looks  back  upon  the  pioneer  days  as  the  most 
delightful  of  his  life.  The  increase  in  prices 
of  land  affected  him  favorably,  making  him  well- 
to-do,  a  result  which  his  industry  and  energy 
had  contributed  to  secure.  For  nearly  forty 
years  he  lived  the  busy  life  of  a  farmer,  plough- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


475 


ing,  sowing,  reaping,  harvesting,  each  day 
bringing  its  special  duty,  each  night  bringing  a 
well-earned  repose.  Finally,  in  the  fall  of  1886, 
he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Joliet,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home. 

Mr.  Noel  was  born  in  Scioto  County,  Ohio, 
January  29,  1809.  Two  miles  from  his  early 
home  was  the  site  of  a  loug-abandond  military 
post,  no  record  of  which  was  kept  in  that  local- 
ity. However,  the  presence  of  bullets  in  the 
walls  indicated  that  the  fort  had  been  used  during 
the  days  of  firearms.  When  a  boy  he  used  to  ex- 
plore the  remains  of  this  fort.  He  found  an  em- 
bankment four  feet  high,  enclosing  about  one 
hundred  acres,  in  which  was  a  passage  of  about 
forty  rods  to  a  spring,  this  passage  being  enclosed 
by  an  embankment  eight  feet  high,  enclosing  two 
acres.  There  was  also  a  passage  to  what  was 
probably  the  arsenal,  enclosing  about  one-fourth 
of  an  acre. 

When  a  boy  our  subject's  grandfather,  Peter 
Noel,  came  to  America  from  Holland.  He  set- 
tled in  Virginia,  where  he  learned  the  weaver's 
trade.  At  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
he  and  his  brother  enlisted,  remaining  at  the 
front  until  peace  was  declared.  Afterward  he 
followed  his  trade  and  cultivated  a  farm.  In 
1793  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  died.  By 
his  marriage  to  Sophia  Good  he  had  thirteen 
children,  all  of  whom  attained  mature  years  and 
married.  The  third  of  these,  Peter,  was  four- 
teen years  of  age  when  the  family  settled  in 
Ohio.  He  assisted  in  clearing  the  home  farm, 
which  was  heavily  timbered.  In  youth  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  gunsmith,  which  he  fol- 
lowed throughout  much  of  his  life.  Indians 
were  very  troublesome,  but  annoyed  them  very 
little  except  in  stealing  horses.  The  men  of  the 
family  were  known  to  be  good  shots,  hence  were 
avoided  by  the  savages.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  of  18 12  he  was  sent  as  a  scout  and  guide 
with  the  riflemen  who  were  ordered  to  Hull  to 
bring  up  the  cattle  and  ammunition  to  Detroit. 
For  this  work  of  guide  he  was  well  adapted,  for 
he  was  a  thorough  woodsman  and  could  tell  the 
points  of  the  compass  at  night  by  feeling  the 
bark  of  the  trees.      When  he  had  taken  the  rifle- 


men as  far  as  Finley's  block  house,  eighteen 
miles  from  Detroit,  they  were  notified  of  Hull's 
surrender  and  were  paroled.  Afterward  he  and 
his  son  Abraham  each  had  a  severe  attack  of 
fever,  and  the  latter  bears  to  this  day  a  scar  on 
his  neck  where  he  was  lanced. 

On  recovering,  Peter  Noel  re-enlisted  in  the 
war  of  181 2,  in  which  he  was  promoted  to  be  a 
colonel,  and  our  subject  now  has  the  sword  he 
carried.  He  returned  to  his  home  at  the  close 
of  the  war  and  followed  his  trade,  also  operated 
a  saw-mill  for  seventeen  years.  He  remained  in 
Ohio  until  1850,  when  he  came'  to  Illinois,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1851  died  at  his  son's  home  in 
Will  County,  aged  seventy-one  years.  At  the 
time  that  he  left  Ohio  he  owned  three  farms.  He 
bought  land  in  Will  County  in  1848,  but  did  not 
come  here  until  two  years  later.  In  politics  he 
voted  with  the  Whigs.  In  the  year  1840  seventy- 
six  of  his  name  voted  the  Whig  ticket  in  Scioto 
County,  the  only  one  who  deserted  the  party 
having  done  so  for  a  woman's  sake.  For  twenty- 
one  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
for  a  similar  period  was  county  commissioner. 
As  long  as  he  remained  in  Ohio  he  commanded 
a  battalion  of  riflemen  there.  He  had  no  desire 
for  political  positions  and,  though  urged  to  ac- 
cept a  nomination  to  congress,  declined  the 
honor.  Had  he  so  desired,  he  could  have  had 
any  office  within  the  gift  of  the  people,  for  he  was 
a  man  of  great  influence.  From  boyhood  he  was 
fond  of  hunting,  an  ardent  and  successful  sports- 
man, and  always  wanted  to  be  within  easy  reach 
of  game.  In  1833  he,  our  subject,  and  two  oth- 
ers were  out  hunting  at  the  time  of  the  shoot- 
ing stars,  which  made  the  night  as  light  as  day, 
an  interesting  phenomenon  which  our  subject 
vividly  recalls;  At  this  time,  iu  the  month  of 
October,  the  same  year,  he  shot  forty-seven  deer 
and  our  subject  shot  thirty-seven,  while  one  was 
shot  by  both,  making  a  total  of  eighty-five  deer 
that  fell  beneath  their  unerring  aim. 

In  Ohio,  Peter  Noel  married  Susannah,  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  Joseph  DeFort,  a  nobleman  of  France, 
who  came  to  America  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolution,  and  served  in  the  American  army  as 
sergeant.     Afterward  he  settled  in  New   Jersey, 


476 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


removing  from  there  to  Ohio,  and  making  the 
trip  in  the  same  boat  with  our  subject's  father. 
Two  sons  and  three  daughters  comprised  the 
family  of  Peter  and  Susannah  Noel,  namely: 
Joseph,  Abraham,  Mary,  Sophia  and  Mercy,  of 
whom  our  subject  alone  survives.  He  had  few 
educational  advantages  when  a  boy,  except  those 
obtained  in  subscription  schools;  he  worked  early 
and  late  on  the  home  farm.  After  his  marriage, 
November  4,  1S37,  he  bought  a  farm  and  began 
life  for  himself.  In  1844  he  removed  to  Indiana 
and  bought  a  farm  of  which  only  eleven  acres  had 
been  cleared.  Erom  there  he  came  to  Will 
County,  October  14,  184S,  after  which  he  aided 
in  the  development  of  its  agricultural  resources. 
May  10,  1875,  his  wifedied,  aged  fifty-six  years. 
He  then  made  a  trip  to  Oregon  with  his  family, 
but  did  not  like  the  country  and  returned  to  this 
county,  well  coutent  to  spend  his  remaining 
years  here.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 
For  several  years  he  served  as  school  trustee. 
His  wife,  Eveline,  was  a  daughter  of  Gregory 
and  Elizabeth  (Taylor)  Glasscock,  the  latter  a 
cousin  of  Zachary  Taylor.  Her  father,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  but  for  years  a  resident  of  Ohio, 
served  in  the  first  war  with  England.  Five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  the  union  of  Abraham  Noel 
and  Eveline  Glasscock.  All  were  daughters. 
Mary  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Linebarger,  a 
banker  in  Iowa.  Sophia,  deceased,  was  edu- 
cated hi  the  Will  County  schools,  and  was  an 
accomplished  lady  whose  many  good  qualities  of 
head  and  heart  endeared  her  to  all  who  knew  her. 
As  a  teacher  she  was  eminently  successful,  and 
her  good  work  and  precepts  will  keep  her  mem- 
ory alive  in  a  new  generation.  Susan  married 
Joseph  Campbell,  a  prosperous  grain  dealer  of 
Lacon,  111.  Sarah  married  James  Watkins,  and 
is  now  deceased.  Melvina  M.  is  the  widow  of 
Carlos  F.  Long,  and  resides  with  her  father. 
Since  1S50  Mr.  Noel  has  been  a  director  of  the 
Desplai nes  Cemetery  Association,  in  whose  burial 
ground  main-  pioneers  and  several  Revolutionary 
soldiers  are  buried. 

Carlos  F.  Long,  who  married  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Mr.  Noel,  was  born  in  Winnebago 
County,   111.,   May    19,    1856.     When  but  three 


years  of  age  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Will  County.  For  a  time  he  worked  as  book- 
keeper in  James  Ducker's  store  at  Mokena,  and 
later  was  cashier  in  the  same  establishment. 
Afterward  he  had  charge  of  the  settlement  of  the 
Ducker  estate,  being  connected  with  the  family 
for  twenty-four  years,  and  until  his  death,  April 
8,  1899.  His  father,  Benjamin  F.  Long,  who 
was  a  volunteer  in  the  One  Hundredth  Illinois 
Infantry,  during  the  Civil  war,  participated  in 
many  a  hard  fought  battle,  and  died  in  a  hos- 
pital while  at  the  front. 

Politically  Mr.  Long  was  a  Republican.  He 
united  himself  with  the  Methodist  Church  when 
nineteen  years  of  age,  and  continued  to  hold  his 
membership  in  that  denomination  until  his  death. 
He  was  a  man  of  upright  character,  honest, 
moral  and  conscientious,  and  his  death  was 
widely  mourned  as  a  loss  to  the  citizenship  of 
the  county.  May  1,  1895,  he  married  Melvina 
M.  Noel,  who  was  educated  in  the  Joliet  high 
school  and  graduated  in  music  from  the  Valpar- 
aiso Normal  School  in  Indiana.  She  taught 
school  for  teu  years,  and  later  taught  music. 
She  is  a  lad}-  whose  accomplishment  and  culture 
fit  her  to  grace  any  society  which  she  may  enter. 


3OHN  ONDERDONK  BARRETT.  The  peo- 
ple of  Joliet  claim  that  they  have  in  their 
city  the  finest  hardware  store  in  the  United 
States.  A  walk  through  the  Barrett  block,  on 
the  corner  of  Chicago  and  Clinton  streets,  usually 
causes  the  stranger  to  accept  this  assertion  as 
true.  The  entire  space  of  the  block,  four  floors, 
66x160,  is  occupied  by  the  company,  who  fur- 
nish employment  to  fifty  hands  and  have  the  lar- 
gest wholesale  and  retail  hardware  store  in  this 
section  of  the  state.  The  front  of  the  basement 
is  utilized  as  a  salesroom,  while  in  the  rear  is  the 
machinery  for  cutting  and  threading  pipe  from 
two  and  one-half  to  eight  inches  in  diameter. 
The  first  floor  is  devoted  to  the  display  of  stock 
and  the  retail  business,  on  the  second  is  the  nianu- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


477 


facturing  department,  while  the  third  is  used  for 
the  storage  of  stock.  Power,  heat  and  light  are 
furnished  by  electricity.  The  stock  includes  every 
variety  of  tinware,  hardware,  stoves,  agricultural 
implements,  etc.,  and  experienced  tinners,  plumb- 
ers and  gasfitters  are  furnished  on  request,  to- 
gether with  the  articles  necessary  for  their  work. 
The  success  of  the  business  is  largely  due  to  the 
wise  judgment  and  tireless  energy  of  J.  O.  Barrett, 
who,  December  19,  1891,  incorporated  the  Bar- 
rett Hardware  Company,  with  himself  as  presi- 
dent, and  his  brother,  Edward  C,  as  secretary 
and  treasurer.  He  was  also  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Joliet  National  Bank,  in  which  he  has  been 
a  director  from  the  first. 

In  the  city  where  he  now  lives,  Mr.  Barrett 
was  born  March  16,  1851,  a  son  of  William  F. 
and  Clamana  (Onderdonk)  Barrett.  When  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  acquired  his  first  insight  into 
the  hardware  business,  and  for  two  years  after- 
ward he  clerked  for  his  father  and  for  Mr.  Ford. 
In  1872  he  became  a  partner  in  business  with  his 
father.  After  their  store  burned  the}'  began 
in  business  anew,  continuing  together  until  his 
father  died  in  1876.  The  firm  moved  into  the 
New  Akin  block  built  for  them  and  acquired 
a  constantly  increasing  stock  and  trade.  In  time 
the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Barrett  &  Sons, 
a  younger  son,  Edward  C,  being  admitted  as  a 
partner,  and  the  two  sons  have  continued  together 
since  that  time.  Inheriting  from  their  father  a 
talent  for  business  affairs,  they  have  added  to  the 
business  which  he  established  and  to  the  reputa- 
tion which  he  gained.  Their  honorable  methods, 
fair  dealings  and  sagacity  of  judgment  are  uni- 
versally recognized.  Those  who  come  into  busi- 
ness relations  with  them  find  them  men  of  honor 
and  integrity;  indeed,  it  is  from  these  qualities 
and  their  great  energy  that  their  success  has 
come,  and  the  prosperity  that  has  rewarded  their 
efforts  in  the  past  is  a  happy  omen  of  what  the 
future  holds  for  them. 

The  demands  of  his  business  have  been  such 
that  Mr.  Barrett  has  had  no  leisure  for  public  af- 
fairs and,  aside  from  voting  the  Republican  ticket, 
he  has  taken  no  part  in  politics.  At  different 
times  he  has  bought  and  improved  real  estate  in 


Joliet,  and  is  now  especially  interested  in  the 
Zarley  tract.  His  marriage,  in  this  city,  united 
him  with  Miss  Mary  C.  Warren,  who  was  born  in 
Shrewsbury,  Mass.,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  years 
came  to  Joliet  in  company  with  her  uncle,  Calvin 
Knowlton,  who  was  president  of  the  Will  County 
National  Bank. 


61  LFRED  J.  LINDGREN,  deputy  sheriff,  is 
LA  one  of  the  well-known  Swedish-American 
/  J  citizens  of  Joliet,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1887.  His  present  position  as  deputy 
he  has  held  continuously  since  1894,  being  under 
John  Francis  for  four  years,  and  since  then,  by 
reappointment,  under  Sheriff  Mattinger.  Dur- 
ing most  of  the  time  he  has  been  court  deputy  as 
well.  Ever  since  he  became  an  American  citi- 
zen he  has  given  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party,  being  in  hearty  accord  with  its  principles 
of  protection  and  sound  money.  Since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Swedish-American  Republican 
Club  he  has  been  actively  connected  with  it  as 
secretary,  and  he  is  also  a  prominent  member  of 
the  State  League  of  Republican  Clubs. 

The  oldest  of  four  children,  of  whom  he  and 
Mrs.  Tulin,  of  Princeton,  111.,  are  the  survivors, 
our  subject  was  born  in  Hinerydsoken,  Krono- 
berg,  Smaland,  Sweden,  January  27,  i860,  a  son 
of  C.  G.  and  Stiua  (Magnusdotter)  Lindgren. 
His  mother  died  in  1883.  His  father,  a  farmer, 
came  to  America  in  1869  and  settled  near  Prince- 
ton, 111.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  For  a  few 
years  our  subject  had  the  advantage  of  study  in 
the  public  schools  at  Princeton,  where  he  added 
to  the  knowledge  gained  in  the  Swedish  schools. 
In  the  spring  of  1873  his  parents  moved  to  Lock- 
port,  but  in  the  fall  of  the  following  year  returned 
to  Princeton  and  afterward  he  resided  there,  as- 
sisting his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  a  farm. 

Coming  to  Joliet  in  1888  Mr.  Lindgren  became 
an  employe  in  the  wire  mill,  but  soon  left  and 
accepted  a  clerkship  in  Charles  Johnson's 
grocery,  where  he  remained  until  his  appoint- 
ment  as  deputy  sheriff.     He  is  an  enterprising 


478 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  liberal  man,  thoroughly  American  in  every- 
thing but  birth  and  love  for  his  native  laud,  and 
is  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  American  energy  and 
progress.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Knights 
of  the  Globe.  In  the  work  of  the  Swedish 
Mission  Church  he  has  been  a  valuable  assistant, 
being  clerk  of  the  congregation  and  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trustees,  and  at  the  time  of  the  re- 
building of  the  church  he  served  upon  the  com- 
mittee having  the  matter  in  charge. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Lindgren  was  Miss  Ella 
Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Princeton,  her  parents 
having  settled  there  as  early  as  1853.  She  died 
in  Joliet,  leaving  four  children,  Edith,  Otto, 
Florence  and  Harry.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Lindgren  also  took  place  in  Princeton,  his  wife 
being  Miss  Mathilda  Nalean,  who  was  born  and 
educated  in  that  town. 


[—RANK  HUBENET  is  one  of  the  best-known 
r^  Swedish-American  citizens  of  Joliet,  where 
I  he  resides  at  No.  309  Harris  avenue.  He 
is  president  of  the  Swedish- American  Republican 
Club,  the  largest  organization  of  its  kind  in 
Joliet,  and  the  prominence  which  it  has  gained 
is  almost  wholly  due  to  his  energy  and  wise 
leadership.  As  secretary  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Globe  he  is  identified  with  another  local  organ- 
ization. In  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  he 
serves  as  secretary  of  the  congregation,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  and  president  of  the 
benefit  society  connected  with  the  church.  An 
active  worker  in  Joliet  Observatory  No.  8,  North 
Star  Benefit  Association,  he  holds  the  principal 
office  (that  of  astronomer)  in  the  lodge  and  is 
chief  conductor  of  the  Grand  Observatory*,  with 
headquarters  in  Moliue,  111.  In  iSgohe  was  ap- 
pointed a  special  agent  to  collect  statistics  of 
manufactures  in  Joliet  city  and  township,  in  the 
interests  of  the  United  States  census.  At  this 
writing  he  is  township  oil  inspector  for  Joliet. 
About   two  hundred   and    fifty    years   ago  the 


Hiibeuette  family  removed  from  France  to  Norr- 
land,  Sweden,  during  the  reign  of  Gustavus 
Adolphus.  Our  subject's  grandfather,  who  was 
born  in  Norrland,  was  superintendent  of  a  large 
furnace  there.  The  father,  L.  W.  Hiibenette, 
is  a  business  man  of  that  place  and  is  now  seventy- 
five  years  of  age,  while  his  wife,  Ulricka  Elenora 
(Kellberg)  Hiibenette,  is  seventy-three.  Of 
their  eight  children,  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters are  living,  one  sou  and  two  daughters  being 
in  America.  Frank,  who  was  sixth  in  order  of 
birth,  was  born  at  Norrland  December  30,  1862. 
He  was  educated  in  public  schools  and  a  gym- 
nasium. Coming  to  the  United  States  in  1881, 
he  settled  in  Joliet,  111.,  where  he  was  employed 
in  different  stone  quarries  for  five  years,  after 
which  he  became  manager  of  a  branch  coal  office 
of  Hunter  &  Curtis.  In  1891  the  office  was  dis- 
continued, at  which  time  he  started  for  himself, 
opening  an  office  at  No.  603  Cass  street,  and  be- 
ginning in  the  coal  and  coke  business.  His  lo- 
cation is  convenient  and  a  sidiug  connects  his 
yards  with  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad. 
Since  coming  to  this  city  he  has  married,  his 
wife  being  Ellen  Anderson,  a  native  of  Sweden. 
They  have  six  children:  William  Waldemar, 
Edith  Elenora,  Ebba  Henrietta,  Blenda  Linnea 
and  two  boy  twins,  Lief  Lincoln  and  Grant 
Thorsten. 


(lOSEPH  C.  BRISBANE,  who  is  engaged 
I  in  dairying  and  farming  on  section  14,  New 
Q)  Lenox  Township,  was  born  in  Cook  County, 
111.,  in  1863,  a  son  of  James  W.  and  Dorothy 
(Caldwell)  Brisbane,  natives  respectively  of  Scot- 
land and  the  north  of  Canada.  His  father  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1858  and  settled  in  Cook 
County,  111.,  where  he  followed  the  trades  of 
blacksmith,  wagon-maker,  carpenter  and  cabinet- 
maker. About  1873  he  removed  to  this  county 
and  later  settled  on  a  farm  near  New  Lenox. 
Since  1880  he  has  made  his  home  on  his  present 
farm  near  the  village  and  here  he  has  carried  on 
general    agricultural    pursuits.       His   wife   died 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


479 


March  17,  1897,  leaving  five  children,  namely: 
Joseph  C. ;  Jeannette  W. ,  who  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful teacher  for  twelve  years  and  is  now  con- 
nected with  the  schools  at  South  Englewood; 
Dorothy,  wife  of  Charles  Cooper;  Martha,  wife 
of  William  Patrick;  and  Mary,  still  at  home. 

At  the  time  the  family  settled  in  this  county 
our  subject  was  ten  years  of  age.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  the  township  of  Crete,  one  and  one- 
half  miles  from  the  village  of  that  name.  His 
education  was  received  in  common  schools,  under 
the  supervision  mainly  of  William  H.  Evans. 
For  some  years  he  carried  on  farming  in  con- 
nection with  his  father,  but  in  1885  he  settled  on 
his  present  farm,  which  he  purchased  in  18S9. 
He  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  eight 
acres,  devoted  principally  to  the  pasturage  of 
milch  cows,  and  carries  on  a  large  and  profitable 
dairy  business.  Thoroughly  familiar  with  prac- 
tical dairying,  in  all  of  its  phases,  he  is  qualified 
to  carry  on  a  business  satisfactory  to  others  and 
remunerative  to  himself. 

On  the  Republican  ticket  Mr.  Brisbane  was 
elected  township  collector,  which  office  he  filled 
for  bne  year.  The  office  of  school  director  he 
filled  for  ten  years,  during  a  part  of  which  time 
he  was  clerk  of  the  board.  In  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  heis  a  member, he  has 
served  as  trustee  and  steward  for  some  time,  and 
is  also  secretary  of  the  building  committee  now 
in  course  of  erection.  His  marriage,  in  1885, 
united  him  with  Emma  J.,  daughter  of  John  J. 
Willis,  of  New  Lenox  Township;  and  they  have 
one  child,  Vernice  E. 


[""  RANCIS  NICHOLSON,  deceased,  was  one 
rQ  of  the  early  settlers  of  Joliet,  having  come 
I  here  in  1S36.  He  was  born  in  New  Hart- 
ford, Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Jared  Nich- 
olson, and  a  member  of  an  old  and  honored 
American  family  whose  ancestry  is  traced  back 
to  Governor  Nicholson  of  Connecticut.  His 
father  was  born  in  Connecticut,  but  at  an  early 


age  settled  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  and  thence, 
when  Francis  was  six  years  old,  removed  to 
Chautauqua  County,  the  same  state.  There  the 
boy  grew  to  manhood.  Reared  on  a  farm  amid 
frontier  surroundings  he  had  no  educational  ad- 
vantages, and  even  if  schools  had  been  numerous 
his  health  would  have  interfered  with  his  attend- 
ance. Not  being  strong  enough  for  manual  labor 
on  a  farm  he  took  up  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he 
followed.  A  few  years  after  his  marriage  in  West- 
field,  N.  Y.,  he  started  for  Illinois,  driving  across 
the  country  with  his  wife  in  a  covered  wagon. 
The  trip  was  safely  made,  although  at  one  time 
he  was  followed  by  robbers  for  a  whole  day,  but 
reached  a  settlement  by  night  and  so  escaped 
from  them.  When  he  arrived  in  Joliet  the  town 
contained  fort}'  buildings,  including  stores,  barns 
and  residences.  His  first  meal  in  the  county  was 
in  the  Yankee  Settlement.  Settling  about  seven 
miles  north  of  Joliet  on  the  road  west  of  the  river 
he  spent  a  short  time  there.  In  1S37  he  opened 
a  tavern  on  Bluff  street,  and  was  there  when  the 
first  stage  drove  through  to  Joliet.  He  saw  the 
first  canal  boat  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal  and  the  first  railroad  train  ever  run  into 
Joliet.  Later  he  resumed  his  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  some  time.  For  seven  years  he 
clerked  for  Mr.  Wilcox.  Prior  to  1S60  he  started 
in  the  grocery  business  with  his  son,  but  not 
finding  the  enterprise  profitable  he  took  up  tail- 
oring again,  and  at  this  he  continued  until  he 
was  past  eighty  years  of  age.  In  politics  he  was 
a  strong  Democrat.  For  years  he  served  as  ves- 
tryman and  warden  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in 
the  work  of  which  he  was  quite  active.  His  life 
was  protracted  to  a  great  age,  for  he  was  ninety- 
three  when  he  died  in  February,  1896.  During 
the  long  period  of  his  residence  in  Joliet  he  wit- 
nessed its  steady  growth  and  took  pleasure  in 
noting  its  progress.  Personally  he  was  a  man  of 
quiet  and  retiring  disposition. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Nicholson  died  when  she 
was  a  young  woman.  Afterward  he  married 
Mary  Ann  Burdge,  member  of  a  Holland-Dutch 
family  of  New  Jersey.  Mrs.  Nicholson  was  a 
woman  of  ability,  energy,  great  kindliness  of 
heart,  and  an    excellent  conversationalist.     She 


480 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  fond  of  reading  and  kept  well  posted  in  the 
progress  of  current  events  and  in  politics.  Pos- 
sessing a  deeply  religious  nature  she  did  all 
within  her  power  for  the  advancement  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  was  instrumental  in  the  upbuilding 
of  the  Episcopal  Church.  In  homes  where  sick- 
ness came  her  presence  brought  comfort,  and  her 
careful  nursing  did  much  to  restore  the  sick  one 
to  health;  indeed  she  had  quite  a  local  reputation 
as  a  nurse. 

Four  children  were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nicholson,  three  of  whom  attained 
maturity.  Both  of  the  sons  are  now  deceased. 
The  older,  Frank,  went  to  California  in  1850  and 
engaged  in  prospecting  and  mining  there.  He 
married  there  and  reared  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren. The  younger  son,  Harman,  enlisted  in 
the  second  Michigan  Cavalry  immediately  after 
the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Entering  as  a 
private  he  was  promoted  successively  to  second 
and  first  lieutenant  and  captain,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  was  commissioned  major  in  recogni- 
tion of  gallant  service.  Much  of  his  service  was 
under  Sheridan  in  Virginia  and  Tennessee.  At 
his  death  he  left  four  children. 

The  only  surviving  member  of  the  farnil}'  is 
Mr.  Nicholson's  daughter,  Katherine  Sophia. 
She  was  born  in  a  house  that  stood  on  North 
Hickory  street,  Joliet.  Her  earliest  years  were 
associated  with  pioneer  events  and  experiences  in 
the  rapidly  growing  frontier  town.  For  fifty- 
six  years  she  made  her  home  in  the  family  resi- 
dence on  Exchange  street,  but  during  some  of 
that  time  she  was  employed  in  other  cities, 
although  always  considering  Joliet  her  home. 
In  order  to  aid  the  family  she  took  up  teaching, 
which  occupation  she  followed  for  eleven  years 
in  California  and  Illinois.  Forsix  years  she  was 
employed  as  bookkeeper  in  a  store  in  Muskegon, 
Mich.,  after  which  she  held  the  position  of  libra- 
rian of  the  Joliet  public  library  for  eleven  years. 
In  1870  she  went  to  California,  where  she  taught 
for  two  years.  In  1880  she  started  a  greenhouse 
in  Joliet,  and  this  she  conducted  successfully  until 
her  retirement  from  business  in  1S98.  The- 
property  she  has  since  rented.  She  owns  and 
occupies  a  residence  which  she  erected  in  1898, 


and  in  which  she  has  as  a  companion  a  young 
girl  whom  she  is  rearing,  Mary  Adele  Nicholson. 
She  is  a  woman  of  excellent  business  ability,  and 
at  the  same  time,  has  genial,  kindly  ways  that 
win  and  retain  warm  friends. 


HENRY  ALEXANDER.  Through  his  active 
participation  in  enterprises  for  the  benefit  of 
his  city  and  county  and  his  progressive  spirit 
as  a  citizen,  Mr.  Alexander  has  become  one  of 
the  influential  men  of  Joliet.  No  one  has  taken 
a  deeper  interest  than  he  in  measures  calculated 
to  benefit  the  people  or  to  develop  the  material 
resources  of  the  county,  and  he  has  been  gen- 
erous to  the  point  of  self-sacrifice  in  his  gifts  of 
time  and  means  to  promote  projects  of  undoubted 
value.  The  position  of  supervisor  which  he  held 
gave  him  an  opportunity  for  aiding  public  move- 
ments. While  acting  in  that  capacity  he  was  in- 
strumental in  securing  the  erection  of  the  sheriffs 
residence,  the  rebuilding  of  the  county  jail,  the 
making  of  many  improvements  in  the  court  house 
and  county  poor  farm,  and  the  general  improve- 
ment of  county  roads  and  bridges,  and  in  each  of 
these  instances  he  served  upon  the  special  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  board  of  supervisors. 
While  he  usually  encountered  no  opposition  in  his 
desire  to  secure  improvements,  occasionally  he 
had  to  hold  his  own  against  heavy  odds,  and  this 
was  especially  the  case  at  the  time  of  the  bill  in- 
troduced to  secure  an  elevator  in  the  court  house; 
after  a  hard  struggle  he  was  successful  and  the 
building  now  has  a  fine  elevator.  During  the 
severe  depression  that  followed  the  panic  of  1893 
he  acted  as  superintendent  of  the  poor,  the  posi- 
tion taking  almost  his  entire  time;  he  discharged 
its  duties  efficiently,  and  no  worthy  man  who 
applied  for  help  suffered  from  hunger  and  cold. 
A  resident  of  Joliet  since  1881,  Mr.  Alexander 
was  born  in  Stuttgart,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Theresa  (Neumann)  Alexander. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  Solomon  Neumann, 
was    a    hardware    merchant,    and    his   paternal 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


481 


grandfather,  Simon  Alexander,  a  fanner,  was  one 
of  the  few  soldiers  that  returned  with  Napoleon 
from  the  ill-fated  expedition  to  Moscow.  Isaac 
Alexander  was  a  dealer  in  antiquities  and  an  au- 
thority in  that  line  He  died  while  visiting  a 
daughter  in  Bavaria.  His  wife  died  in  Germain-. 
Of  their  children,  five  are  living,  three  being  in 
the  old  country,  and  Henry  and  Robert  in  Amer- 
ica. 

In  Stuttgart,  where  he  was  born  January  12, 
1849,  our  subject  was  educated  in  a  private 
school.  In  1S66  he  took  passage  at  Havre  for 
New  York,  and  on  arriving  in  this  country  pro- 
ceeded to  Alexandria,  Ya.,  where  he  clerked  in  a 
mercantile  store  until  186S.  Afterward  he  had 
stores  successively  in  Front  Royal,  Edenburg 
and  Shenandoah,  that  state.  Selling  out  in 
1870,  he  returned  to  German}-  and  entered  the 
commissary  department  of  the  German  army, 
serving  through  the  Franco-Prussian  war  of 
1870-71.  Afterward  he  engaged  in  the  live- 
stock business.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  1880,  he  was  for  a  short  time  interested  in  the 
stock  business  in  Syracuse  and  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
and  in  September,  18S1,  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
began  a  wholesale  meat  business  that  he  has 
continued  to  the  present  tiine.  In  1892  he  was 
elected  assistant  supervisor  and  two  years  later 
was  chosen  supervisor,  which  position,  together 
with  that  of  superintendent  of  the  poor,  he  held 
for  two  years.  Largely  through  his  efforts,  in 
1895,  a  bill  passed  the  legislature  authorizing  the 
establishment  of  an  asylum  for  the  incurable  in- 
sane of  Illinois.  In  August  of  that  year  Gov- 
ernor Altgeld  appointed  him  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners to  locate  the  institution,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics. 
He  served  as  secretary  of  the  board  of  commis- 
sioners and  took  an  active  part  in  securing  the 
location  of  the  asylum  in  Peoria.  March  17, 
1897,  Governor  Tanner  reappointed  him  to  the 
same  office  and  he  was  made  chairman  of  the 
board  and  assisted  actively  in  planning  for  and 
starting  the  construction  of  the  building.  In 
February,  1898,  he  resigned  from  the  board  and 
in  April  of  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  special 
agent  for  the  quartermaster's  department  of  the 


United  States  arm}-,  to  buy  horses  and  mules  for 
the  army,  which  position  he  has  since  filled.  He 
has  frequently  served  as  a  member  of  the  county 
ceutral  committee  and  in  other  ways  has  pro- 
moted the  welfare  of  the  Republican  party  in  his 
vicinity. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Alexander,  at  No.  1000 
South  Joliet  street,  is  presided  over  by  his  wife, 
whom  he  married  in  Heidelberg,  Germany,  in 
1874,  and  who  was  Amelia  Auerbaeh,  a  niece  of 
Berthold  Auerbaeh,  the  celebrated  author  and 
novelist.  The  four  children  comprising  their 
family  are:  Theresa,  wife  of  Sig.  Goldstein,  of 
Moline,  111.;  Bertha,  Sigmund  and  Adell,  at 
home. 


RICHARD  J.  BARR,  city  attorney  of  Joliet, 
is  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Meers  & 
Barr,  and  is  well  known  in  the  profession. 
His  personal  popularity  is  indicated  by  his  elec- 
tion to  the  city  attorney's  office  in  the  spring  of 
1899,  when  he  was  the  only  one  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  receiving  a  majority  of  twenty- 
four,  while  some  of  the  Democratic  candidates 
had  majorities  as  large  as  one  thousand.  He  has 
been  a  Republican  from  boyhood  to  the  present 
time,  and  believes  that  the  principles  of  this 
political  organization  are  best  calculated  to  secure 
the  progress  of  free  government  and  perpetuate 
our  national  institutions  on  the  basis  proposed 
by  the  founders  of  the  Republic. 

His  education  was  carried  on  in  the  high 
school  of  Joliet,  after  which  he  taught  school  at 
Manhattan  and  Wilton  Center.  He  afterwards 
matriculated  in  the  University  of  Illinois,  where 
he  spent  four  years  in  the  classical  course  of 
study.  Next  he  went  to  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan at  Ann  Arbor  and  there  received  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Laws  in  1895.  His  class  pre- 
sented to  the  university  a  bronze  bust  of  Judge 
Cooley  which  cost  $600.  The  presentation  cere- 
mony was  made  a  memorable  event  and  was  ap- 
propriately celebrated.  Dr.  James  B.  Angell 
represented  the  university,   Governor  Rich    the 


482 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


state,  and  Judge  Hornblower,  of  New  York,  the 
nation.  The  members  of  the  class  selected  Mr. 
Barr  to  represent  them,  and  the  presentation 
speech  which  he  made  was  published  afterward  in 
book  form.  While  in  the  University  of  Illinois 
he  also  gave  evidence  of  unusual  ability  as  an 
orator  and  debater.  He  was  president  of  the 
Illinois  Oratorical  Association,  and  also  president 
of  his  class.  He  was  elected  editor-in-chief  of 
the  class  annual,  the  "  Illio,"  which  was  origin- 
ated by  the  class  and  compiled  by  him.  The 
precedent  thus  established  has  been  maintained 
by  subsequent  classes. 

Upon  graduating  from  the  university  in  June, 
1895,  Mr.  Barr  came  to  Joliet,  and  in  August  of 
the  same  year  he  opened  an  office  in  this  city. 
He  practiced  law  alone  until  April  1,  1897,  when 
the  present  firm  of  Meers  &  Barr  was  formed. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Mount  Joliet 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Knights  of  the  Globe; 
Mound  City  Camp,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  Paul  Revere  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Should  nothing  unforeseen  prevent  a 
prosperous  future  in  his  chosen  profession  may 
safely  be  predicted  of  Mr.  Barr.  With  his  enter- 
prise, which  enabled  him  to  secure  a  finished  ed- 
ucation, he  has  since  surmounted  obstacles  in  his 
path  and  has  risen  to  a  position  of  prominence 
among  the  members  of  his  profession. 


(JOHN  DAY.  No  man  in  the  county  is  more 
I  worthy  of  respect  than  Mr.  Day,  who  for  so 
GJ  many  years  has  been  connected  with  the  ag- 
ricultural interests  of  Dupage  Township,  but  is 
now  to  some  extent  retired  from  active  cares,  and 
makes  his  home  in  Plainfield.  He  is  one  of  the 
pioneers  who  laid  the  foundation  for  the  present 
prosperity  of  this  region.  Being  industrious  and 
careful,  as  well  as  a  good  manager,  he  made  a 
success  of  his  farm  work.  On  renting  his  farm 
he  moved  to  Plainfield  and  bought  a  place,  which 
he  has  since  made  his  home,  having  rebuilt  and 
improved   the   residence,    besides  putting   up  a 


house  to  the  east.  While  he  is  practically  re- 
tired, he  still  farms  ten  acres,  this  affording  him 
a  chance  for  some  work  in  the  occupation  of 
which  he  is  fond,  while  at  the  same  time  it  does 
not  overtax  his  energies. 

In  Lincolnshire,  England,  Mr.  Day  was  born 
April  2,  1836,  a  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Bric- 
cols)  Day.  He  was  the  third  among  four  children, 
of  whom  Mary  and  William  died  in  this  country 
and  Sophia  in  England.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  very  meagre,  as  he  was  obliged  to 
support  himself  from  an  early  age.  When  he 
was  thirteen  he  had  an  opportunity  to  come  to 
America,  but  his  parents  refused  their  consent, 
so  hj  continued  at  home  until  he  was  eighteen. 
He  then  crossed  in  an  old  sailing  vessel  that  had 
more  than  one  thousand  passengers  and  consumed 
seven  weeks  in  the  voyage.  As  he  had  started 
with  a  family  that  had  two  of  its  members  in 
Will  County,  he  was  induced  to  come  here,  mak- 
ing the  trip  via  the  canal  and  lakes  from  New 
York.  Arriving  in  this  county,  he  secured  work 
on  a  farm  just  west  of  Plainfield,  and  he  was  be- 
ginning to  get  a  nice  foothold  in  his  new  home 
when,  in  the  fall,  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever  ren- 
dered him  unable  to  work  for  three  months.  On 
regaining  his  strength  he  resumed  his  work. 
After  two  years  he  sent  for  his  parents,  who 
joined  him  in  Will  County.  After  the  latter 
came,  father  and  sou  cultivated  a  farm  of  ninety- 
one  acres  in  Dupage  Township,  which  our  subject 
had  purchased.  At  a  later  date  ninety-one  acres 
additional  were  purchased,  thus  making  a  valua- 
ble farm,  on  which  he  first  raised  wdieat  and 
afterward  corn  and  oats.  Starting  in  with  a  few 
head  of  stock,  he  added  to  them  from  time  to 
time  and  gave  considerable  attention  to  the  cattle 
business  and  dairying.  He  also  raised  horses. 
In  1880  his  father  was  killed  by  a  bull,  and 
afterward  the  entire  supervision  of  the  place 
fell  upon  him.  In  addition  to  his  property  here 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Iowa, 
of  which  he  now  owns  eighty  acres. 

Though  not  desiring  to  be  prominent  in  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Day  is  a  man  of  firm  convictions,  and 
believes  stanchly  in  Republican  principles.  For 
some  twelve  vears  he  held  the  office  of  school  di- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


433 


rector.  In  religion  a  Methodist,  he  has  served  the 
congregation  in  Plainfield  as  a  trustee  for  some 
years.  Just  prior  to  the  Civil  war  he  married 
Catherine  Stratton,  who  came  to  this  count}'  in 
1854,  the  year  of  Mr.  Day's  arrival  here.  When 
the  war  opened  he  desired  to  enlist  in  the  army 
and  fight  for  the  Union,  but  his  wife  urged  him 
so  strongly  not  to  do  so  that  he  gave  up  the  hope. 
Of  the  six  children  born  to  his  marriage  only 
two  are  living.  Sophia  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Gor- 
don, of  Hamilton  County,  Iowa;  and  Carrie  mar- 
ried Fred  Morgan,  of  this  county. 


EHARLES  E.  FRASER  is  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Plainfield,  to  whom  is 
due  much  of  the  credit  for  the  substantial 
improvements  noticeable  in  the  place.  He  was 
born  in  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  November  17, 
1845,  a  son  of  James  R.  and  Eliza  (Brown)  Fra- 
ser.  He  was  the  oldest  of  six  children,  of  whom 
one  died  in  infancy  and  Leila  in  girlhood. 
Thomas  B.,  the  second  son,  is  a  retired  merchant 
living  in  Sterling,  Neb.;  Anna  M.  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Vinson,  of  Joliet;  and  Willard  A.  is  prin- 
cipal of  the  schools  of  Rutland,  Vt.  The  father 
was  one  of  the  twelve  children  of  Robert  Fraser, 
who  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland,  and  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  After  settling  in  New 
York  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812  he  served  in  the  American 
army. 

After  having  engaged  in  farming  in  New  York 
for  a  number  of  years,  our  subject's  father  came 
to  Illinois  in  1855  and  settled  first  in  Plainfield 
and  next  in  Lockport  Township,  this  county, 
where  he  improved  a  farm.  He  continued  to  re- 
side on  this  place  until  his  death,  at  fifty-six 
years  of  age.  On  the  Democratic  ticket  he  was 
elected  road  commissioner,  which  office  he  filled 
for  several  }rears.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
work  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  At 
the  time  he  moved  west  his  son,  our  subject,  was 
a  lad  of  ten  years,  and   for  some  time  afterward 


he  attended  the  district  schools  in  Lockport 
Township  and  the  Northwestern  College  at  Plain- 
field.  The  first  business  in  which  he  engaged 
was  that  of  merchandising,  in  which  he  continued 
for  twelve  years.  For  a  similar  period  he  was 
interested  in  the  manufacture  of  tiles,  supplying 
the  local  markets.  With  two  gentlemen  as  part- 
ners, he  built  up  an  extensive  and  profitable  busi- 
ness. Though  no  longer  connected  with  the 
business,  personally,  he  is  still  interested  in  the 
plant.  He  owns  both  city  and  farm  property, 
which  he  rents. 

As  a  Republican,  Mr.  Fraser  has  been  identi- 
fied with  local  politics.  For  some  sixteen  years 
he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  village  board. 
For  three  terms  he  filled  the  office  of  mayor,  and 
during  his  administration  many  improvements 
were  introduced,  including  the  establishment  of 
the  waterworks.  In  1876  he  was  made  a  Mason. 
He  is  a  member  of  Plainfield  Lodge  No.  536, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  been  secretary 
and  treasurer.  He  is  connected  with  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  in  which  he  is  treasurer  of  the 
church  and  librarian  of  the  Sunday-school.  In 
1 87 1  he  married  Ellen  E.,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Hagar,  of  this  county.  Two  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  The  sou, 
Merton  H.,  lived  to  be  almost  twenty  years  of 
age,  but  died  at  Socorro,  N.  M. ,  where  he  had 
gone  with  the  hope  of  benefiting  his  health. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Fraser  was 
again  married,  being  united,  September  3,  1885, 
with  Lettie  J.,  daughter  of  J.  H.  Smiley,  of 
Plainfield.  They  have  two  daughters,  Elma  E. 
and  Marion  E. 


(JjEORGE  B.  HAMLIN,  M.  D.,  of  Frank 
_  fort  Station,  one  of  the  county's  prominent 
^_4  physicians,  was  born  in  Odell,  Livingston 
County,  111.,  February  4,  1866,  a  son  of  Dr. 
Thomas  H.  and  Ellen  (Bateman)  Hamlin.  His 
paternal  ancestors  were  of  English  stock.  His 
grandfather, Thomas  Hamlin,  came  from  England 
to  the  United  States  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in 


484 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Huntingdon,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  veterinary  surgeon  for  man}-  years.  As 
early  as  1848  he  settled  in  Livingston  County, 
111.',  where  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  were 
passed. 

Dr.  Thomas  H.  Hamlin  was  a  native  of  Hunt- 
ingdon County,  Pa.  When  a  boy  he  accompa- 
nied his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  his  youthful 
years  were  passed  at  Odell.  In  young  manhood 
he  studied  medicine.  Later  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  veterinary  surgery,  which  he  followed  in 
Livingston  County,  and  also  owned  a  farm  there. 
In  1S95  he  came  to  Frankfort  Station,  and  has 
since  made  his  home  with  his  son.  He  has  been 
an  expert  in  his  chosen  occupation,  being  recog- 
nized as  a  skilled  practitioner  and  thoroughly 
familiar  with  diseases  of  animals  and  their 
methods  of  treatment.  His  wife  was  born  on 
Lake  Superior  while  her  parents  were  going 
from  New  York  to  Chicago.  She  died  in  1892, 
leaving  an  only  son  and  child. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained 
in  Odell  and  Dixon,  111.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1889,  Dr.  John  Johnson  being  his  pre- 
ceptor. Later  he  entered  the  Chicago  Homeopa- 
thic Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1893.  He  spent  two  years  as  resident  physician 
in  the  Chicago  Homeopathic  Hospital,  having 
been  appointed  to  the  position  prior  to  his  gradua- 
tion, so  that  he  had  only  six  months  to  serve 
after  graduating.  While  a  student  he  was  chosen 
for  this  position  through  a  competitive  examina- 
tion out  of  a  class  of  fifty-two.  During  his  col- 
lege course  he  did  much  work  among  the  county 
poor,  whom  he  furnished  with  medical  services 
gratuitously.  October  1,  1893,  he  came  to  Frank- 
fort Statiou  and  established  an  office.  His  suc- 
cess was  so  great  that  in  1893,  in  order  to  secure 
adequate  accommodations,  he  built  an  office  and 
dispensary.  His  practice  has  steadily  grown, 
and  now  requires  all  of  his  attention.  He  has 
also  given  some  time  to  the  study  of  dentistry, 
attending  the  dental  department  of  the  North- 
western University.  This  study  he  took  up,  not 
with  the  intention  of  following  the  dental  profes- 
sion, but  in  order  that  he  might  acquire  a  broader 
knowledge  of  general  medical  work.     Fraternally 


he  is  connected  with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Modern  Woodmen  of  America; 
and  Odell  Lodge  No.  464,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Odell. 
In  18S9  Dr.  Hamlin  married  Miss  Emma 
Emerson,  of  Chadwick,  111.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  John  Johnston,  but  was  adopted  and 
reared  by  her  grandparents,  Emerson,  whose 
name  she  took.  Her  grandfather,  Dr.  R.  G. 
Emerson,  wras  for  years  a  prominent  physician  at 
Chadwick,  111.  She  was  educated  in  the  Dixon 
Normal  School  and  taught  school  for  several 
years  prior  to  her  marriage,  her  work  being  prin- 
cipally in  the  schools  of  Black  Oak,  111.  She 
still  retains  a  deep  interest  in  educational  work, 
as  well  as  in  all  movements  looking  toward  the 
progress  of  the  people,  mentally  and  morally,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


(JOHN  FRANCIS  was  born  in  New  Lenox 
I  Township,  Will  County,  111.,  January  8, 
\Z/  1S43.  His  father,  the  well-known  Abraham 
Francis,  was  a  native  of  County  Cavan,  Ireland, 
and  his  mother,  Mary  A.  J.  (Davison)  Francis, 
was  a  native  of  Adams  County,  Ohio.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  was  the  fifth  child  of  his  parents 
under  whose  careful  training  he  developed  into 
manhood,  becoming  familiar  with  the  various 
employments  of  farm  life,  and  pursuing  his  early 
studies  in  the  common  schools.  When  approach- 
ing manhood  he  took  a  course  of  stud)*  in  Bryant 
&  Stratton's  Commercial  College,  Chicago,  then 
returning  to  the  farm,  remained  there  until  his 
twenty -third  year. 

December  21,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Harriet 
Maria  Bliss,  daughter  of  Abel  and  Lucinda 
(Blake)  Bliss,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Francis  was  born  Septem- 
ber 5,  1846,  in  New  Lenox  Township,  and  is  the 
second  daughter  and  third  child  of  a  family  of 
two  sons  and  five  daughters.  Besides  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  common  school  Mrs.  Francis  re- 
ceived careful  parental  training,  and  remained  a 
member  of  her  father's  household  until  her  mar- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


485 


riage.  She  is  now  the  mother  of  four  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living:  John  E.,  born  August 
3,  1868;  Howard  B.,  July  3,  1871;  Harriet  J., 
September  6,  1877;  and  Wilbur  A.,  January  7, 
1880.  Each  one  of  them  has  graduated  from  the 
Joliet  high  school  in  the  following  classes,  re- 
spectively, '87,  '90,  '97,  '99.  All  but  the  eldest 
son  remain  at  home.  He  married  Miss  Adeline 
L-  Walz,  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Henrietta 
(Streicher)  Walz,  January  31,  1895.  To  them 
were  born  two  children,  Helen  Adeline  and  a  son 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Francis  is  a  Republican  and  has  held 
many  positions  of  honor  and  trust  at  the  hands 
of  his  friends  and  fellow-citizens.  He  was  col- 
lector two  years,  school  trustee  nine  years,  school 
treasurer  twelve  years,  and  supervisor  twenty- 
three  years.  The  fact  that  he  filled  that  office 
twenty-one  years  in  succession  (being  chairman 
two  terms)  indicates  forcibly  the  high  place  he 
holds  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow-citizens.  At  the 
time  of  the  erection  of  the  Will  County  court 
house,  the  soldier's  and  sailor's  monument,  and 
the  administration  building  or  sheriff's  residence, 
he  was  a  member  of  the  building  committees,  and 
to  such  men  as  he  is  due  the  credit  for  the  erec- 
tion of  public  buildings  so  substantial  and  so 
well  adapted  to  their  needs.  In  1894  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Will  County,  which  position  he 
held  for  four  years. 

Aside  from  these  duties  Mr.  Francis  has  fol- 
lowed farming  all  his  life.  The  farms  which  he 
owns  have  been  placed  under  the  best  improve- 
ments. Substantial  buildings,  well  cultivated 
land,  modern  machinery,  bear  witness  to  his  suc- 
cessful management.  He  has  been  especially 
successful  in  the  breeding  and  care  of  live  stock. 
For  fourteen  years  he  exhibited  Berkshire  hogs 
at  the  state  fairs  with  unusual  success.  Later 
his  attention  has  been  turned  toward  cattle,  and 
he  now  owns  one  of  the  finest  herds  in  Will 
County.  His  landed  possessions  aggregate  nine 
hundred  acres,  divided  into  four  tracts,  the  one 
upon  which  he  lives  being  acknowledged  the  best 
farm  in  New  Lenox  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Francis  are  both  active  members 
of  the  New  Lenox  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


He  has  been  a  trustee  and  steward  for  many 
years.  When  the  new  church  was  erected  in 
1899,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  building 
committee,  and  probably  no  man  deserves  more 
credit  than  he  for  such  a  complete,  magnificent, 
and  well-appointed  edifice. 

Personally  Mr.  Francis  is  looked  upon  as  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  county.  He  is  a  man  of 
progressive  ideas,  liberal  and  public  spirited,  and 
his  career  is  indicative  of  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence with  which  he  is  regarded  by  his  fellow- 
citizens.  His  amiable  wife  has  been  an  efficient 
helpmate,  and  has  contributed  her  full  quota 
toward  sustaining  the  reputation  of  the  family. 


EOL.  DANIEL  H.  DARLING  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  county  since  1855,  and  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  was  engaged 
in  teaching  in  the  Joliet  schools.  The  family  of 
which  he  is  a  member  has  been  represented  in 
America  since  colonial  days,  and  has  borne  its 
part  in  the  various  wars  in  which  our  country  has 
engaged.  His  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolution,  and  his  father  served  in  the  second 
war  with  England,  while  he  himself  has  a  credit- 
able record  as  an  officer  in  the  Civil  war,  in  which 
he  rose  from  the  ranks  to  the  command  of  a 
regiment. 

Professor  Darling  (for  he  is  better  known  by  this 
title  than  by  that  of  colonel)  was  born  in  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  June  8,  1S36,  and  was  fourth  in  a 
family  of  six  children.  His  father,  Seth,  was  a 
native  of  Madison  County,  N.  Y. ,  and  there 
learned  the  trades  of  carpenter,  joiner  and  wheel- 
wright. He  became  a  pioneer  of  the  western  re- 
serve of  Ohio,  where  he  entered  and  improved  a 
tract  of  laud,  and  at  the  same  time  followed  his 
trade.  There  he  remained  until  his  death,  in 
1841.  His  wife,  Marline,  was  a  daughter  of 
Noah  Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  of 
Scotch  parentage,  and  settled  in  Ohio  at  the  same 
time  with  Mr.  Paine,  after  whom  the  city  of 
Painesville  was  named. 


486 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


After  having  completed  the  studies  of  the  local 
schools,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  became  a  stu- 
dent in  Lake  Erie  College,  where  he  completed 
his  education.  In  1855  ne  came  to  Illinois  and 
accepted  a  position  as  principal  in  the  Lockport 
school,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  He 
then  came  to  Joliet,  as  principal  of  the  public 
schools  of  this  city,  in  which  capacity  he  was 
serving  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war.  Fired 
with  the  enthusiastic  spirit  and  the  patriotism  of 
his  forefathers,  he  determined  at  once  to  offer  his 
services  to  the  Union.  He  went  to  Chicago  for 
that  purpose,  but,  as  he  weighed  only  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds,  the  recruiting  officers 
would  not  accept  him.  However,  he  would  not 
give  up  his  purpose,  but  proceeded  to  Michigan, 
where  he  was  accepted,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  C,  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  was 
in  all  the  campaigns  and  engagements  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac.  In  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  he 
was  wounded,  but  the  need  of  soldiers  being 
great  and  the  battle  a  close  one,  he  had  the 
wound  bound  up,  and  continued  in  the  fighting 
line,  taking  part  in  the  fifteen  battles  that  followed 
during  the  next  fourteen  days.  When  the  fight- 
ing ceased  he  permitted  the  physicians  to  dress 
his  wounds  in  a  hospital.  After  the  grand  re- 
view in  Washington  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, but  immediately  re-enlisted  for  service 
against  the  Indians,  in  which  he  made  so  credita- 
ble a  record  that  he  was  promoted  to  the  com- 
mand of  his  regiment,  serving  under  Generals 
Custer,  Kilpatrick  and  Sheridan.  He  now  has  in 
his  possession,  as  an  interesting  relic,  an  Indian 
blanket  worn  by  one  of  the  savages,  a  memento 
of  his  first  engagement  with  the  Indians. 

The  fatigue  of  long  marches  and  exposure  to 
inclement  weather  told  severely  upon  Prof.  Dar- 
ling's health,  and  on  the  expiration  of  his  army 
service  he  was  unable  to  immediately  resume 
teaching  in  Will  County.  As  the  Ohio  Reform 
school  was  located  in  a  very  healthy  place  he 
went  there,  accepted  a  position  in  the  school,  and 
continued  in  it  for  four  years,  when,  his  health 
being  again  restored,  he  returned  to  Lockport 
and  resumed  work  as  principal  of  the  schools. 
When  the   need   of  a   superintendent  of  schools 


was  felt  in  Joliet  he  was  offered  the  position, 
which  he  accepted,  holding  it  for  fourteen  years. 
In  1868  he  married  Miss  Abbie  Wyman,  of 
Painesville,  Ohio.  Owing  to  her  ill-health,  in 
1896  he  resigned  his  position,  in  order  that  he 
might  be  free  to  take  her  to  a  warmer  climate 
during  the  winter  months  of  each  year.  He  has 
long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  efficient 
educators  of  northeastern  Illinois.  Certainly 
there  are  very  few  who  have  accomplished  more 
for  the  educational  interests  of  Joliet  than  has 
he,  and  he  richly  deserves  his  high  standing  as  a 
teacher.  In  politics  he  has  never  been  active, 
but  is  intelligently  conversant  with  public  affairs 
and  votes  the  Republican  ticket.  During  the  war 
he  was  made  a  Mason,  and  took  his  first  degree 
in  General  Washington's  old  lodge  at  Winchester, 
Va.  He  is  connected  with  Bartleson  Post,  G.  A.  R. 
In  religion  he  is  identified  with  the  Christian 
Church. 


HOWARD  T.  KELTIE,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Keltie  Stone  Company,  was  born 
in  Clinton,  Canada,  June  27,  1851,  and  was 
one  of  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  living  except  two  sons.  His  fa- 
ther, Thomas  Keltie,  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  settled  in  Kingston,  Canada, 
at  an  early  age,  and  afterward  removed  to  Clin- 
ton, where  he  died  in  the  primeof  life.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  McCullough,  who  was  born  of  Eng- 
lish parentage  in  Canada  and  died  in  Detroit,  but 
was  buried  at  Joliet.  In  religious  faith  she  was 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
When  three  years  of  age  our  subject  was  taken 
to  Port  Clark  on  Lake  Huron,  but  four  years  later 
he  returned  to  Clinton,  where  he  attended  the 
common  schools.  When  sixteen  he  entered  a 
stave  factory,  and  afterward  for  three  years  was 
an  engineer  in  the  drilling  of  salt  wells  in  On- 
tario, in  the  vicinity  of  his  old  home.  Coming 
to  the  States,  he  was  engaged  to  put  down  an  ar- 
tesian well  at  Lemont, beginning  the  work  in  July, 
1873,  and  digging  a   well  thirteen   hundred  and 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


487 


sixty  feet  deep,  which  was  the  first  deep  well  in 
the  locality.  Coining  to  Joliet,  he  worked  for  sev- 
eral months  in  deepening  wells,  then  returned  to 
Canada,  where  he  spent  the  winter.  In  the  spring 
of  1874  he  came  to  Mendota,  111.,  where  he  dug 
an  artesian  well  twenty-two  hundred  feet  deep. 
Next  he  put  down  a  well  at  Champaign,  111. 
Returning  to  Mendota,  he  worked  at  the  deepen- 
ing of  the  well  he  had  previously  dug.  His  next 
contact  was  near  Marseilles,  111.,  where  he  put 
down  a  well  that  was  twenty-one  hundred  feet 
deep.  Afterward  he  dug  several  wells  in  the 
same  vicinity. 

While  at  Marseilles,  Mr.  Keltie  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Mr.  Hays,  of  the  Joliet  Stone  Com- 
pany, who  engaged  him  to  buy  an  engine  and  ma- 
chinery for  sawing  stone,  and  put  it  in  operation 
in  Joliet.  With  this  concern  (the  Joliet  Stone 
Company)  Mr.  Keltie  continued  as  an  engineer 
for  four  years,  after  which  he  superintended  their 
quarries  for  four  years.  In  1884  he  bought  an 
interest  in  the  Joliet  and  Chicago  Stone  Company, 
of  which  he  was  superintendent  of  the  quarries 
at  Fourth  and  Rowell  avenues.  After  two  years 
he  was  made  vice-president  and  secretary  as  well 
as  superintendent,  and  continued  in  these  capaci- 
ties until  1893,  when  he  resigned.  Organizing 
the  Douglas  &  Keltie  Stone  Company,  he  became 
its  manager,  and  soon  afterward  bought  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  changed  the  name  to  the  Kel- 
tie Stone  Company,  of  which  he  is  secretary, 
treasurer  and  manager.  Under  his  supervision 
quarries  were  opened  between  Jackson  and  Cass 
streets,  on  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad, 
where  the  company  bought  a  large  tract  of  land. 
He  also  opened  and  began  to  operate  twenty  acres 
west  of  Joliet,  on  the  same  railroad.  The  quar- 
ries are  provided  with  steam  plant,  derricks,  sid- 
ing, and  other  necessary  equipments,  and  the 
product  is  a  good  quality  of  building  stone.  He 
is  also  a  contracting  stone  mason  and  does  all  the 
work  in  this  line  for  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern 
Railroad.  He  has  also  had  contracts  for  the  ma- 
terial used  in  the  government  piers  at  South  Chi- 
cago. Shipments  of  stone  are  made  to  all  parts 
of  the  country,  but  especially  to  Milwaukee  and 
St.  Louis.     In  addition  to  his  connection  with 


this  business,  Mr.  Keltie  is  interested  in  the  Will 
County  Bank  and  was  also  one  of  the  incorpora- 
tors of  the  Vance  Furniture  Company,  of  which 
he  was  secretary  until  the  business  was  sold  out. 
In  Joliet  Mr.  Keltie  married  Miss  May  T. 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Joliet,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Smith,  of  Joliet.  They  have  three  children, 
William  H.,  Arthur  J.  and  Laura  M.  The  fam- 
ily are  connected  with  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
in  which  he  is  church  treasurer  and  president 
of  the  board  of  trustees.  At  the  same  time  he 
acts  as  superintendent  of  a  mission  Sunday- 
school.  In  national  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  at  this  writing  is  a  member  of  the 
county  central  committee.  He  is  also  treasurer 
of  the  Working  Men's  Republican  Club.  A 
member  of  the  board  of  school  trustees  for  Joliet 
Township,  he  is  serving  his  second  term  as  pres- 
ident of  the  same.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  in  the  latter  has  served 
as  chancellor  commander. 


gHARLES  F.  BLOOD,  of  Joliet,  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1S91  and  re-elected  in 
1893  and  1897,  having  had  his  office  in  the 
Barber  building  since  1895.  At  different  times 
he  has  held  other  local  offices.  For  three  years 
he  has  served  as  deputy  assessor.  In  1888  Mayor 
Paige  appointed  him  chief  of  police,  and  he  filled 
the  office  for  two  years,  meantime  accomplishing 
much  toward  ridding  the  city  of  toughs  and  des- 
peradoes. The  position  was  one  of  the  greatest 
responsibility  and  required  much  night  work,  but 
he  filled  it  in  a  manner  highly  creditable  to  him- 
self. When  he  first  came  to  Joliet,  in  1872,  he 
was  employed  as  superintendent  of  the  J.  D.  Paige 
bottling  works,  where  he  remained  until  1878. 
He  then  became  engineer  of  steamer  No.  2  of  the 
fire  department,  continuing  in  the  position  for  ten 
years,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  position  of 
chief  of  police. 

The   Blood   family  originated  in  Scotland,  but 


4SS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  early  established  in  Vermont.  Jonathan 
Blood,  a  native  of  Rutland  Count}-,  that  state, 
and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  spent  his  last 
days  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.  His  son  Horace, 
who  was  born  in  Rutland,  moved  to  Erie  County, 
N.  Y. ,  in  an  early  day,  and  followed  the  harness 
maker's  trade  there.  He  held  numerous  local 
offices,  among  them  those  of  commissioner  and 
school  treasurer.  In  1869  he  came  west  and  set 
tied  in  Remington,  Iud.,  afterward  engaging  in 
farm  pursuits  near  that  place.  He  died  in  Rem- 
ington, Ind.,  when  eighty-six  years  of  age. 
During  the  patriot  war  he  served  as  a  sergeant. 
He  married  Nancy  Fairbank,  who  was  born  in 
Rutland,  Vt.,  of  English  descent,  and  died  in 
Indiana  at  eighty-three  years  of  age.  Her  father, 
Willard  Fairbank,  a  farmer  in  Vermont,  spent 
his  last  days  in  Aurora,  Erie  County,  X.  Y.  In 
religion  Horace  Blood  was  a  Universalist  and  his 
wife  affiliated  with  the  Baptists.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  sons  and  seven  daughters,  of 
whom  four  of  the  daughters  are  deceased.  Dorr 
J.,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-seventh  New  York  Infantry,  resides  in 
Remington,  Ind. ;  Horace  W.  is  a  retired  busi- 
ness mau  of  Joliet;  and  Anson  carries  on  a  coal 
business  in  Omaha,  Neb. 

The  third  of  the  sous,  Charles  F.,  was  born  in 
Aurora,  N.Y.,  February  14,  1844.  In  youth  he 
attended  the  public  school  and  academy  in  his 
home  town.  With  six  other  students  of  the 
academy  he  left  school  at  noon  one  day  in  Sep- 
tember and  traveled  by  stage  fourteen  miles  to 
Buffalo  for  the  purpose  of  placing  his  name  on 
the  recruiting  list.  He  was  mustered  into  Com- 
pany B,  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry,  which  was 
sent  to  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  for  the  winter.  By  a 
strange  coincidence,  this  was   the  first  regiment 


to  enter  Gettysburg  after  Lee's  evacuation  in 
1863.  In  1862  he  was  sent  to  join  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  and  took  part  in  a  number  of  cav- 
alry dashes  and  skirmishes  in  old  Virginia. 
Returning  north  for  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
after  that  engagement  his  regiment  pursued  Lee 
into  Virginia,  fighting  iu  front  of  Petersburg  and 
at  other  points.  He  was  present  at  the  mine  ex- 
plosion. At  Trevilian  Station  he  was  struck  in 
the  left  foot  b}-  a  ball,  but  his  heavy  cavalry  boot 
protected  the  foot  to  such  an  extent  that,  although 
he  was  unable  to  accompany  his  regiment  for  a 
time,  amputation  was  avoided.  At  the  close  of 
the  three  years  of  service  he  was  taken  ill  with 
malaria,  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital.  On  account 
of  physical  disability  he  was  honorably  discharged 
in  front  of  Petersburg,  in  October,  in  1864. 

Returning  to  his  studies  in  the  academy,  Mr. 
Blood  found  in  a  short  time  that  his  experience 
in  the  army  had  rendered  the  confinement  of  the 
schoolroom  distasteful  to  him.  Thereupon  he 
left  and  started  for  the  west,  intending  to  go  to 
California.  However,  reaching  Plainfield,  111., 
in  1865,  he  found  his  brother  Horace  ill,  and  so 
remained.  In  1867  he  went  to  Indiana,  but  four 
years  later  returned  to  this  county,  and  for  a  year 
remained  in  Wilmington,  since  which  time  he  has 
made  Joliet  his  home.  June  29,  ^71,  he  mar- 
ried Caroline,  daughter  of  William  Foncaunou, 
a  soldier  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
Indiana  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war.  Six  chil- 
dren were  born  of  their  union,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living,  Ernest,  Christine  and  Horace. 
Politically  Mr.  Blood  was  a  Democrat  prior  to  the 
war,  but  since  then  has  been  a  stanch  Republican. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Mount  Joliet 
Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Bartleson 
Post  No.  6,  G.  A.  R. 


t 


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(FPyi/l   /nXy  r-(pui 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


491 


JOHN   HAYDEN. 


3OHN  HAYDEN  was  born  in  Lincoln 
County,  Me.,  August  19,  1848,  and  was 
three  years  of  age  when  his  father,  John 
Hayden,  came  to  this  county,  so  that  from  his 
earliest  recollections  he  has  been  familiar  with 
this  region,  its  people,  its  development  and  its 
agricultural  interests.  He  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  his  marriage.  This  event  occurred  in 
1S77  and  united  him  with  Bridget,  daughter  of 
Martin  and  Esther  (Welch)  Bergau,  and  a  native 
of  Manhattan,  this  county.  Her  parents  were 
born  in  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  Manhattan  Township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hayden  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  John,  Daniel,  William  and  Mar- 
tin, who  are  college  students;  and  Anna  and  Ed- 
mund, who  are  attending  the  common  schools. 
After  his  marriage  John  Hayden  settled  on  a 
quarter  section  of  land  which  had  been  deeded  to 
him  by  his  father.  He  now  cultivates  six  hun- 
dred and  fort}'  acres.  In  the  summer  of  1893  he 
built  the  best  farm  house  in  Will  County,  equipped 
with  modern  conveniences,  which  stamp  the  own- 
ers as  people  of  good  taste  and  ample  means.  An 
important  factor  in  his  success  has  been  his  cattle 
business.  He  has  devoted  considerable  attention 
to  the  feeding  of  stock  and  has  been  successful  in 
the  work.  In  religion  he  is  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  faith.  He  votes  for  the  candidates  and 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party.  For  eighteen 
years  he  held  office  as  township  commissioner, 
for  eight  years  was  treasurer  of  the  town  board 
and  for  twenty-two  years  has  been  a  member  of 
the  school   board.     In  1S96  he  was  made  super- 

25 


visor  of  the  town.  So  satisfactory  was  his  service 
that  he  was  returned  to  the  office  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  first  term  in  1898;  this,  too,  in  spite  of 
the  fact  that  the  town  for  years  had  given  a  Re- 
publican majority.  Frequently  he  has  been 
selected  to  serve  as  a  delegate  to  the  conventions 
of  his  part}-.  His  selection  for  official  positions 
indicates  his  great  personal  popularity  as  well  as 
the  efficient  manner  in  which  he  discharges  his 
public  duties.  His  life  has  been  a  busy  and  use- 
ful one,  and  his  honorable  career  has  gained  for 
him  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  Florence 
Township  and  Will  County. 


(JOHN  CONRAD.  Perhaps  no  citizen  of  Peo- 
I  tone  has  been  more  actively  identified  with 
G/  varied  of  its  interests  than  has  Mr.  Conrad, 
who  is  now  living  retired  in  the  village.  A  na- 
tive of  Germany,  he  was  born  in  Odenbach, 
Rheinpfalz,  Canton  Lauterecken,  April  15,  1830, 
a  son  of  Peter  and  Dorothea  (Reisz)  Conrad. 
He  was  one  of  nine  sons  and  daughters,  and  the 
third  of  six  now  living.  His  brothers,  Peter  and 
Henry,  are  both  retired  from  business,  the  former 
living  in  Peotone,  and  the  latter  in  Monee.  Doro- 
thea is  the  wife  of  John  Schmidt,  of  Round 
Grove,  111.;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  S.  Horning, 
of  Peotone;  and  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Fred- 
erick Schroeder,  lives  in  Peotone.  The  father  of 
this  family  was   born  in   Odenbach,  January   1, 


49- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1796.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  France,  died 
in  Germany  when  the  son  was  fifteen  years  of 
age.  In  youth  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
which  he  afterward  followed  in  addition  to  farm- 
ing. He  was  a  thoroughly  upright  man,  the 
soul  of  honor  and  integrity.  He  died  January 
20,  1848,  aged  fifty-two  years.  His  wife  was 
born  at  Odenbach,  May  26,  1S03,  and  came  to 
America  in  1855,  after  which  she  made  her  home 
with  her  children,  dying  April  28,  1890,  when 
eighty-seven  years  of  age. 

Under  the  instruction  of  his  father  our  subject 
learned  the  boot  and  shoe  trade.  In  1849,  dur- 
ing the  rebellion  of  the  people  (Hecker  as 
leader)  against  the  laws  of  the  king  of  Bavaria, 
on  account  of  Mr.  Conrad  wearing  a  Hecker's 
hat  he  was  taken  off  the  street  in  the  city  of 
Neustadt,  A.  D.  H.,  by  the  soldiers,  and  terribly 
mangled  and  misused.  In  the  conflict  he  re- 
ceived, with  a  sword  from  the  general  of  a  reg- 
iment, a  long  deep  cut  on  his  right  arm,  directly 
above  the  elbow,  cutting  clear  to  the  bone.  This 
blow  was  directed  for  the  head.  It  was  only 
prevented  by  a  citizen  in  office  of  that  city,  who 
saw  what  was  going  on,  ran  in  at  great  risk  of  his 
own  life,  takiug  hold  of  the  general's  arm  just  as 
he  was  striking  the  blow,  thereby  breaking  the 
force,  which  landed  on  Mr.  Conrad's  arm,  and 
from  which  he  nearly  bled  to  death.  The  next 
morning,  still  held  as  their  prisoner,  and  being 
shamelessly  and  unmercifully  handled  all  night 
by  the  highest  officers  of  said  regiment,  Mr. 
Conrad  received  his  death  sentence  by  said  offi- 
cers to  be  shot  at  eleven  o'clock,  a.  in.,  on  that 
day.  While  on  the  way  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion, more  dead  than  alive  from  loss  of  blood, 
followed  by  thousands  of  soldiers  and  people, 
being  only  about  three  blocks  away  from  the  city 
square,  where  the  shooting  should  occur,  the  king 
sent  a  message  by  wire  "to  release  the  young 
man,  and  to  let  him  free."  The  gash  can  still 
be  seen  on  Mr.  Conrad's  arm,  showing  a  very 
plain  wide  scar  across  his  arm,  and  even  the 
stitches  of  the  needle  are  plainly  to  be  seen  to-day, 
after  the  expiration  of  fifty-one  years.  Mr.  Con- 
rad was  nineteen  years  old  at  that  time. 

In  the  same  year,  1849,  Mr.  Conrad  was  closely 


watched  by  two  men  who  were  opposed  to  his  re- 
ligious ideas,  he  being  a  Protestant  and  standing 
firm  by  his  faith.  One  evening  after  retiring  he 
was  followed  up  by  these  two  anti- Protestants, 
who  were  partly  under  the  influence  of  liquor, 
and  at  the  same  time  being  Mr.  Conrad's  shop- 
mates,  came  into  his  bed-room,  each  one  armed 
with  a  butcher  knife.  There  was  no  light  in  the 
room,  but  the  moon  shone  bright.  Mr.  Conrad 
heard  them  approaching,  and  their  remarks,  say- 
ing: "He  is  in,  he  is  in;  see,  there  are  his  boots," 
whereupon  Mr.  Conrad  silently  slipped  out  at 
the  rear  of  his  bed,  and  gradually  made  his  way 
to  the  door  unnoticed  by  them,  while  they  were 
in  the  act  of  striking  their  butcher  knives  down 
through  the  bed- quilts.  Examination  afterward 
was  made  of  the  bed,  and  fourteen  holes  were 
found  in  the  bedding,  they  thinking  their  victim 
was  in  the  bed.  This,  too,  happened  in  Neu- 
stadt, A.  D.  H.  Mr.  Conrad  also  had  the  ex- 
perience of  five  more  similar  cases,  but  they  are 
too  much  to  describe.  Railroad  wrecks;  fell 
twenty  feet  to  a  stone  floor;  was  twice  in  burning 
houses  in  the  city  of  New  York,  when  he  was  a 
fireman,  but  was  rescued  nearly  burned;  was  be- 
tween two  canal-boats  in  the  water,  when  the 
only  way  to  save  himself  was  to  sink  to  the 
ground,  and  this  he  did,  both  boats  passing  over 
him,  one  to  the  east,  the  other  to  the  west;  one 
day  his  horses  ran  away  with  him,  one  of  his  feet 
became  tangled  in  the  lines,  and  he  was  dragged 
on  the  ground  just  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

Two  weeks  before  the  time  of  his  drafting  into 
the  army  he  left  for  America,  May  23,  1850,  and 
on  the  30th  of  the  same  month  he  took  passage 
on  the  sailing  vessel  "  William  Sturges,"  which 
anchored  in  Philadelphia  July  19,  1850.  The 
following  day  he  went  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  for  four  years  at  a  salary 
of  $4  per  month  for  the  first  six  months.  During 
all  but  six  months  of  this  time  he  was  a  member 
of  the  New  York  volunteer  fire  department,  No. 
18  engine.  In  September,  1854,  he  came  west 
and  settled  at  Elmhurst,  Dupage  County,  111., 
where  he  opened  a  shoe  shop.  On  the  day  of 
Lincoln's  assassination  in  1865  he  discontinued 
the  business.      Later    he   established   a    general 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


493 


mercantile  business,  which  he  conducted  until 
January  20,  1869.  He  then  came  to  Peotone  and 
opened  the  New  York  house,  which  he  conducted 
for  eighteen  mouths,  then  selling  out  and  opening 
a  general  store.  Two  years  later  he  retired  from 
the  business  on  being  elected  police  magistrate. 
For  eight  years  he  devoted  his  entire  attention  to 
the  dutiesof  hisoffice.  During  this  time,  in  1872, 
after  having  been  a  moderate  beer  drinker  for 
years,  he  determined  to  reform  and  cease  drink- 
ing, and  from  that  time  to  this  he  has  kept  that 
resolve, — a  fact  that  shows  he  is  a  man  of  deci- 
sion of  purpose.  In  1875,  with  his  son-in  law, 
August  Schugman,  as  a  partner,  he  embarked  in 
the  general  hardware  and  stove  business,  an  en- 
terprise that  proved  successful.  Mr.  Schugman's 
interest  was  bought  in  1S90  by  our  subject's  son, 
John  P.,  and  the  firm  of  J.  Conrad  &  Sou  con- 
tinued for  two  years,  when  two  other  sons,  Frank 
H.  and  Fred  P.,  became  members  of  the  firm, 
and  Mr.  Conrad  retired  to  private  life.  This  firm  is 
in  existence  to-day  under  the  name  of  John  Con- 
rad's Sons. 

July  29,  1855,  Mr.  Conrad  married  Miss  Caro- 
line Schaubel,  who  was  born  in  Grombach,  Ba- 
den,Germany,  January  23,  1837, and  was  brought 
to  America  by  her  parents  in  1850.  They  set- 
tled in  Pine  Grove,  Pa.,  and  in  1854  moved  to 
Elmhurst,  111.,  where  C.  Schaubel  carried  on  a 
shoe  business,  although  in  Germany  he  was  a 
forester  and  gardener  by  occupation.  On  Mr. 
Conrad's  arrival  in  Elmhurst  in  the  same  year, 
he  worked  several  months  for  Mr.  Schaubel.  In 
1855  Mr.  Schaubel  retired  from  business  and 
moved  to  Oak  Park,  111.,  where  he  bought  prop- 
erty and  has  since  made  his  home.  Mr.  Schaubel 
built  the  first  church  in  Oak  Park.  It  was  of 
the  Baptist  denomination.  He  was  the  origina- 
tor of  the  first  Sunday-school  in  Oak  Park,  and 
was  the  local  preacher  at  that  charge  at  certain 
occasions.  He  died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conrad  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Charlotte  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  William  Gross,  a 
minister  of  the  Evangelical  Church  now  located  at 
Mount  Carroll,  111.     John  P.,  Frank  H.  and  Fred 


P.  constitute  the  firm  of  John  Conrad's  Sons. 
Harry  F.  is  a  member  of  the  dry- goods  firm 
of  Conrad  &  Carson,  of  Peotone.  Hattie  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Schlauder,  a  blacksmith 
and  carriage-maker  of  Peotone.  Jennie  mar- 
ried Harry  C.  Reser,  a  police  officer  in  Peotone. 
Charles  J.  and  William  R.  are  employed  in  the 
hardware  store  owned  by  their  brothers. 

To  show  the  influence  Mr.  Conrad  has  wielded 
among  his  fellow-citizens,  it  is  but  necessary  to 
state  some  of  the  positions  he  has  held.  For 
twenty-eight  years  he  has  been  a  notary  public 
and  still  holds  his  commission,  and  for  eight 
years  he  has  served  as  a  police  magistrate  in  Peo- 
tone. During  his  residence  in  Dupage  County 
he  was  coustable  for  fourteen  years  and  tax  col- 
lector two  years.  For  nine  years  he  was  village 
trustee  of  Peotone,  and  for  eighteen  years  served 
as  school  director.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was 
for  two  years  secretary  of  the  Union  League  at 
Elmhurst.  In  this  county  and  Dupage,  alto- 
gether, he  was  for  seventeen  years  an  auctioneer. 
For  four  years  he  was  president  of  the  Sons  of 
Herman  Lodge  at  Elmhurst,  and  one  year  its  rep- 
resentative to  the  grand  lodge  at  Chicago.  Dur- 
ing his  eleven  years  of  service  as  trustee  of  the 
village  cemetery  he  has  taken  great  interest  in 
improving  and  beautifying  this  spot.  In  1888, 
while  in  Will  Count}',  he  gave  thirty-three  days 
of  service  as  a  juror  in  the  United  States  district 
court.  During  the  last  twenty-eight  years  he 
executed  vouchers  for  soldiers  without  any 
charges  whatever.  He  also  served  in  Elmhurst, 
Dupage  County,  as  school  director  for  six  years, 
and  in  Peotone  for  twelve  years. 

At  the  time  that  Dr.  A.  Melville  and  Owen 
Mink  had  their  fatal  altercation  in  the  village  of 
Peotone,  Mr.  Conrad  was  the  man  who  stepped 
in  between  the  two  men,  right  when  the  fight  was 
the  hottest,  and  prevented  Mr.  Mink  from  fur- 
ther harming  Dr.  Melville.  Mink  was  about  to 
kick  out  the  brains  of  Dr.  Melville,  and  while  he 
was  in  the  act,  Mr.  Conrad  stepped  in  between 
the  two  men,  taking  hold  of  Mink's  shoulders 
with  both  hands,  and  forcibly  pulling  him  away 
from  the  doctor,  who  then  lay  on  the  ground  half 
unconscious.     While  Mr.  Conrad  was  struggling 


494 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  Mink,  Dr.  Melville,  standing  off  about 
twenty  feet,  fired  a  shot  from  a  38- caliber, 
directly  under  Mr.  Conrad's  left  arm.  Mr.  Con- 
rad and  Mr.  Mink  being  clinched,  the  shot 
killed  Owen  Mink  almost  instantly,  and  he  died 
in  Mr.  Conrad's  arms.  The  ball  landed  in  Mr. 
Mink's  heart,  and  passed  directly  under  Mr. 
Conrad's  left  side  close  to  his  body.  This  was  as 
narrow  an  escape  from  death  as  many  of  his  other 
experiences  previously  mentioned.  In  1883  he 
was  rescued  out  of  the  fire  very  badly  burned, 
when  his  store  burned  down,  and  his  loss  on 
building  and  goods  was  over  $6,000. 

A  sketch  of  Mr.  Conrad's  life  would  be  incom- 
plete without  some  reference  to  his  religious  ac- 
tivity. Since  he  became  a  Christian  his  life  has 
been  one  of  great  usefulness,  unstained  by  any 
shadow.  For  twenty-two  years  he  has  been  a 
trustee  in  the  Evangelical  Church,  during  all  of 
which  time  he  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
•the  board.  For  twenty  eight  years  he  has  been 
leader  of  the  choir  in  the  church.  Every  relig- 
ious or  philanthropic  movement  receives  his  sup- 
port, to  the  extent  of  his  ability  to  give.  Very 
justly  he  holds  a  high  place  in  the  regard  of  his 
fellow-citizens  as  a  man  of  integrity,  honor  and 
ability. 


HER  AUGUST  ERICKSON,  who  is  one  of 
L/'  the  most  influential  Swedes  in  Joliet,  holds 
f$  a  position  as  keeper  at  the  Illinois  state 
penitentiary.  He  was  born  atEkebybouasokeu, 
Ostergotland,  Sweden,  in  February,  1858,  the 
oldest  child  of  L.  P.  and  Anna  Katarina  Erick- 
son.  His  father,  who  was  a  farmer's  son,  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  and  operated  a  distil- 
lery. He  took  the  family  to  Elgmyra,  Christ- 
bergs  soken,  when  our  subject  was  two  and  one- 
half  years  of  age,  but  later  settled  in  Stjarnorp, 
and  finally  retired  to  Norrkoping,  and  in  1891 
died  in  Motala.  His  first  wife  died  in  1873,  leav- 
ing four  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  the 
daughters  reside  in  Evanstou,  111.,  one  son,  Carl 
E.,  is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  at  Iron- 


wood,  Mich.,  and  two  sons  remain  in  Sweden, 
Gustav  V.  being  a  sergeant  in  the  national  army, 
while  Hjalmar  lives  in  Norrkoping.  Of  the 
father's  second  marriage,  three  children  were 
born,  all  now  living  in  Sweden. 

When  a  boy  our  subject  had  excellent  advan- 
tages and  studied  English  and  other  branches 
under  a  governess.  At  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and 
currier  in  Motala,  but  after  a  year  went  to  Liu- 
kOpiug  and  secured  work  there  at  his  trade.  In 
1877  he  became  a  sailor  and  sailed  via  England 
to  Portugal,  then  returned  to  Sweden  and  worked 
at  his  trade.  May  27,  1879,  he  landed  in  New 
York,  from  there  started  at  once  for  Chicago. 
Through  an  employment  office  in  the  latter  city 
he  hired  to  work  in  the  quarries  at  Lockport, 
but  after  eight  days  he  secured  work  in  the  tan- 
nery of  Houck  &  Brown,  where  he  continued  for 
years,  resigning  in  1897  in  order  to  accept  the 
position  of  keeper  at  the  penitentiary. 

December  13,  1890,  in  Joliet,  Mr.  Erickson 
married  Miss  Ida  Charlotta  Meliu,  who  was  born 
in  Swauaholm,  Sweden,  and  came  to  this  city  in 
the  spring  of  1890.  They  have  four  children, 
Carl  Oscar  August,  Gustaf  Birger  August, 
Thorsten  Fingal  August  and  Hildiug  Walfred 
August.  The  family  occupy  the  residence  at 
No.  106  Virginia  street,  which  Mr.  Erickson 
built  in  1892.  Mrs.  Erickson  was  one  of  seven 
children  (three  here),  whose  father,  Johannes 
Oscar  Melin,  was  a  lifelong  resident  of  Sweden. 
She  is  connected  with  the  Royal  Neighbors  and 
the  North  Star  Association.  Socially,  her  genial 
manners  and  kind  heart  have  won  her  many 
friends  among  her  acquaintances  in  this  city. 

The  Republican  party  has  a  firm  advocate  in 
Mr.  Erickson.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Swedish  Republican  Club,  in  which  he  has  offici- 
ated as  vice-president.  He  is  also  actively  con- 
nected with  the  Swedish-American  Republican 
League  of  Illinois.  The  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  Fraternal  Alliance  of  Milwaukee 
have  his  name  enrolled  among  their  members, 
and  at  one  time  he  was  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  charter  member  and 
recorder  of  the  North  Star  Benefit  Association  in 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


495 


Joliet.  In  the  organization  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  the 
time  of  the  building  of  a  house  of  worship  he  as- 
sisted, as  a  member  of  the  building  committee. 
In  the  offices  of  trustee  and  treasurer  he  has 
proved  a  helpful  member  of  the  church,  and  has 
promoted  its  welfare  constantly  since  he  first  be- 
came identified  with  it. 


HON.  EDWARD  C.  AKIN,  attorney- general, 
was  born  in  Will  County,  Jul}*  19,  1852,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Joliet, 
and  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  For  four  years  he  was 
paying  and  receiving  teller  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Joliet,  where  he  acquired  an  extensive 
acquaintance  throughout  Will  County.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1878, 
and  has  continued  in  active  practice  ever  since. 
He  began  his  political  career  in  1887,  when  he 
was  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
city  attorney  of  Joliet,  and  although  the  city  was 
at  the  time  Democratic  from  five  to  six  hundred, 
he  defeated  the  Democratic  nominee  by  a  majority 
of  over  seven  hundred.  In  1888  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  state's  attorney  of  Will  County,  and  at 
the  ensuing  election  led  the  entire  state  and 
county  ticket  by  eight  hundred  votes.  In  1892  he 
was  renominated  for  that  office  and  again  led  his 
ticket  by  hundreds  of  votes,  and  is  credited  by  the 
leaders  of  both  political  parties  with  having  saved 
the  county  ticket  from  defeat.  His  most  brilliant 
political  victory  was  achieved  in  the  spring  of 
1895,  when  he  ran  as  the  Republican  candidate 
for  mayor  of  the  city  of  Joliet.  Although  op- 
posed by  a  citizen's  ticket,  led  by  a  Republican, 
he  defeated  the  Democratic  nominee  by  a  ma- 
jority of  over  two  hundred,  receiving  nearly  as 
many  votes  as  both  his  opponents  combined.  As 
a  lawyer  he  stands  among  the  leaders  of  the  Will 
County  bar.  As  a  public  prosecutor  he  has  no 
superior  in  the  state,  and  his  conduct  of  munici- 
pal affairs  has  won  for  him  the  admiration  of  all 
good   citizens,     regardless   of  party    affiliations. 


He  is  a  man  of  high  character  and  sterling  in- 
tegrity, and  although  he  has  been  prominently 
before  the  people  of  this  count}-  for  the  past  ten 
years,  no  breath  of  suspicion  has  ever  been  cast 
upon  his  private  life  or  official  acts.  He  is  a  man 
of  fine  appearance  and  pleasing  address,  and  has 
won  an  enviable  reputation  throughout  the  state 
as  a  public  speaker. — Chicago  Inter  Ocean,  1896. 

A  public  official,  and  especially  one  who  holds 
a  responsible  and  important  position,  no  matter 
whether  he  is  or  is  not  a  candidate  for  re-election, 
as  a  servant  of  the  people,  should  be  able  to  give 
a  good  account  of  his  stewartship.  Those  whom 
he  serves  have  the  right  to  know  in  what  manner 
he  has  performed  the  duties  of  his  office,  although 
they  may  not  always  insist  upon  knowing.  To 
show  conclusively  that  an  officer  has  administered 
his  trust  ably,  impartially,  conscientiously,  fear- 
lessly and  economically  is  the  best  argument  in 
favor  of  his  renomination  for  a  second  term  that 
can  be  presented,  and  is  also  a  sufficient  reason 
for  his  re-election. 

That  no  opinion  rendered  by  Mr.  Akin  has 
been  overruled  is  as  gratifying  to  his  friends  as  it 
is  flattering  to  himself  as  a  lawyer,  and  is  evi- 
dence that  his  legal  ability  and  judicial  acumen 
are  of  the  highest  order.  It  is  all  the  more 
creditable  to  Mr.  Akin  from  the  fact  that  a  num- 
ber of  these  opinions  were  in  connection  with  the 
construction  of  the  new  laws,  such  as  the  revenue 
law  of  1898,  the  amended  statute  in  relation  to 
loan  and  building  associations,  and  others  of 
equal  importance.  The  large  increase  in  the 
work  of  the  department  is  ascertained  by  com- 
paring the  figures  of  the  past  three  years  with 
those  for  the  full  term  of  Mr.  Akin's  predecessor, 
which  was  considered  at  the  time,  and  justly  so, 
a  record-breaker.  Mr.  Akin  has  lost  no  cases 
except  in  the  supreme  court,  and  of  the  twenty- 
eight  there  decided  against  him,  as  will  be  noted, 
twenty-seven  were  criminal  cases,  which  were  lost 
because  of  errors  in  the  trial  courts.  It  may  be 
fairly  claimed,  therefore,  that  he  has,  in  reality, 
lost  but  one  case. 

Particular  attention  is  called  to  his  efforts  to 
secure  the  enforcement  of  the  anti-trust  law. 
This  was  not  done  for  the    purpose  of  bleeding 


496 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  corporations,  nor  on  account  of  any  unreason- 
able prejudice  against,  or  hostility  to,  the  cor- 
porations, but  because  the  law  requires  him  to 
proceed  in  the  manner  he  did.  In  the  decision 
of  the  inheritance  tax  cases  by  the  United  States 
supreme  court  in  favor  of  the  constitutionality  of 
the  law,  Mr.  Akin  won  a  great  legal  victory,  and 
the  state  has  been  benefited  to  the  amount  of 
nearly  $1,000,000  of  taxes  from  this  source.  All 
these  combine  to  make  up  a  record  of  which  Mr. 
Akin  may  well  be  proud.  His  friends  are  proud 
of  it,  and  they  believe  that  upon  this  record 
alone  he  should  be  renominated  and  re-elected. 
In  placing  him  on  the  ticket  for  a  second  term, 
the  Republican  convention  will  do  a  creditable 
act  and  one  that  will  be  indorsed  by  the  people  at 
the  polls  in  November  next. — Juliet  Republican, 
February  2,  I  goo. 


W.  COPPAGE.  It  is  said  that  every  man 
t)  has  his  specialty, — some  one  subject  with 
„_  which  he  is  more  familiar  than  with  any 
other.  Some  men's  specialties  are  difficult  to  dis- 
cover, not  so  with  Mr.  Coppage,  for  even  those 
but  slightly  acquainted  with  him  are  aware  that 
his  "  hobby  "  is  the  manufacture  of  ink.  The 
term,  "ink  fiend,"  meaning  an  ink  salesman, 
was  first  used  by  him,  and  if  this  expression  may 
also  be  taken  to  mean  one  whose  mind  is  wrapped 
up  in  the  subject,  and  who  is  familiar  with  its 
ever}-  phase,  it  might  appropriately  be  used  con- 
cerning himself.  In  the  spring  of  1893,  coming 
to  Joliet,  he  organized  the  Challenge  Printing 
Company,  which  manufactures  all  kinds  of  print- 
ers' inks,  paints  and  oils.  He  is  the  inventor  of 
a  new  process  ink  with  a  luster,  for  which  he  has 
received  the  highest  testimonials  from  publishers 
and  printers.  Through  his  efforts  the  manufac- 
turers of  inks  were  forced  to  make  an  ink  with  a 
superior  luster  for  a  small  price.  His  inventions 
are  proving  profitable  to  himself,  and  his  sug- 
gestions have  made  fortunes  for  other  men. 

The  Copjiage  family  were  among  the  F.  F.V.'s 
in  colonial  days,  but  date  back  to  New  England, 


and  were  represented  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Lemuel  Payton  Coppage,  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  a  large  slave-holder,  being  opposed  to  the 
institution  of  slavery,  freed  his  negroes  and  then 
removed  to  Brown  County,  111.,  where  he  farmed 
until  his  death.  One  of  his  sons,  Joseph,  as- 
sisted in  driving  the  Mormons  out  of  Nauvoo, 
111.,  and  later  served  in  the  Mexican  and  Civil 
wars,  retiring  as  a  major;  he  now  resides  at 
Naples,  111.  John  Wesley  Coppage,  another  son 
of  the  Virginia  planter,  was  born  in  Fauquier 
County,  Va.,  and  in  1S47  settled  in  Chicago, 
where  he  engaged  in  fresco  painting,  and  also 
was  a  canal  contractor  and  boat-owner.  He  died 
in  Chicago,  February  14,  1S71.  His  wife,  Eliza- 
beth Yarnow,  was  born  in  Brockville,  Canada,  of 
French  descent,  and  settled  in  Chicago  in  April, 
1837.  Her  father,  John  Yarnow,  a  native  of 
France,  was  one  of  the  first  shipbuilders  in  Chi- 
cago, and  superintended  the  building  of  the  first 
steam  vessel  launched  in  that  city.  At  one  time 
he  owned  property  in  the  heart  of  Chicago,  but 
sold  it  before  its  value  became  known.  He  and 
"Long  John"  Wentworth  were  cronies,  and 
were  called  the  ' '  two  big  Johns. ' '  His  last  days 
were  spent  in  Minnesota,  where  he  died.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Coppage,  is  now  living  in  Oak- 
land, Cal.  Of  her  family  only  a  son  and 
daughter  are  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Chicago, 
September  18,  1856.  His  education  was  begun 
in  the  old  Harrison  street  school.  He  was,  ol 
course,  too  young  to  participate  in  the  war,  but 
he  vividly  recalls  the  scenes  of  those  da}-s,  when 
his  father  had  charge  of  the  colors  on  the  gun- 
boat "  Carondelet, "  and  when  all  was  excite- 
ment and  expectation.  For  a  few  years  he  served 
at  the  merchant  tailor's  trade.  In  November, 
187 1,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Millard  & 
Decker,  printers.  He  entered  the  employ  of  the 
National  Printing  and  Engraving  Company  as 
errand  boy,  earning  $3  a  week,  but  received 
various  promotions,  and  was  finally  made  fore- 
man, with  the  highest  wages  paid  any  employe. 
After  sixteen  years  with  the  company  he  re- 
signed to  take  the  western  agency  of  J.  K.  Wright 
&  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  manufacturers  of  print- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


497 


ing  ink.  He  made  Chicago  his  headquarters 
and  traveled  throughout  this  entire  section  of 
country,  holding  the  position  until  the  fall  of 
1892.  While  he  was  with  the  National  Printing 
and  Engraving  Company,  they  were  the  first  to 
put  in  a  plant  for  making  their  own  ink,  and  he 
probably  made  the  first  pound  of  printing  ink 
ever  manufactured  in  the  press  room. 

In  1899  Mayor  Mount  appointed  Mr.  Cop- 
page  city  oil  inspector.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
first  Young  Men's  Republican  Club  organized 
in  Chicago.  Until  1892  he  continued  a  Repub- 
lican, but  he  then  became  a  silver  adherent,  and 
in  1896  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Silver  Re- 
publican Club.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  the 
William  P.  Warren  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  His 
marriage  in  Chicago,  united  him  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet O'Brien,  who  was  born  at  Cold  Springs, 
N.  Y. ,  and  by  whom  he  has  two  daughters, 
Grace  and  Gertrude.  Mrs.  Coppage  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  M.  J.  and  Margaret  O'Brien,  the  former 
of  whom,  a  contractor,  settled  in  Joliet  in  1879, 
but  is  now  living  retired  in  Chicago. 


~T  LIAS  BROWN,  supervisor  of  Jackson  Town- 
V)  ship,  and  a  prosperous  farmer  and  cattle- 
__  feeder,  was  born  in  this  township  November 
12,  1851,  a  son  of  Ara  Broadwell  and  Martha 
(Hougham)  Brown.  He  was  one  of  thirteen 
children,  six  of  whom  survive,  namely:  Sarah  B., 
wife  of  George  W.  Sharp,  a  farmer  in  Indiana; 
Elias;  N.  Jane,  of  Joliet;  Mary  B.,  who  married 
D.  F.  Higgins,  an  attorney  of  Joliet;  Frank,  who 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  this  county;  and 
Martha  M.,  of  Joliet.  The  father  was  born  near 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  February  19,  1820,  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Mary  (Teeple)  Brown,  and  descended 
from  Scotch  forefathers.  The  Teeple  family  was 
founded  in  America  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  by  two  brothers  from  Holland,  one  of  whom 
espoused  the  American  cause,  while  the  other 
fought  with  the  British. 

After  reaching  manhood   Grandfather  Brown 
moved  from  New  Jersey  to  York  state,  where  he 


followed  farming  and  the  carpenter's  trade.  In 
1834  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Will  County.  He  built  a  cabin  on 
what  is  now  the  Boylan  homestead,  on  the  Chi- 
cago street  road.  In  1837,  one- half  mile  south 
of  his  cabin,  he  built  what  was  at  that  time  the 
largest  farmhouse  in  the  count}-,  and  in  that 
home  he  died  March  7,  1841. 

At  the  time  of  coming  to  Illinois  Ara  Broad- 
well  Brown  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  re- 
ceived only  a  limited  education.  He  was  twent)-- 
one  when  his  father  died  and  afterward  he 
assisted  in  settling  up  the  estate,  then  settled 
down  to  farm  life,  cultivating  two  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  and  an  eighty-acre  tract,  which  was 
his  share  of  the  estate.  The  homestead  being 
his  portion  of  the  estate,  he  remained  there  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  September 
8,  1865.  He  was  successful  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness and  in  farming,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
owned  seven  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  the 
county  contained.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  part)',  but  in  no  sense  of  the 
word  an  office-seeker,  always  refusing  the  nu- 
merous offices  which  were  tendered  him. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Hamil- 
ton County,  Ohio,  April  6,  1824,  and  descended 
from  an  Englishman,  who,  early  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  settled  in  Maryland,  having  been 
sent  to  America  by  the  Church  of  England  as  a 
missionary  to  the  Indians.  Her  father  was  a 
farmer  and  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 

After  having  received  his  education  in  common 
schools  and  the  Jennings  Seminary,  of  Aurora, 
Elias  Brown  took  upon  himself  the  active  duties 
of  life  and  began  farming  in  his  native  county. 
February  27,  1878,  he  married  Miss  M.  Alpharetta 
Mapps,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  Township,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  A.'  and  Mary  A.  (Hemphill) 
Mapps.  Her  father,  a  native  of  Shippensburg, 
Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  born  December  27, 
1828,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  in  boy- 
hood and  there  learned  the  cooper's  trade.  When 
a  young  man  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Will  County,  where  he  married  and  continued 
to  reside  until  the  time  of  his  death. 


49$ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Brown  has  resided  on 
his  present  farm.  While  he  follows  general 
farming,  he  has  made  a  special  feature  of  the 
cattle  business  and  has  met  with  success  in  this 
industry.  In  1883  he  was  chosen  by  his  party 
(the  Democratic)  as  a  candidate  for  supervisor 
and  was  elected.  At  that  time  the  term  of  office 
was  only  one  year.  He  was  elected  for  five  suc- 
cessive terms.  In  November,  1890,  he  was 
elected  to  succeed  Henry  Spangler,  who  resigned 
as  supervisor  to  accept  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer. Since  then  he  has  been  returned  to  the 
office  at  the  end  of  each  term,  and  has  served, 
with  the  exception  of  two  years,  for  the  past 
seventeen  years.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  Jackson  Camp  No.  3318,  M.  W.  A.  He  and 
his  wife  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely: 
Ara  B.,  born  May  9,  1881;  Elias  A.,  September 
29,  1883;  Jarvis  J.,  April  17,  1888;  and  Paul, 
June  24,  1891. 


ONDUS  BRANNON,  M.  D.  Both  in  Man- 
1 1  hattan,  this  county,  where  he  formerly  en- 
|_J  gaged  in  practice,  and  in  Joliet,  where  for 
some  years  he  has  had  his  office  in  the  Barber 
building,  Dr.  Brannon  is  well  known  as  a  skill- 
ful physician  and  surgeon,  one  who,  by  careful 
study  in  the  best  colleges,  by  clinical  work  in 
hospitals,  and  by  practical  experience  in  the 
building  up  of  a  large  practice,  is  fitted  to  hold  a 
high  place  in  the  ranks  of  his  profession.  Since 
he  came  to  Joliet,  in  December,  1895,  he  has 
made  a  specialty  of  gynecology  and  major  and 
minor  surgery,  and  has  had  a  large  hospital  prac- 
tice beside  his  private  professional  work. 

Dr.  Brannon  was  born  in  Decatur  County, 
Ind.,  November  25,  1857.  His  father,  John,  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  was  a  young  boy  when 
the  family  removed  to  Franklin  County,  Ohio, 
and  settled  on  a  farm.  When  thirty  years  of 
age  he  removed  to  Indiana,  settling  at  Forest 
Hill,  where  his  subsequent  years  were  spent. 
During  the  Mexican  war  he  served  as  a  member 
of  an  Ohio  regiment.      His  death  occurred  May 


2,  1893,  when  he  was  seventy-six  years  of  age. 
He  married  Sarah  Marker,  who  was  born  in 
Franklin  County,  Ohio,  of  Pennsylvanian  par- 
entage. She  is  still  living  at  the  old  Indiana 
homestead.  Of  their  five  children,  Laura  re- 
sides with  her  mother;  Mrs.  Isophene  Wright,  of 
Greensburg,  Ind.,  is  a  professional  nurse  and  a 
graduate  of  the  Illinois  Training  School  for 
Nurses;  Weller  cultivates  the  home  farm;  George 
H.  is  a  practicing  physician  in  Manhattan,  this 
county;  and  Londus,  the  second  son,  forms  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  Hartsville  College,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  began  to  teach  school,  it  being 
his  aim  to  earn  enough  to  secure  a  medical  edu- 
cation. When  he  was  nineteen  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  L.  Wooden.  In 
1878  he  entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at 
Cincinnati,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1882, 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  In  February,  1S83, 
he  came  to  Will  Count}',  opening  an  office  at 
Manhattan,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1894.  Before  settling  in  Joliet  he  took  a 
course  of  eighteen  months'  study  and  experi- 
mental work  in  the  Presbyterian,  Cook  County, 
Chicago  Polyclinic  and  other  large  hospitals  of 
Chicago,  and  availed  himself  of  the  splendid  op- 
portunities that  city  offered  for  clinical  training, 
whereby  he  could  gain  a  larger  experience  than 
could  be  gained  during  a  lifetime  in  a  general 
practice.  The  last  twelve  months  he  spent  as 
house  physician  and  surgeon  in  the  Post-Gradu- 
ate  hospital  on  the  west  side,  from  which  he  re- 
ceived a  diploma  in  November,  1895. 

For  several  years  Dr.  Brannon  was  instructing 
surgeon  at  the  Silver  Cross  hospital  in  Joliet. 
In  1893  he  was  appointed  pension  examiner  and 
was  chosen  secretary  of  the  board,  serving  for 
three  years.  A  change  of  administration  in  1S96 
caused  his  resignation.  He  is  connected  with 
the  Chicago  and  Will  County  Medical  Societies 
and  the  American  Medical  Association.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  made  a  Mason 
before  leaving  Decatur  County,  and  is  now  iden- 
tified with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  At  one  time  he  was  connected  with  the 
Odd  Fellows.     He  was  married  in  Peotone,  111., 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


499 


to  Miss  Lizzie  A.  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Wilton 
Township,  this  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Robert  Jones,  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Brannon,  and  their  niece,  Miss 
Edna  Brannon,  have  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  313 
Richards  avenue. 


EOL.  JOHN  CURREY.  Notwithstanding  the 
years  that  have  passed  since  the  death  of 
Colonel  Currey,  his  memory  has  not  grown 
dim  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  held  him  clear. 
As  a  pioneer  of  Joliet  he  is  entitled  to  mention  in 
the  annals  of  the  city,  to  the  early  building  of 
which  he  was  a  large  and  prominent  contributor. 
At  the  time  he  came  to  this  place,  in  1836,  it  was 
known  as  Juliet  and  was  an  insignificant  hamlet, 
surrounded  by  great  stretches  of  undeveloped 
prairie  land.  During  the  subsequent  years  of  his 
busy  life  he  contributed  to  its  upbuilding  and 
fostered  its  interests. 

The  Currey  family  was  established  in  America 
many  generations  ago,  and  was  of  French  ex- 
traction. Colonel  Currey  was  born  in  Portland, 
Me.,  November  22,  1801,  and  was  quite  young 
when  his  father,  Parish  Currey,  removed  to 
Massachusetts.  For  some  years  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Bridgewater,  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  coining  from  there  to  Illinois  in 
1836.  He  became  interested  in  the  erection  of 
a  large  stone  building  in  Joliet,  which  is  now  the 
National  hotel.  Before  the  completion  of  the 
building  his  partner,  J.  J.  Garland,  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Martin  H.  Demmond,  and  the  work  was 
finished  by  the  firm  of  Currey  &  Demmond.  The 
building  was  the  largest  that  had  been  erected  in 
Joliet  up  to  that  time  and  the  house  has  since 
been  connected  with  the  history  of  the  place. 

For  several  years  Colonel  Currey  conducted  a 
large  and  prosperous  mercantile  business  in  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Demmond.  On  the  dissolution 
of  the  partnership  he  took  a  contract  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  portion  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal,  and  after  completing  that  work  he  entered 
into   partnership  with    ex-Gov.  J.  A.   Matteson 


in  the  ownership  and  management  of  a  large 
supply  store,  located  on  the  canal.  As  long  as 
the  packets  ran  on  the  canal  he  continued  the 
business,  carrying  in  stock  a  full  assortment  of 
such  goods  as  the  location  demanded.  After 
buying  his  partner's  interest  he  continued  the 
business  alone  for  ten  years,  until  his  retirement. 
He  had  invested  in  property  near  Joliet  and 
planned  to  establish  his  home  upon  it,  but  prefer- 
ence for  city  life  led  him  to  change  his  plans  and 
settle  in  the  city.  Here  he  resided  until  his 
death,  March  11,  1872. 

The  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  Colonel  Cur- 
rey was  a  member,  received  the  encouragement 
of  his  support  and  sympathy.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Jacksonian  Democrat.  He  was  twice  married; 
first,  in  1823,  to  Miss  Lucy  Demmond,  of  Water- 
ville,  N.  Y. ,  who  died  some  years  later.  The 
two  children  born  to  their  union  died  when 
young.  In  Joliet,  March  27,  1866,  he  married 
Susan,  daughter  of  James  Sterling,  who  was  a 
native  of  Sterling,  Scotland,  but  emigrated  to 
America  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  at 
Cornwall,  Ontario,  Canada.  By  his  marriage  to 
Anna  Cunnighan  five  children  were  born,  three 
now  living.  Mrs.  Currey  was  the  eldest  and 
was  born  in  Cornwall.  She  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Illinois  at  the  time  of  the  building  of 
the  canal,  in  which  her  father  was  interested  as  a 
contractor,  with  George  A.  Barnett.  During  the 
excitement  following  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California  Mr.  Sterling  crossed  the  plains  to  the 
coast,  where  he  spent  several  years,  meeting  with 
fair  success. 


GjUGUSTUS  EIB.  As  a  resident  of  this 
Li  county  since  1833,  Mr.  Eib  well  deserves 
/  I  mention.  He  was  a  boy  of  thirteen  when 
the  family  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
present  home,  and  he  has  since  been  a  witness  of 
the  remarkable  growth  of  this  section.  In  Har- 
rison County,  W.Va.,  he  was  born  June  19,  1820. 
He  was  one  of  nine  children,  of  whom  five  sons 
survive.  His  father,  Peter  Eib,  was  born  in 
Little  York,  Pa.,   March  12,  1779,  and   removed 


5oo 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  Harrison  County,  W.  Va.,  but  in  an  early  day 
settled  in  Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1832  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  se- 
lected a  claim  in  Will  County,  then  returned  to 
Fountain  County,  Ind.,  where  he  had  been  liv- 
ing for  six  years.  May  10,  1833,  he  arrived  with 
his  family  on  the  place  he  had  selected  for  their 
home.     He  died  here  August  4,  185S. 

Remaining  with  his  parents  until  1845,  our  sub- 
ject then  bought  eighty  acres  of  canal  land,  a  part 
of  his  present  farm.  He  has  been  prosperous  in 
his  undertakings,  and  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  acres,  forming  one  of  the  valuable 
farms  of  Jackson  Township.  His  marriage, 
March  20,  1851,  united  him  with  Miss  Jane 
Evans,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio, 
July  2,  1828,  a  daughter  of  Lovead  and  Mahala 
(Kyrk)  Evans.  Her  father,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, settled  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio;  thence, 
in  1837,  removed  to  Fountain  City,  Ind.,  but  one 
year  later  settled  in  Iroquois  County,  111.,  and 
continued  thereuntil  two  years  prior  to  his  death, 
when  he  went  to  Miami  County,  Kans.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Eib,  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely: 
Adelbert,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County,  Ind.;  Peter 
and  Alonzo,  who  operate  farms  in  Will  County; 
and  Willard,  who  cultivates  the  home  farm. 


3OSEPH  A.  KELLY,  who  for  years  has  been 
the  owner  of  extensive  landed  interests  in 
Kansas,  is  now  living  in  Joliet,  retired  from 
active  business  cares,  having  transferred  to  his 
sons  the  management  of  his  western  ranches.  He 
was  born  in  Trellick,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
and  in  childhood  was  brought  to  America  by  his 
parents,  Edward  and  Rose  (Curren)  Kelly, 
settling  with  them  in  Jackson  Township,  this 
county.  When  a  boy  he  studied  in  a  log  school- 
house,  whose  equipment  and  furnishings  were  as 
crude  and  primitive  as  its  exterior  appearance. 
His  education  was  completed  in  Notre  Dame 
University,    where    he    remained   a    student    for 


six  years,  graduating  in  1863.  Afterward  he 
continued  with  his  father  for  two  years  and  then 
embarked  in  the  dry-goods  business  on  North 
Bluff,  near  Exchange  street,  later  removing  to 
Exchange,  near  Canal.  For  some  years  we  was 
in  partnership  with  Dan  Hendricks,  but  finally 
bought  his  interest  and  afterward  carried  on  busi- 
ness with  his  brother,  under  the  firm  title  of 
Kelly  Brothers,  their  location  being  on  Jefferson 
street.  About  1878  he  sold  out  to  his  brother 
and  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  the  stock  business. 

In  1888  Mr.  Kelly  removed  to  Harper  County, 
Kans.,  buying  a  ranch  six  miles  from  Corwin  and 
placing  four  thousand  acres  under  fence.  The 
land  is  well  watered  by  the  Little  Salty  and  the 
Little  Sandy  creeks  and  is  admirably  adapted  for 
cattle-raising.  At  this  writing  he  has  almost  one 
thousand  head  of  cattle  on  the  ranch,  and  these 
he  markets  in  Kansas  City.  Six  hundred  acres 
of  the  land  are  planted  to  Kaffer  cane,  corn  and 
millet,  which  is  used  for  winter  feed.  The  build- 
ings on  the  place  are  neat  and  adapted  to  their 
several  purposes.  He  also  owns  another  ranch  of 
four  thousand  acres  one  mile  north  of  Corwin, 
lying  on  the  Little  Sandy,  and  this  property  is 
stocked  with  cattle.  The  K  ranches,  as  these 
two  places  are  called,  are  the  largest  in  Harper 
County.  Besides  these,  he  owns  three-quarters 
of  a  section  across  the  line  in  Oklahoma.  Since 
1899  he  has  been  retired  from  business,  making 
his  home  at  No.  1 1 1  South  Center  street,   Joliet. 

In  earlier  life  Mr.  Kelly  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Joliet  fire  department.  For  twenty- seven 
years  or  more  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
Joliet  Sharpshooters'  Association.  At  state  and 
national  tournaments  he  has  frequently  received 
the  first  prize.  At  the  first  United  States  Sharp- 
shooters' match  in  Jones'  Woods,  New  York,  he 
won  one  of  the  first  prizes,  and  he  received  a 
medal  at  the  Centennial  in  Philadelphia  in  1876. 
He  is  still  a  member  of  the  association.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  independent,  and  in  religious  connections 
holds  membership  with  St.  Patrick's  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Kelly,  in  Joliet,  united 
him  with  Miss  Maria  Elizabeth  Hendricks,   who 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


501 


was  born  in  Rockford,  111.,  but  was  reared  in 
Joliet.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Miles,  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
when  crossing  the  plains  to  California  in  1849; 
D.  P.,  ex-city  attorney  of  Joliet,  is  now  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago;  Thomas  A., 
formerly  a  druggist  and  hospital  steward  of  Com- 
pany D,  Ninetieth  Illinois  Infantry,  during 
the  Civil  war,  is  now  a  farmer  in  Oklahoma; 
J.  C.  is  an  attorney  in  Chicago;  and  B.  L.  also 
resides  in  that  city;  Margaret,  Mrs.  Nugent,  is  a 
resident  of  Chicago;  and  Maria  E  ,  Mrs.  Kelly, 
completes  the  family  circle.  Her  father,  Thomas 
Hendricks,  was  a  contractor  and  builder  and 
came  from  New  York  state  to  Illinois  in  1843. 
Her  mother,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Daniel  Quig- 
ley,  was  born  in  Athlone,  Ireland,  in  December, 
18 1 7,  and  crossed  the  ocean  in  1834,  afterward 
marrying  Mr.  Hendricks  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
Her  children  were  reared  in  Joliet,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  five  years  spent  in  Rockford,  where 
Mrs.  Kelly  was  born.  Mrs.  Hendricks  is  a 
woman  of  strong  character  and  many  admirable 
qualities.  Though  now  advanced  in  years,  she 
is  active  and  vigorous,  and  is  devoted  to  the  wel- 
fare of  Mrs.  Kelly's  family,  with  whom  she  makes 
her  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelly  have  six  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Eugene  and  Edward,  who  have  charge 
of  the  Kansas  ranches  and  are  engaged  in  the 
cattle  business  there;  Leo,  who  is  a  student  in 
Notre  Dame  University  in  Indiana;  Margaret, 
Marie  and  Catherine,  at  home. 


["^HILIP  MERSINGER.  At  the  time  that 
Yf  Mr.  Mersinger  settled  in  Joliet,  September 
\3  10,  1S78,  the  city  had  a  population  of  only 
eleven  thousand.  He  has  witnessed  its  sub- 
sequent growth  and  had  aided  in  the  development 
of  its  business  interests.  Meantime,  by  his 
ability  and  energy,  he  has  become  the  owner  of 
the  largest  sewing  machine  business  in  the  state 
outside  of  Chicago.  By  fair  and  just  dealings 
with  all,  he  has  established  a  large  trade,   which 


is  not  limited  to  his  home  town,  but  extends 
throughout  this  section  of  the  state,  four  travel- 
ing men  taking  orders  for  machines  in  Will  and 
adjacent  counties.  The  location  of  the  store  is 
No.  109  South  Ottawa  street,  where  may  be 
found  on  sale  New  Home,  Standard,  White  and 
Domestic  machines,  also  some  eight  cheaper 
grades  of  machines.  In  addition  to  machines,  he 
has  also  built  up  a  large  trade  in  pianos  and  or- 
gans, and  handles  all  kinds  of  musical  instru- 
ments, making  a  specialty  of  the  Kimball  and 
Emerson  piano  and  the  Kimball  organ. 

The  record  of  the  Mersinger  family  is  traced 
back  to  a  distant  period  in  the  history  of  the 
province  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany.  There  our 
subject's  father,  John,  was  born  and  reared,  and 
there  he  carried  on  a  mercantile  store.  Accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  who  was  Jannetta  Whiteman, 
of  Ruchhaim,  Germany,  and  their  two  children, 
he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
opening  a  store  at  Penn's  Valley,  Center  County, 
and  remaining  in  that  county  until  his  death.  In 
religion  he  was  a  Lutheran.  After  coming  to 
this  country  he  identified  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  attained  mature 
years  and  four  are  living.  Several  of  the  chil- 
dren were  born  in  Center  County,  Pa.,  and 
among  these  was  Philip,  whose  birth  occurred 
August  8,  1840.  He  was  a  mere  boy  when  he 
began  to  be  self-supporting  and  for  a  number  of 
years  managed  some  of  the  largest  farms  in  Cen- 
ter and  Union  Counties  and  gained  a  reputation 
as  a  good  financier  and  trustworthy  manager. 
However,  the  exposure  in  inclement  weather 
brought  on  rheumatism,  and  he  was  forced  to 
seek  another  occupation.  In  1869  he  began  in 
the  sewing  machine  business  near  Center  Hall, 
his  native  town,  where  he  made  his  home  for 
some  years.  In  1878  he  came  west,  intending  to 
settle  in  Kansas,  but  the  three  preceding  years 
of  poor  crops  had  ruined  business  in  that  state, 
so  he  returned  as  far  east  as  Joliet.  In  point  of 
years  of  business  activity  he  is  the  oldest  man  in 
the  machine  trade  in  this  city.  In  his  work  he 
is  efficiently  assisted  by  his  wife,  who  is  a  lady  of 
superior  ability  and  who  takes  entire  charge  of  the 


502 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


business  when  he  is  absent.  She  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Sarah  E.  McCormiek,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Margaret  (Myers)  McCormiek, 
of  Scotch-Irish  and  German  parentage.  She  was 
born  in  Center  County,  Pa.,  where  she  was  reared, 
educated  and  married. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mersinger  is  independent. 
During  and  after  the  Civil  war  he  was  for  four 
years  a  special  police  officer  in  Philadelphia.  He 
has  never  cared  for  political  offices,  preferring  to 
give  his  time  to  his  business  and  its  interests. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order 
and  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  first  lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  that  was  organized  in  Phila- 
delphia (which  was  the  second  in  the  United 
States),  and  in  the  same  city  he  also  joined  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was 
reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  but  usually  attends 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his 
wife  is  a  member.  They  have  no  children,  but 
are  rearing  two  children  of  Mrs.  Mersinger's 
brother,  Andrew  and  Candace  McCormiek. 


30HN  F.  QUINN,  proprietor  of  an  under- 
taking establishment  at  No.  407  North  Chi- 
cago street,  Joliet,  is  a  well-known  Democrat 
and  has  served  as  chairman  of  the  city  central 
committee.  In  1897  he  was  elected  city  treasurer 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  and  served  for  two 
years,  retiring  in  May,  1899.  From  1881  to 
1883  he  served  as  assistant  supervisor  of  Joliet 
Township.  He  also  takes  an  active  part  in 
various  fraternities,  being  a  member  of  the  Court 
of  Honor,  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  a  member  of  the  board 
of  managers  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  county  president  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians.  During  the  period  of  his  connection 
with  steel  and  iron  works  in  Joliet  he  was  promi- 
nent in  organizations  composed  of  workers  in 
these  mills.  He  assisted  in  organizing  Stone 
City  Lodge  No.  4,  Rollers,  Hookers  and   Catch- 


ers, with  which  he  remained  identified  until  its 
disbandment.  He  also  aided  in  the  organization 
of  the  Amalgamated  Association  of  Iron  and 
Steel  Workers;  and  was  the  first  president  of 
Stone  City  Lodge  No.  4  of  the  same,  holding  the 
office  for  some  years;  he  rose  to  be  vice-president 
of  the  fourth  district,  comprising  Illinois,  Wis- 
consin and  some  of  the  west.  On  retiring  from 
the  steel  business  he  resigned  the  office,  but  still 
remains  an  honorary  member  of  the  order.  Dur- 
ing the  period  of  his  membership  in  the  associa- 
tion he  attended  every  national  convention  that 
was  held  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  each. 

Mr.  Quinn  was  born  in  Winchester,  Va.,  April 
6,  1853,  a  son  of  Bernard  and  Maria  (Carroll) 
Quinn,  natives  respectively  of  County  Kildare 
and  Queens  County,  Ireland.  His  father,  who 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Dublin  with  the 
degree  of  C.  E.,  followed  surveying  and  also  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  in  and  near  Winchester. 
He  died  in  West  Virginia  in  1862.  His  wife, 
who  is  still  living,  makes  her  home  in  Keyser, 
W.  Va.  They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
six  of  whom  attained  mature  years,  namely: 
Mary,  who  died  in  Cumberland,  Md.;  James  C, 
a  farmer  in  Missouri;  John  F. ;  Bernard,  who 
is  engaged  in  farming  in  western  Nebraska; 
Daniel,  a  merchant  at  Keyser,  W.  Va.;  and 
Julia,  whose  home  is  in  Chicago. 

When  our  subject  was  nine  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  The  war  occurring  at  the  same 
time,  he  was  deprived  of  advantages  he  might 
otherwise  have  enjoyed.  From  West  Virginia 
he  went  to  Cumberland,  Md.,  and  thence  to 
Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  secured  work  at  the 
rolls  in  a  rolling  mill.  From  there  he  removed 
to  Sandusky,  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he 
came  to  Joliet  and  secured  employment  in  the  old 
iron  mill,  remaining  there  until  an  accidental  in- 
jury to  his  foot  by  a  hot  rail  disabled  him  for 
work  for  a  year.  Upon  his  recovery,  the  steel 
mill  having  meantime  been  completed,  he  began 
to  work  at  the  rolls  in  it,  remaining  there  until 
1883,  when  he  resigned  in  order  to  embark  in 
business.  Going  to  Aurora,  he  opened  a  livery 
and  undertaking  establishment  and  continued  in 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


503 


that  city  until  1890,  when  he  returned  to  Joliet. 
Since  then  he  has  carried  on  a  general  undertaking 
business.  He  is  connected  with  the  Illinois 
State  Undertakers'  Association.  His  services  as 
a  funeral  director  and  erubalmer  are  in  frequent 
demand,  and  he  is  known  as  a  man  possessing  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  business  and  an 
accommodating,  gentlemanly  disposition. 

In  Joliet,  December  28,  1880,  Mr.  Quinn  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  A.  Downey,  who  was  born  in 
Bremen  Township,  Cook  County,  111.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Catherine  (O'Sullivan)  Downey, 
natives  of  Queens  and  Kerry  Counties,  Ireland. 
Her  father,  on  coming  to  America,  settled  in 
Ohio,  thence  went  to  Indiana  and  in  1847  came 
to  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  contracting  on 
the  Rock  Island  Railroad.  Meantime  he  bought 
a  farm  in  Bremen  Township,  and  afterward  gave 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1875 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Channahon  Township,  Will 
County,  and  afterward  resided  there  until  his 
death,  in  1892.  Since  then  his  widow  has 
made  her  home  with  Mrs.  Quinn.  Of  eleven 
children,  six  now  living,  Mrs.  Quinn  was  the 
oldest  daughter,  and  by  her  marriage  she  has  two 
sons,  Bernard  J.  and  John  Francis.  Mr.  Quinn 
and  his  family  are  connected  with  St.  Mary's 
Catholic  Church. 


REV.  WILLIAM  BOHLER  WALKER, 
rector  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church  of  Joliet, 
was  born  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  February  3,  1852, 
a  sou  of  Matthew  Talbot  and  Maria  (Bohler) 
Walker,  natives  of  Augusta,  Ga.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  George  Minis  Walker,  was  born  in 
the  Rappahannock  district,  Va.,  and  married 
Mary  Tyler  Walker,  a  relative  of  George 
Walton,  who  was  a  signer  of  the  declaration  of 
independence.  Removing  to  Georgia  he  followed 
the  profession  of  a  lawyer,  and  attained  consid- 
erable prominence  in  that  state.  Matthew  Tal- 
bot Walker,  who  was  a  druggist  in  Georgia, 
afterward  entered  the  railroad  service,  and  for 
years  before  his   death   was  connected  with  the 


Western  Atlantic  (now  the  Georgia,  Louisville  & 
Nashville)  road.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was 
connected  with  the  government  service.  At  the 
time  Atlanta  was  besieged  by  the  northern  troops 
he  and  his  family  were  in  such  danger  that  they 
were  forced  to  flee  from  the  city.  On  their  re- 
turn they  found  their  residence  destroyed  and 
their  property  laid  waste,  and  they  were  obliged 
to  live  in  a  stable  until  a  house  could  be  built. 
He  continued  to  make  Atlanta  his  home  until  his 
death,  in  1896.  His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter 
of  William  Bohler,  of  Georgia,  is  still  living  in 
Atlanta.  Of  their  six  children  who  attained 
years  of  maturity  all  but  one  still  survive, 
William  Bohler  being  the  eldest  of  the  family. 
The  daughter,  Mrs.  Henry  Z.  Harris,  resides  in 
Atlanta.  Three  sous  are  connected  with  the  rail- 
road service,  George  and  Matthew  Talbot  being 
employes  of  the  Georgia,  Louisville  &  Nashvilk- 
Railroad  at  Atlanta,  while  Henry  is  employed 
with  the  road  in  Nashville. 

The  early  years  in  the  life  of  William  Bohler 
Walker  were  filled  with  excitement.  The  coun- 
try was  pluuged  in  a  bitter  civil  strife,  and  the 
Walker  family  lived  in  one  of  the  Confederate 
strongholds,  against  which  the  fire  of  federal 
guns  was  directed.  He  assisted  in  making  am- 
munition for  the  confederate  army,  but  was,  of 
course,  too  young  to  enter  the  service.  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  the  family 
returned  to  Atlanta,  from  which  they  had  been 
refugees.  He  prepared  for  college  in  Capt. 
William  Bray's  school  in  that  city.  In  1869  he 
entered  the  sophomore  class,  University  of 
Georgia,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1872  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  Immediately  afterward  he 
began  to  read  law  with  Alexander  H.  Stephens, 
a  man  of  national  distinction,  with  whom  he  made 
his  home  at  Crawfordsyille  until  Mr.  Stephens 
re-entered  public  life.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Atlanta  in  1874,  but  never  practiced  the 
profession. 

It  was  his  mother's  hope  that  Mr.  Walker 
might  enter  the  ministry.  This  plan  he  had  at 
first  opposed,  preferring  the  law,  but  afterward 
he  began  to  be  favorably  drawn  toward  the  min- 
isterial profession,  for  which,  indeed,  he  seemed 


5°4 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  possess  marked  qualifications.  Impelled  by 
the  persuasions  of  friends  and  relatives,  and  also 
by  his  own  thoughtful,  matured  judgment,  he 
decided  to  turn  his  attention  from  the  law  to  the 
ministry.  January  I,  1S75,  he  matriculated  in 
Berkeley  Divinity  School,  at  Middletown,  Conn., 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1877.  He  was  or- 
dained by  Bishop  John  Williams,  of  Connecticut, 
in  Holy  Trinity  Church,  Middletown,  in  1877. 
Returning  to  Georgia,  he  became  rector  of  the 
Church  of  the  Atonement  in  Augusta,  where  he 
remained  for  nine  years.  Meantime  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Connecticut,  February  6,  1878,  to  Miss 
Bessie  Beecher  Shew,  daughter  of  Dr.  Joel  Shew, 
a  successful  physician,  and  step-daughter  of  Dr. 
Winthrop  B.  Hallock,  of  Connecticut.  The  four 
children  born  of  their  union  are  Winthrop  Hal- 
lock,  Edwin  Weed,  William  Bohler,  Jr.,  and 
Beverly. 

The  climate  of  the  south  not  agreeing  with  Mr. 
Walker,  in  18S4  he  resigned  his  pastorate  in 
Augusta  and  returned  to  Connecticut,  where  for 
three  years  he  was  rector  of  Christ  Church  in 
Stratford.  He  then  accepted  the  rectorship  of 
St.  John's  Church,  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he 
remained  for  four  years.  In  February,  1893,  he 
came  to  Joliet  as  rector  of  Christ  Church,  and  has 
since  attained  prominence  as  one  of  the  scholarly 
ministers  of  the  city.  The  church  of  which  he  is 
rector  was  organized  thirty  or  more  years  ago, 
and  contains  in  its  membership  many  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Joliet.  Under  the  leadership  of 
Mr.  Walker  every  department  of  the  work  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition,  and  the  church  attracts  not 
only  people  wTell  known  in  the  city,  but  many 
visitors  and  strangers  as  well. 

A  mind  so  active  as  that  of  Mr.  Walker  cannot 
be  confined  within  the  bounds  of  strictly  theolog- 
ical work  or  the  usually-accepted  duties  of  a 
rector;  for  he  is  a  citizen,  public  spirited  and 
progressive,  and  nothing  that  is  of  importance  to 
the  body  politic  is  uninteresting  to  him.  Every 
movement  for  the  advancement  of  Joliet  finds  in 
him  a  champion.  Every  work  originated  in  behalf 
of  the  people  enlists  his  sympathy  and  endorse- 
ment. His  interest  in  the  city's  welfare  is  of  that 
stable    character  which    adheres   with    steadfast 


support  to  principles  of  undoubted  value.  While 
he  is  a  believer  in  the  platform  as  adopted  by  the 
gold  wing  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  recognizes 
the  good  in  all  parties,  and  is  himself  an  enthu- 
siastic supporter  of  the  present  (McKiuley)  ad- 
ministration in  the  many  problems  brought  before 
it  for  solution.  His  name  has  been  brought  into 
especial  prominence  through  his  single-handed 
fight  with  the  railroad  interests.  In  an  article  he 
made  the  statement  that  the  city  should  elect  for 
its  officials  men  who  would  not  be  subsidized  by 
railroad  and  street-car  lines.  On  account  of  this 
statement  the  railroad  took  away  his  clergyman's 
permit  entitling  him  to  half  fare.  He  fought  the 
matter  in  the  courts,  arguing  his  own  case,  and 
defeated  them  so  completely  that  they  sent  him  a 
permit,  with  the  request  that  he  use  it.  How- 
ever, he  returned  it  by  the  next  mail,  stating  that 
he  would  accept  no  favors  from  them,  as  he  had 
not  cared  for  the  permit,  but  was  opposing  boldly 
corporations  that  endeavored  to  subsidize  the 
representatives  of  the  people.  The  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission  decided  in  his  favor, 
establishing  the  fact  that  the  half-rate  was  his 
legal  right,  and  not  a  courtesy.  The  case, which 
was  carried  on  for  almost  two  years,  attracted  a 
great  deal  of  attention  and  started  a  reform  move- 
ment along  the  line  of  passes. 


~  BEN  S.  BRUCE.  The  business  of  which 
'S  Mr.  Bruce  is  the  head  is  one  of  the  largest 
_  of  its  kind  in  Joliet.  He  started  it  upon  a 
very  small  scale,  using  only  four  cars  the  first 
year,  but  it  increased  so  rapidly  that  he  was  soon 
obliged  to  devote  his  entire  attention  to  its  super- 
vision. For  a  time  the  firm  name  was  Bruce 
Brothers,  but  on  the  20th  of  February,  1899,  the 
Bruce  Ice  Company  was  incorporated,  withL.  B. 
Bruce  as  president  and  E.  S.  Bruce  secretary  and 
treasurer.  The  office  of  the  company  is  at  No. 
15 10  Collins  street,  Joliet,  and  their  ice-houses 
are  in  this  city  and  at  Lake  Zurich,  on  the  Elgin, 
Joliet   &  Eastern  Railroad,  fifty-two  miles  north 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


505 


of  Joliet,  in  Lake  County.  At  the  latter  place 
they  have  forty  acres,  supplied  by  natural  springs 
that  secure  the  finest  quality  of  ice.  The  plant 
is  in  every  respect  modern,  and  is  provided  with 
the  modern  equipments,  including  the  latest 
steam  elevators.  The  ice-house  has  a  capacity 
of  twenty-one  thousand  tons.  To  such  an  extent 
has  the  business  grown  that  the  supply  of  cars 
will  soon  reach  two  thousand  per  annum. 

The  gentleman  to  whose  energy  and  good  judg- 
ment the  growth  of  this  enterprise  is  due  was 
born  at  the  old  Bruce  homestead,  two  and  one- 
half  miles  north  of  Joliet,  November  19,  1869. 
His  father,  James,  was  born  in  Aberdour,  Scot- 
land, a  son  of  George  Bruce,  the  owner  of  a  mill 
in  Scotland,  but  during  his  last  years  a  resident 
of  the  United  States.  When  twenty-one  years  of 
age  James  Bruce  came  to  America,  in  1844,  set- 
tling in  Joliet.  After  working  for  a  short  time 
as  foreman  in  the  building  of  the  Rush  street 
bridge,  Chicago,  and  as  superintendent  of  the 
building  of  the  locks  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
canal,  he  bought  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  land  near 
Joliet  and  turned  his  attention  to  the  improve- 
ment of  a  farm.  In  1S70  he  bought  the  old 
Taylor  property  and  opened  a  stone  quarry, 
which  he  operated  until  his  death,  being  the 
principal  member  of  the  firm  of  James  Bruce  & 
Co.  He  laid  out  the  Bruce,  Hopkins  and  Bacon 
subdivisions  of  Joliet.  His  death  occurred  in  this 
city  December  13,  1898.  The  lady  whom  he 
married,  Jane  Stephens,  was  also  of  Scotch  birth. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  E.  Stevens,  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Millburn, 
111.  She  is  still  living  at  the  old  homestead  and 
is  now  fifty-eight  years  of  age.  Of  his  eight  chil- 
dren, six  are  living,  viz.:  William  J.,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Bruce  Stone  Co  ;  E.  S. ;  James,  Jr., 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bruce  &  Jameson,  at  Mar- 
seilles and  Seneca,  111.;  Robert,  a  student  in  the 
University  of  Illinois;  Belle,  wife  of  George 
Stephens;  and  Margaret,  Mrs.  John  Jameson. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  in 
public  schools  and  the  Chicago  Commercial  Col- 
lege. For  three  years  he  was  shipping  clerk  for 
the  Barrett  Hardware  Company,  after  which  he 
traveled,  in  Texas,  in  the  interests  of  Lambert  & 


Bishop.  One  year  later  he  entered  the  office  of 
James  Bruce  &  Co. ,  of  which  he  was  placed  in 
charge,  and  he  still  owns  a  one-third  interest  in 
the  company,  but  of  recent  years  his  time  has 
been  given  exclusively  to  the  ice  business.  In 
politics  his  sympathies  are  with  the  Republi- 
can party  and  he  votes  the  straight  party  ticket 
at  local  and  general  elections.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Union  Club.  His  marriage,  in 
Chicago,  111.,  united  him  with  Miss  Luella  Bur- 
dick,  a  former  classmate,  who  was  born  in  Lock- 
port,  111.,  daughter  of  A.  S.  Burdick,  an  old 
settler  of  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruce  have 
one  son,  Harold  A.  Bruce. 


HENRY  W.  KOENIG,  who  has  made 
his  home  in  Joliet  since  1883,  is  a  well- 
known  contractor  and  builder  of  this 
city,  and  has  followed  this  occupation  here  since 
1891.  Being  a  man  of  quickness  of  comprehen- 
sion, keen  discrimination  and  intelligence,  com- 
bined with  a  thorough  practical  knowledge  of  his 
occupation,  he  has  met  with  constant  success  in 
his  business,  and  has  been  given  the  contracts 
for  scores  of  residences  in  Joliet  and  surrounding 
towns.  Every  contract  is  carried  out  faithfully  and 
honestly,  thus  adding  to  his  reputation  and  in- 
creasing the  confidence  in  which  he  is  held  by 
the  general  public.  Besides  residences  he  has 
had  charge  of  the  erection  of  a  number  of  public 
buildings,  including  the  Lincoln  schoolhouse. 
At  times  he  has  been  called  to  take  charge  of 
work  as  much  as  two  hundred  miles  distant  from 
Joliet,  although  the  bulk  of  his  contracts  have 
been  in  or  near  the  city.  He  built  the  residence 
he  owns  and  occupies  at  No.  209  Cassiday 
avenue. 

In  Wackstadt,  Erfurt,  Prussia,  Germany,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  November  13, 
1850,  a  son  of  Michael  and  Barbara  (Hartleib) 
Koenig,  natives  of  the  same  place.  His  father 
and  grandfather  spent  their  entire  lives  on  the 
family  homestead.     He  was  next  to  the  oldest  of 


5o6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


four  children,  of  whom  he  alone  lives  in  America. 
At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the 
carpenter's  trade  in  Bischhagen,  where  he  served 
for  three  years,  and  then  worked  in  Hamburg  for 
another  three  years.  In  1870  he  crossed  the 
ocean  from  Hamburg  to  New  York.  After  a 
short  time  in  Chicago  he  went  to  Geneseo,  111., 
thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo. ,  working  at  his  trade  in 
both  places.  In  1878  he  was  appointed  foreman 
of  buildings  on  the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  and 
this  position  he  held  until  1890,  meantime  having 
charge  of  the  building  of  freight  and  passenger 
depots  between  Chicago  and  Rock  Island  and  be- 
tween Chicago  and  Peoria.  His  work  was  most 
acceptable  to  the  company  and  proved  financially 
remunerative  to  himself,  but  the  constant  change 
from  town  to  town  was  less  pleasant  than  his 
present  business  connections,  which  enable  him 
to  enjoy  more  fully  the  pleasures  of  domestic  life. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet  Builders'  Associa- 
tion. 

In  national  politics  Mr.  Koenig  gives  his  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
His  marriage  was  solemnized  in  Tamaqua,  Pa., 
and  united  him  with  Miss  Louisa  Klumpp,  who 
was  born  in  that  city,  being  the  daughter  of 
Adam  Klumpp,  a  contractor  and  builder  of  break- 
ers in  that  region.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Koenig  are  Callie  C,  Etta  L.,  Otto  A.  and 
Bertha  S. 


"DWARD  H.  WERNER,  D.  D.  S.  The 
'S  family  represented  by  this  well-known 
m^  dentist  of  Joliet  traces  its  ancestry  to  a  long 
line  of  German  forefathers.  His  father,  William 
Werner,  the  first  of  the  name  in  America,  was 
born  at  Fraukfort-on-the-Main,  Hesse-Darm- 
stadt, February  5,  1831,  and  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  when  twenty  years  of  age.  After 
three  months  in  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  in  October, 
1 85 1,  he  settled  in  Frankfort,  111.,  and  for  a  year 
was  employed  as  a  stone  mason  in  the  building 
of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad.  Upon  removing  to 
Joliet  in  1852  he  became  interested  in  quarrying, 


and  afterward  had  the  contract  for  building  many 
of  the  most  substantial  stone  buildings  in  the 
city.  In  1856  he  was  elected  commissioner  of 
highways  and  served  as  such  for  three  years. 
From  1 86 1  to  1865  he  was  an  alderman,  and  for 
seven  years  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  board 
of  supervisors.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  com- 
missioner in  charge  of  the  drafting  of  soldiers 
into  the  army.  September  7,  1853,  he  married 
Barbara^Goebel,  a  native  of  Prussia.  Four  sons 
were  born  to  their  union,  Frederick  William, 
Frederick  Charles,  George  W.  and  Edward  H. 
The  last  named  was  born  in  Joliet  December  9, 
1S67.  His  education  was  begun  in  the  grammar 
schools  of  the  city.  At  an  early  age  he  deter- 
mined to  enter  the  dental  profession  and  his 
studies  were  directed  with  that  end  in  view. 
The  first  knowledge  he  acquired  of  the  science 
was  in  1884,  when  he  began  to  study  under  Dr. 
Staehle,  and  he  continued  with  the  same  pre- 
ceptor until  1889.  In  the  meantime  he  had  en- 
tered the  New  York  College  of  Dental  Surgery, 
where  he  took  the  regular  course  of  lectures, 
graduating  in  1889,  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  S. 

Returning  to  Joliet  Dr.  Werner  at  once  opened 
an  office  in  this  city  and  gave  his  attention  to  the 
building  up  of  a  professional  practice.  His 
thorough  study  of  the  science  had  fitted  him  for 
successful  practice,  and  he  had  many  friends 
among  the  people  of  the  city  to  encourage  him 
by  their  influence  and  interest.  He  has  con- 
tinued in  Joliet  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  spent  at  Port  Byron,  Rock  Island 
County,  111.  In  his  practice  he  avails  him- 
self of  the  latest  improvements  in  dentistry,  and 
is  thoroughly  up-to-date  in  all  of  his  work.  His 
office  is  at  No.  104  Chicago  street.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Alumni  Association,  New  York  Col- 
lege of  Dental  Surgery,  and  is  connected  with 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe.  Politically  he  supports 
the  principles  of  the  Democracy.  January  22, 
1890,  he  married  Miss  Leonora  Barber,  daughter 
of  S.  J.  Barber,  of  Joliet.  She  was  born  in 
Grundy  County,  111.,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Joliet  high  school.  The  two  children  born  of 
their  marriage  are  named  Julia  and  Clarence 
Edward. 


V 
Of        E 
UNIVERSITY   Of   ILLINOIS 


506 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


four  children,  of  whom  he  alone  lives  in  America. 
At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the 
carpenter's  trade  in  Bischhagen,  where  he  served 
for  three  years,  and  then  worked  in  Hamburg  for 
another  three  years.  In  1870  he  crossed  the 
ocean  from  Hamburg  to  New  York.  After  a 
short  time  in  Chicago  he  went  to  Geneseo,  111., 
thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo. ,  working  at  his  trade  in 
both  places.  In  1878  he  was  appointed  foreman 
of  buildings  on  the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  and 
this  position  he  held  until  1890,  meantime  having 
charge  of  the  building  of  freight  and  passenger 
depots  between  Chicago  and  Rock  Island  and  be- 
tween Chicago  and  Peoria.  His  work  was  most 
acceptable  to  the  company  and  proved  financially 
remunerative  to  himself,  but  the  constant  change 
from  town  to  town  was  less  pleasant  than  his 
present  business  connections,  which  enable  him 
to  enjoy  more  fully  the  pleasures  of  domestic  life. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet  Builders'  Associa- 
tion. 

In  national  politics  Mr.  Koenig  gives  his  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
His  marriage  was  solemnized  in  Tamaqua,  Pa., 
and  united  him  with  Miss  Louisa  Klumpp,  who 
was  born  in  that  city,  being  the  daughter  of 
Adam  Klumpp,  a  contractor  and  builder  of  break- 
ers in  that  region.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Koenig  are  Callie  C.  Etta  L.(  Otto  A.  and 
Bertha  S. 


"TDWARD    II.    WERNER,    D.   D.    S.     The 

't)  family  represented  by  this  well-known 
_  dentist  of  Joliet  traces  its  ancestry  to  a  Ion;,; 
line  of  German  forefathers.  His  father,  William 
Werner,  the  first  of  the  name  in  America,  was 
born  at  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  Hesse-Darm- 
stadt, February  5,  1831,  and  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  when  twenty  years  of  age.  After 
three  months  in  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  iu  October, 
1S51,  he  settled  in  Frankfort,  111.,  and  for  a  year 
was  employed  as  a  stone  mason  in  the  building 
of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad.  Upon  removing  to 
Joliet  in  1852  he  became  interested  in  quarrying, 


and  afterwarhad  the  contract  for  building  m 
of  the  most  substantial  stone   buildings  in 
city.     In   18S  he  was   elected  commissioner 
highways  an  served   as   such  for  three  y« 
From  1S61  tn865  he  was  an  alderman,  and 
seven  years  h  served  as  a  member  of  the  1" 
of  supervisor      In  1863  he  was  appointed  com 
mi^sioner   incharge  of  the  drafting  of  soldu 
into  the  arm.      September  7,  1S53,  he  marric 
Barbara'Goeel,  a  native  of  Prussia.     Four  - 
were    born  t  their   union,    Frederick   Willi 
Frederick    C  George   W.  and   Edward 

The  last  nanxl  was  born  in  Joliet  Decembei 
1S67.     His  eucation  was  begun  in  the  gran; 
schools  of  tL  city.     At  an  early  age  he  d< 
mined    to   eter    the    dental    profession    and  1. 
studies   weredirecti  1    with    that   end    in    view 
The  first  kn>  acquired  of  the  sci 

was  iu  1884,   hen  he  began  to  study  undei 
Staehle,  and  he  continued  with    the   same 
ceptor  until  3So.      In  the  meantime  he  had  en 
tered  the  Ne'  York  College  of  Dental  Sin 
where  he   tok  the  regular  course  of  lectures 
graduating  i  [889,  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  S. 

Returning  1  Joliet  Dr.  Werner  at  once  opened 
an  office  in  tls  city  and  e  ve  his  attention  to  the 
building    upof  onal     practice.     His 

thorough  stuv  of  the  science  had  fitted  him  for 
successful    pictice,   and    he    had    main-    friends 
among  the  p»ple  of  the  city  to  encourage  him 
by    their    infieuce    and  interest.      He    has  con- 
tinued in  Joli  ever  since,  with   the  exception  of 
four   years   s:-ut    at    Port    Byron,  Rock    Island 
County,     111.  In  his  practice    he    avails    him- 
self of  the  lalst  improvements  in  dentistry,  and 
is  thoroughlyup-to-date  in  all  of  his  work.      His 
office  isatNi  1  ■■;  Chicago  street.      He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Aim;  tion,  New  Y 
lege  of  Dent                      and   i 
the  Knights  <  the  Glo! 
the  principle  of  the   I'   :;'>og 
1890,  he  mar 
of  S.    J.    Ba: 
Grundy  C 
Joliet    hig] 
their    man 
Edward. 


r 


t 


> 


if 


^retC. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


509 


FRED  SEHRING. 


I- RED  SEHRING,  deceased,  late  president  of 
Yy  the  Fred  Sehring  Brewing  Company  of  Joli- 
|  et,  was  born  in  Langeu,  Dukedom  of  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  December  19,  1834,  and 
received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  the 
excellent  schools  of  his  native  land.  When  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  in  1847,  he  came  to  America 
with  his  parents,  Weigand  and  Margaretha 
(Keim)  Sehring.  The  Sehring  family  is  one  of 
prominence  among  the  German-Americans  of 
Will  County.  Its  founders  here  were  Weigand 
Sehring  and  his  wife,  who  settled  in  Frankfort 
Township  in  1847.  Weigand  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1813  in  Germany,  which  decided  the 
fate  of  Europe.  When  he  came  to  the  United 
States  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1854  he  and 
his  family  removed  to  Joliet  and  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business,  his  son  being  interested  with  him 
in  this  enterprise. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  Fred  Sehring  had  only 
eight  months'  instruction  in  the  schools  of  Amer- 
ica, by  diligent  application  he  accpiired  a  good 
English  education  and  in  early  life  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  the  broad  knowledge  that  proved  so 
helpful  to  him  in  later  years.  In  i860  he  was 
appointed  deputy  clerk  in  the  recorder's  office  in 
Joliet,  a  position  which  he  filled  with  such  ability 
as  to  win  recognition.  In  1863  he  was  elected 
county  treasurer.  This  office  he  filled  with  such 
fidelity  and  success  that  he  was  re-elected  at  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  two  years,  and  served 
until  1867.  Upon  retiring  from  office  he  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  brewing  firm  of  Joseph 
Braun  &  Co., which  founded  what  is  to-day  one 
of  the  finest  plants  in  the  northwest.  The  total 
capital  at  first  was  only  $6,000  and  during  the 
26 


first  year  only  three  men  were  employed,  but  the 
total  output  reached  one  thousand  barrels.  Two 
years  later  it  had  increased  to  eighteen  hundred 
barrels.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Braun,  in  1870, 
a  change  was  made  in  the  business,  Mr.  Sehring 
securing  the  active  control,  and  changing  the 
name  to  Columbia  Brewery.  The  success  already 
gained  continued  during  the  ensuing  years.  He 
put  his  whole  soul  into  his  business,  with  a  de- 
termination that  always  wins  success;  yet,  while 
determined,  aggressive  and  pushing,  he  was  up- 
right and  honorable  in  every  transaction  and 
recognized  no  line  between  meanness  and  dishon- 
esty. He  believed  that  the  man  who  would  pur- 
posely cheat  his  friend  would  cheat  his  God. 
His  heart  was  kind,  and  full  of  warm  responses 
to  generous  natures. 

The  constant  increase  in  the  business  led  Mr. 
Sehring  to  make  a  change.  In  January,  1883, 
he  incorporated  the  Fred  Sehring  Brewing  Com- 
pany, with  himself  as  president,  his  son  Henry, 
vice-president,  his  son-in-law,  Henry  F.  Piepen- 
brink,  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  his  son  Louis 
J.,  superintendent.  The  new  corporation  began 
with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  He  continued  to  act 
as  president  until  his  death.  At  the  same  time 
he  was  a  director  of  the  Will  County  National 
Bank.  •  Fraternally  he  was  a  prominent  Odd 
Fellow  and  frequently  represented  his  lodge  in  the 
grand  lodge.  He  was  also  a  Knight  Templar 
Mason,  belonging  to  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4. 
Politically  he  believed  in  Democratic  principles. 
In  1874  he.  was  elected  to  the  city  council,  where 
he  served  for  eight  years.  During  the  same  year 
he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  the  state 
senate  against  A.   O.   Marshall,  Republican,  and 


5io 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


C.  Frazier,  the  Granger  candidate.  The  returns 
showed  Mr.  Marshall  elected  by  twelve  majority. 
Mr.  Sehring  contested  the  election.  The  matter 
was  taken  into  the  legislature,  where  one  hundred 
and  forty  illegal  votes  were  proved  to  have  been 
cast  against  him  and  which  were  placed  to  his 
credit,  by  the  report  of  a  majority  of  the  committee 
on  the  contest;  but  the  Republicans  and  Grangers 
combined  against  him,  casting  twenty-six  votes 
for  Marshall,  while  twenty-three  were  cast  for 
him.  He  favored  movements  for  the  benefit  of 
the  people  aud  the  development  of  his  home 
town,  and  proved  himself  a  generous,  public- 
spirited  citizen.  He  died  July  2,  1892,  and  is 
survived  by  his  wife,  who  resides  at  the  old 
homestead,  with  her  unmarried  children,  Susan 
E.  aud  Louis  J.  Mrs.  Fred  Sehring  was  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Barbara  Bez,  who  came 
from  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  to  America  in  1853 
and  settled  in  Joliet,  where  she  was  married  to  Mr. 
Sehring  January  16,  1855.  Besides  her  sou  and 
daughter  who  reside  with  her  she  has  two 
daughters  and  two  sons,  viz. :  Maggie,  wife  of 
Henry  F.  Piepenbrink;  Henry,  a  member  of  the 
Sehring  Brewing  Company;  Anna  C. ,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Poehuer  and  resides  in  San 
Francisco,  Cal. ;  and  George  F. ,  who  is  teller  in 
the  Will  County  National  Bank,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  1896  to  Miss  Louisa  Kramer,  of  this  city. 

A  record  of  the  life  of  Fred  Sehring  would  not 
be  complete  without  mention  of  his  wife.  Though 
her  sphere  was  in  the  home,  yet  from  that  place 
she  aided  aud  encouraged  her  husband  in  his 
struggle  for  success.  Thus  she  assisted  in  the  up- 
building of  the  business  that  has  made  the  name 
of  Sehring  prominent  and  influential.  From  her 
home  she  made  many  errands  of  rnercy  to  the 
huuies  of  the  poor  and  needy,  but  her  deeds  of 
devotion  and  self-sacrifice  were  always  quietly 
doue,  being  of  the  kind  of  which  it  may  be  said 
that  the  left  hand  knoweth  not  the  benefactions 
of  the  right.  Even  the  weight  of  advancing 
years  has  not  lessened  her  activities.  No  one 
has  ever  left  her  presence  discouraged,  and  her 
charitable  spirit  is  so  broad  that  it  knows  no  dis- 
tinction of  creed  or  nationality. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Sehring   did  not  prove  fatal 


to  the  business  he  had  built  up.  This  was  left 
in  safe  hands,  with  his  sons  and  son-in-law.  The 
eldest  of  the  sons,  Louis  J.,  succeeded  him  as 
president,  aud  is  still  the  general  manager  of  the 
business.  He  was  born  in  Joliet  April  12,  1858, 
and  at  an  early  age  learned  the  rudiments  of  the 
brewing  business  in  his  father' sbrewrery.  After- 
ward he  served  apprenticeships  with  Bernheimer 
&  Schmidt,  of  New  York  City,  and  the  Peter 
Schoenhofen  Brewing  Company,  of  Chicago. 
Returning  to  Joliet  in  October,  1877,  he  was  at 
once  appointed  superintendent  of  the  brewery, 
and  has  retained  the  position  as  manager  up  to 
the  present  time.  In  character  he  possesses 
many  points  of  resemblance  to  his  father.  Like 
him,  he  is  honorable  in  every  transaction  and 
conducts  the  business  in  a  straightforward,  ener- 
getic and  honest  way.  Like  him,  too,  he  believes 
in  aiding  measures  for  the  benefit  of  the  city. 
From  1885  to  18S7  he  represented  the  third  ward 
in  the  city  council.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Sharpshooters'  Association  and  is  rated  as  a 
crack  shot.  His  time,  however,  is  given  to  busi- 
ness matters  rather  than  to  politics  or  recreation, 
although  he  does  not  neglect  the  latter. 

Henry  Sehring  was  born  in  Joliet  in  1861  and 
received  a  public  school  education.  When  seven- 
teen years  of  age  he  entered  the  brewer)-  with 
which  he  has  since  been  connected.  In  1883  he 
was  elected  vice-president,  an  office  that  he  still 
fills.  In  1889  he  married  Miss  Katie  Arnold, 
who  was  born  in  Mattesou,  111.,  and  by  whom  he 
has  a  sou,  Arnold. 

The  brewery  is  situated  at  the  corner  of  Bridge 
and  Summit  streets,  where  the  company  owns 
five  acres.  The  water  is  secured  from  two 
springs  and  is,  by  chemical  test,  proved  to  be 
especially  adapted  to  the  brewing  business.  In 
1S94  a  bottling  establishment  was  started.  Two 
kinds  of  beer  are  manufactured,  the  Standard- 
Pale  aud  Muenchener,  which  are  sold  in  Joliet 
and  adjoining  towns.  With  the  building  and 
machinery,  which  are  of  great  value,  there  is  a 
capacity  of  thirty  thousand  barrels  anuually. 
At  present  the  sales  amount  to  the  full  capacity 
of  the  plant,  and  plans  are  being  drafted  for 
large   improvements   to    increase   the   capacity. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5ii 


The  constant  growth  of  the  business  is  due  to 
the  wise  judgment  and  enterprise  of  the  officers 
of  the  company,  who  have  devoted  years  of  effort 
to  the  building  up  of  the  plant. 


6>G)ILLIAM  H.  LANFEAR  has  a  well-culti- 
\  A  /  vated  farm  on  section  29,  Homer  Town- 
V  V  ship,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farm 
pursuits  and  in  raising  Norman  horses,  cattle 
and  hogs.  He  holds  an  honorable  place  among 
the  men  of  character  and  principle,  who  have  had 
the  making  of  this  county  and  who  are  active  in 
sustaining  its  reputatiou  as  one  of  the  rich  agri- 
cultural regions  of  the  state.  Having  lived  in 
the  same  neighborhood  since  a  child,  he  is  well 
acquainted  both  with  the  people  and  the  advan- 
tages of  the  township,  and  has  gained  a  high  po- 
sition among  his  fellow  citizens.  After  his  mar- 
riage, in  1852,  he  settled  on  a  portion  of  the 
homestead,  and  has  since  built  a  neat  residence, 
substantial  barns  and  good  fences,  has  made 
other  valuable  improvements,  including  the  plant- 
ing of  trees,  and  has  brought  the  two  hundred 
and  thirty-four  acres  comprising  the  farm  under 
excellent  cultivation.  Few  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship have  resided  here  longer  than  he.  It  has 
been  his  privilege  to  witness  the  wonderful  trans- 
formation of  the  county  during  the  past  sixty- 
five  years,  and  in  the  development  of  its  re- 
sources he  has  been  an  active  factor. 

The  Lanfear  family  was  founded  in  America 
by  Seth  Lanfear,  a  native  of  Holland,  who 
crossed  the  ocean  in  the  "Mayflower,"  and 
settled  in  New  England.  From  there  his  de- 
scendants moved  to  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y. 
Joshua  Lanfear,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was 
born  in  that  county  and  died  on  a  farm  there 
when  ninety-six  years  of  age.  His  brothers 
served  in  the  continental  army  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  His  son,  Asa,  who  was  born  in 
Montgomery  County  in  1793,  became  the  owner 
of  a  large  farm  in  his  native  count}*,  but  after  a 
time  decided  to  seek  a  home  in  the  then  sparsely 


settled  west.  In  1834  he  made  a  prospecting 
trip  to  what  is  now  Will  County,  111.  Being 
pleased  with  the  location  he  bought  a  farm  on 
section  29,  Homer  Township,  and  began  to  break 
ground  and  build  fences.  In  the  spring  of  1835 
he  brought  his  family  to  the  new  home,  where 
he  built  a  log  cabin  and  began  life  in  the  midst 
of  pioneer  surroundings.  From  the  first  he  was 
prospered.  He  tilled  the  soil,  reaping  large  har- 
vests of  grain,  and  also  engaged  in  raising  stock. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  served  his 
district  as  a  school  director.  For  years  he  was  a 
deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church  and  Sunday-school 
superintendent.  June  23,  1871,  he  passed  from 
earth,  being  then  almost  seventy-eight  years  of 
age.  His  marriage  united  him  with  Olive  Bur- 
gess, who  was  born  iu  New  York  in  1797  and 
whose  step-father  was  killed  by  Indians.  She 
died  in  1883  at  the  home  of  her  son,  William  H. , 
when  eighty-five  years  of  age.  Of  her  ten  chil- 
dren, the  following  survive:  Ardelia,  the  widow 
of  Joseph  B.  Rowley;  Lydia  H.,  the  widow  of 
Alfred  G.  Rowley;  Eiion,  a  resident  of  Texas; 
William  H.;  Mary  J.,  the  widow  of  William 
Morse;. Joel  S.;  and  Olive  M.,  wife  of  Curtis 
Morse. 

In  1832  Selah,  a  brother  of  Asa  Lanfear,  came 
to  Will  County  with  his  family  and  settled  in 
Homer  Township,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-three  years.  His  body  was  interred  in 
the  burial-ground  on  section  30,  being  the  first 
to  be  buried  there.  His  widow  was  eighty-four 
at  the  time  of  her  death.  During  the  Black 
Hawk  war  he  was  captain  of  a  company  and 
built  a  fort  east  of  Lockport.  Years  after  he  had 
come  to  Illinois,  his  brother,  Enon  Lanfear, 
brought  his  family  here  and  settled  in  Homer 
Township. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1830  our  subject  was  born 
at  Sempronius,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.  When 
five  years  of  age  he  was  brought  to  this  county 
by  his  parents.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
common  schools,  which  he  attended  a  few  months 
each  year.  February  25,  1852,  he  married  Miss 
Emily  M.  Savage,  a  sister  of  Hon.  Amos  Savage, 
in  whose  sketch  the  family  history  appears.  She 
was  born  in  Granville,  N.  Y.,  July  24,  1830,  and 


512 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  three  years  of  age  when  her  parents  settled 
in  this  county.  Since  then  she  has  resided  in 
this  locality,  where  her  family  have  always  stood 
high.  She  was  educated  in  the  pioneer  schools 
of  Illinois  and  exhibited  ability  for  teaching.  She 
taught  four  terms  in  Homer  Township  success- 
fully. For  the  first  term  her  compensation  was 
but $1.00  per  week  and  "board  around."  Dur- 
ing the  last  year  she  received  double  this  amount, 
much  to  the  envy  of  some  of  her  associates.  Of 
the  seven  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lanfear  three 
are  living,  namely:  Mary  A.,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Brown,  of  this  county;  Albert  H.,  at 
home;  and  Nettie  E.,  wife  of  Frank  E.  Hyatt,  of 
Lockport.  Four  children  are  deceased:  Asa  W. , 
born  November  8,  1854,  died  March  22,  1871; 
Ida  M.,  born  August  2,  1856,  died  January  6, 
i860;  Charlie  E.,  born  November  3,  1872,  died 
July  24,  1873;  and  Willie  H.,  born  November  3, 
1872,  died  September  13,  1874.  The  family  are 
identified  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Lockport, 
of  which  Mr.  Lanfear  is  a  trustee. 


(DQlLLIAM  F.  McMASTERS,  city  clerk  of 
\  A  /  Joliet,  is  a  descendant  of  a  Scotch  family 
Y  V  tnat  was  identified  with  the  early  history 
of  North  Carolina.  His  parents,  William  F.  and 
Elizabeth  (Allen)  McMasters,  were  natives  re- 
spectively of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  and  died  in 
the  latter  state,  the  father  in  1864,  the  mother  in 
1872.  The  maternal  grandfather,  William  Allen, 
was  a  farmer  of  Jefferson  County,  Ohio.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Rev.  David  McMasters, 
was  a  son  of  Rev.  James  Masters  (as  the  name 
was  then  spelled),  and  a  native  of  Chatham 
County,  N.  C,  where  his  family  had  been  slave- 
holders, but  becoming  convinced  of  the  injustice 
of  the  institution  they  finally  set  their  slaves  free. 
David  McMasters  and  two  of  his  brothers  became 
ministers  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
While  living  in  Pennsylvania  he  married  Miss 
Anna  Starr.  Later  they  removed  from  that  state 
to    Mount    Pleasant,     Jefferson    County,    Ohio. 


They  were  accompanied  by  a  ten-year  old  girl, 
Lucy  Norman,  whom  they  reared  and  who  was 
married  by  Rev.  Mr.  McMasters  to  Mr.  Stanton; 
they  became  the  parents  of  Edwin  McMasters 
Stanton,  the  famous  war  secretary  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. 

At  an  early  age  William  F.  McMasters,  Sr., 
our  subject's  father,  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio.  There  he  carried  on  a 
furniture  business  and  later  was  proprietor  of  a 
boot  and  shoe  store,  also  of  an  insurance  agency. 
For  some  years  he  served  as  county  auditor. 

A  member  of  a  family  of  two  daughters  and 
one  son,  our  subject  was  born  in  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  April  10,  1863.  After  his  mother's  death 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  made  his  home  with  an 
aunt  in  Canton,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  secured 
work  on  a  farm  and  from  that  time  he  earned  his 
own  livelihood.  In  1876  he  became  an  appren- 
tice to  the  cigar-maker's  trade,  which  he  followed 
in  Canton  until  1881,  and  afterward  traveled 
through  the  east  and  in  Canada.  '  In  1886  he  was 
married  in  Galesburg,  111.,  to  Mrs.  Nettie  (Bald- 
win) Krollman,  who  was  born  in  Monmouth, 
this  state,  being  a  daughter  of  George  Baldwin, 
an  earl)'  settler  of  Monmouth  and  proprietor  of 
the  Baldwin  house  in  that  city. 

April  10,  1890,  Mr.  McMasters  arrived  in 
Joliet,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
was  employed  in  a  cigar  factory  until  1899,  being 
foreman  during  four  years  of  that  time.  In  the 
spring  of  1899  he  was  elected  city  clerk  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  receiving  a  majority  of  two 
hundred  and  forty-five.  On  the  1st  of  May  he 
took  the  oath  of  office,  and  has  since,  with  the 
aid  of  two  assistants,  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
position  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  The 
Democratic  party  receives  his  steadfast  support, 
and  he  is  actively  interested  in  political  matters. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  During  his  active  con- 
nection with  the  Cigar  Maker's  Union  he  fre- 
quently was  elected  its  president,  and  he  was 
also  for  some  years  president  and  financial  sec- 
retary of  the  Central  Trades  and  Labor  Council 
of  Will    County.       He  and  his  wife   have  two 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5i3 


daughters,  Estel  and  Georgia,  and  by  her  first 
marriage  Mrs.  MeMasters  also  has  a  daughter, 
Maude  Krollman,  who  is  now  a  student  in  the 
high  school  of  Monmouth,  111. 


HON.  JOHN  B.  MOUNT,  mayor  of  Joliet. 
The  Mount  family  is  of  English  and  Ger- 
man descent  and  was  early  represented  in 
New  Jersey.  Elias  P.  Mount,  who  was  born 
near  Morristown,  N.  J.,  the  son  of  a  brick  man- 
ufacturer, learned  the  builder's  trade  in  Newark, 
and  about  1855  came  to  Illinois.  Settling  in 
Jacksonville,  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  con- 
tractor and  builder.  An  active  Democrat,  he 
however  never  held  public  office.  In  religion 
he  was  a  Presbyterian,  and  fraternally  a  Master 
Mason.  Ainonghiscontractsweretho.se  for  the 
courthouse  at  Jacksonville,  large  portions  of  the 
insane  asylum,  deaf  and  dumb  school  and  the 
institute  for  the  blind;  twice  he  built  the  Illinois 
Female  College.  He  built  many  of  the  most 
substantial  business  houses  and  residences  in  that 
city,  and  was  one  of  its  first  prominent  contract- 
ors. He  died  there  in  October,  1892.  His  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Johnson, 
•was  born  near  New  London,  Conn.,  the  daughter 
of  a  farmer  whose  ancestors  came  from  England 
and  served  in  the  colonial  army  during  the  Rev- 
olution; her  mother  was  a  member  of  an  old 
Puritan  and  Revolutionary  family  to  which  be- 
longed ex-Governor  Morgan,  of  New  York.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Mount  died  in  January,  1898,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years.  Of  her  six  children  all 
but  one  are  living. 

The  eldest  of  the  family,  John  B.,  was  born  in 
Jacksonville,  111.,  January  16,  1859.  He  .was 
educated  in  public  schools  and  Whipple  Academy, 
where  he  took  a  college  preparatory  course.  In 
187(1  he  entered  a  drug  store,  where  he  clerked, 
and  at  the  same  time  studied  pharmacy,  remain- 
ing there  until  1882.  He  then  came  to  Joliet  and 
opened  a  drug  store  on  the  corner  of  Chicago  and 
Jefferson  streets,  where  he  remained  for  thirteen 


years.  He  then  bought  the  property  at  No.  702 
Washington  street,  near  Eastern  avenue,  where 
lie  has  since  carried  on  a  large  business  as  drug- 
gist. Since  1889  he  has  been  a  stockholder  and 
director  in  the  Mutual  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation. Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  Matte- 
son  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he 
is  treasurer.  Reared  in  the  Baptist  faith  by  his 
mother,  he  has  always  been  in  sympathy  with 
the  doctrines  of  that  church  and  has  aided  its 
work.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Stone 
City  Union  Club  of  Joliet  and  is  still  actively 
connected  with  it. 

In  Marseilles,  111.,  Mr.  Mount  married  Miss 
Annie  L-  Bruce,  b3'  whom  he  has  a  daughter, 
Margaret  Bruce  Mount,  a  member  of  the  Joliet 
high  school  class  of  1900.  Mrs.  Mount  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Young  Ladies'  Atheneuin  at  Jackson- 
ville and  is  a  cultured,  educated  lady,  possessing 
many  attractive  traits  of  character.  She  is  of 
Scotch  parentage,  her  father,  Alexander  Bruce, 
having  been  born  in  Scotland,  whence  he  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  banking  in 
Marseilles  until  his  death.  He  was  also  a  prom- 
inent railroad  contractor,  his  specialty  being  stone 
masonry  for  railroad  bridges,  and  he  bridged  the 
Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers  more  than  twelve 
ti  mes. 

For  some  years  Mr.  Mount  has  been  one  of  the 
leading  Democrats  of  his  city  and  has  also  served 
as  treasurer  of  the  county  central  committee.  In 
1893-94  ne  was  Qtiy  treasurer.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  those  two  years  he  has  filled  the  office  of 
assistant  supervisor  since  1889,  and  is  at  present 
a  member  of  the  judiciary  committee  appointed 
to  settle  with  the  circuit  clerk.  In  the  spring  of 
1897  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  mayor, 
but  was  defeated  by  two  hundred  and  four  votes. 
Two  years  later  he  was  again  nominated,  and 
this  time  defeated  Colonel  Bennitt  by  nine  hun- 
dred and  eighty  votes,  assuming  the  duties  of  the 
office  on  the  1st  of  May,  1899,  for  a  term  of  two 
years.  In  the  capacity  of  mayor  he  is  ex-officio 
president  of  all  the  public  departments. 

Alike  in  business  circles  and  in  public  affairs 
Mr.  Mount  is,  by  common  consent,  accorded  a 
high  place.     Successful  in  a  financial  sense,  ex- 


5H 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


hibiting  clearness  of  judgment  and  great  energy 
in  the  conduct  of  his  drug  business,  he  has  proved 
himself  to- be  no  less  fitted  for  the  functions  of  an 
office-holder,  and  has  displayed  a  public  spirit 
and  force  of  character  as  the  head  of  executive 
affairs  in  Joliet.  The  best  interests  of  the  city 
have  been  promoted  by  his  influence.  It  is  the 
testimony  even  of  those  opposed  to  him  in  pol- 
itics that,  as  mayor,  he  has  always  protected  the 
city's  interests  and  defended  its  rights:  and  that, 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  executive,  he 
is  quick  to  recognize  an  important  situation  and 
equally  quick  in  devising  means  of  meeting  it — 
qualities  that  have  enabled  him  to  perform 
efficiently  the  exacting  duties  of  his  office. 


'  DWARD  R.  McCLELLAN,  who  is  engaged 
)  in  farming  and  cattle-raising  on  sections  22 
.  and  23,  Plainfield  Township,  was  born  in 
Will  County,  October  26,  i860,  the  only  child  of 
John  and  Arathusa  (Brown)  McClellan. 

In  1745  three  McClellan  brothers  came  to 
America  and  settled,  one  in  Connecticut,  another 
in  Pennsylvania  and  the  third  in  western  Massa- 
chusetts. From  the  Massachusetts  settler  de- 
scends the  subject  of  this  article.  From  the 
Pennsylvania  descended  Gen.  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan. Hugh  McClellan,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, was  captain  of  a  company  of  minute 
men  from  Shelburne  and  Colerain,  Mass.,  who 
started  from  the  front  April  20,  1775,  the  day 
following  the  battle  of  Lexington.  He  served 
honorably  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  participated  in  many  hard-fought  battles, 
among  them  the  battle  of  Stillwater  on  the  Hud- 
son, where  General  Burgoyne  had  thrown  a  rope 
bridge  across  the  river  to  be  used  as  a  means  of 
retreat.  A  few  days  before  that  engagement  the 
colonists  were  roused  east  of  the  Hudson.  All 
of  the  pewter  plates  in  their  houses  were  melted 
into  bullets.  Although  a  child  of  Colonel  Mc- 
Clellan had  just  died,  he  stopped  only  long 
enough    for   the  burial,    and  with   a   fleet  horse 


overtook  his  men  before  they  reached  Stillwater. 
There  the  bridge  was  guarded  by  a  company  of 
thirty  Hessians,  all  but  one  of  whom  were  killed, 
this  aiding  materially  in  the  defeat  of  Burgoyne 
and  his  bloodthirsty  Indian  allies.  At  the  close 
of  Shay's  rebellion  his  home  was  made  the  repos- 
itory of  the  arms  and  ammunitions  of  war  of  the 
little  belligerent  army,  and  a  large  room  in  his 
colonial  mansion,  known  as  the  north  chamber, 
was  filled  with  them.  There  he  also  administered 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  people. 

Hon.  Michael  McClellan,  son  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary colonel,  was  elected  on  the  Whig  ticket 
to  the  Massachusetts  legislature,  in  which  he 
served  for  several  terms.  By  his  marriage  to 
Jane  Patterson  he  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
John  was  the  youngest  and  is  now  the  sole  sur- 
vivor. He  received  a  public-school  education 
and  remained  on  the  homestead  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority.  From  Massachusetts  he 
came  direct  of  Illinois  and  settled  in  Will  Coun- 
ty, buying  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Plainfield  Township.  To  this  he  added  until  he 
owned  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres.  There 
he  remained,  cultivating  the  soil  and  raising 
stock,  until  the  fall  of  1SS3,  when  he  retired  from 
farm  cares.  Since  then  he  has  made  his  home 
in  Plainfield.  During  the  existence  of  the  Whig 
party  he  voted  for  its  principles  and  afterward 
became  a  Republican.  Since  1880  he  has  held 
the  office  of  road  commissioner,  a  position  that 
he  has  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  people. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  in 
the  schools  of  this  county  and  the  high  school  in 
Niles,  Mich.  Upon  completing  his  course  there 
he  returned  to  the  home  place  and  began  to  assist 
in  its  management.  He  continued  with  his  fa- 
ther until  the  latter's  retirement  to  Plainfield, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  alone.  He  has 
made  a  specialty  of  the  cattle  business,  making 
his  fanning  secondary,  and  while  he  sells  some 
oats,  he  is  obliged  to  buy  each  year  considerable 
corn  for  feeding.  In  buying  cattle  his  preference 
is  for  the  Durhams.  He  has  added  to  his  hold- 
ing until  he  now  operates  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  acres,  every  part  of  which  is  now  accessible 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


515 


to  running  water.  One  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
are  under  the  plow,  the  remainder  being  used  for 
the  pasturage  of  stock.  In  addition  to  his  cattle 
he  keeps  a  few  trotting  horses  on  the  place. 

In  the  delegation  work  of  the  Republican 
party  in  his  township  Mr.  McClellan  has  taken  an 
active  part,  wielding  an  influence  for  the  candi- 
dates of  the  party,  but  seeking  no  official  honors 
for  himself.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  November  27,  1883,  he  married  Miss 
Carrie  I.  McAllister,  daughter  of  Capt.  Edward 
McAllister,  of  this  township.  They  have  two 
daughters,  Inez  A.  and  Vera  E. 


HON.  HUGH  HENDERSON.  On  the  22d 
of  October,  1854,  there  was  genuine  grief 
in  the  state  of  Illinois,  but  its  intensity  and 
depth  were  most  keenly  felt  in  Joliet  and  Will 
County,  where  Judge  Henderson's  death,  at  that 
period,  was  in  reality  a  public  calamity.  He 
was  an  ornament  to  the  bar  and  the  judiciary  and 
elevated  to  a  higher  eminence  every  position  he 
occupied.  His  selection  to  revise  the  laws  and 
statutes  of  the  state,  at  Springfield,  a  duty  to 
which  he  devoted  three  months  of  active  energy 
and  an  intelligent  mind,  trained  in  the  legal  lore 
of  the  past,  and  its  application  to  the  existing 
condition  of  the  time,  was  an  evidence  of  eminent 
qualifications  to  fill  the  highest  office  within  the 
gift  of  the  people.  That  they  appreciated  his 
merits  and  well-won  honors  was  made  evident 
by  records  that  are  now  historical  facts,  that  he- 
was  at  that  period  the  contemplated  candidate 
for  governor  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  a 
certainty  of  election  to  the  gubernatorial  chair. 

In  those  days  Illinois  was  a  magnet  of  attrac- 
tion for  the  youth,  genius,  intellect  and  manhood 
of  other  states,  until  it  became  the  nursery  of  the 
builders  of  the  nation,  on  the  lines  marked  out 
by  Washington,  Jefferson  and  Jackson.  If  Ken- 
tucky furnished  a  Lincoln,  New  York  contributed 
a    Henderson,    another   of    Nature's   noblemen, 


called  away  when  his  services  to  country  and 
friends  were  most  needed,  and  before  his  brilliant 
talents  and  faithful  discharge  of  public  duty  had 
time  to  receive  the  recognition  that  was  so  cer- 
tain of  fulfillment. 

Hugh  Henderson  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Nor- 
way, Herkimer  County,  N.  Y. ,  June  9,  1809. 
At  an  early  age  he  aided  his  industrious  parents, 
especially  in  spring  and  summer,  when  and 
wherever  his  services  were  available.  In  winter 
he  attended  the  country  school  and  laid  the  basis 
of  an  education  that  was  achieved  by  a  determi- 
nation, characteristic  of  his  spirit,  to  succeed  in 
whatever  duty  he  undertook.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  taught  school.  This  occupation  he 
followed  until  he  had  saved  sufficient  to  enter 
Fairfield  College,  New  York.  There,  by  close 
application,  he  forced  his  way  to  the  foremost 
rank  and  graduated  with  high  honors.  Entering 
the  law  office  of  George  Feeter,  of  Little  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  he  never  halted  in  his  exertions  to  acquire 
a  knowledge  of  all  it  was  necessary  he  should 
know,  in  a  profession  he  was  destined  to  honor, 
and  in  which  he  was  to  become  an  authority  on 
matters  of  jurisprudence. 

In  the  spring  of  1835  he  anticipated  Horace 
Greeley's  advice  and  came  west,  showing  his 
good  judgment  by  locating  in  Joliet,  where  he 
opened  an  office  on  the  east  side  of  Chicago 
street,  north  of  Cass  street.  His  letters  to  par- 
ents and  friends  at  this  period  were  prophetic, 
read  in  the  light  of  to-day,  and  he  contributed 
more  than  his  share,  with  the  progressive  pio- 
neers of  that  time,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
prosperous  conditions  of  the  present,  which 
makes  a  great  future  inevitable. 

December  23,  1837,  he  married  Helen  Myers, 
who  was  born  in  Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  December 
30,  1814,  and  who  came  to  Joliet  in  1835.  Her 
father,  Michael  Myers,  was  an  officer  during  the 
war  of  1812,  and  her  grandfather  was  Gen. 
Michael  Myers,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Her 
maternal  grandfather  was  Army  Surgeon  Gris- 
wold,  who  afterward  was  elected  governor  of 
Connecticut.  That  the  judge  was  happily  mar- 
ried and  received  co-operation  in  his  lofty,  pa- 
triotic and  political  aspirations,  was  well  under- 


Si6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stood,  but  how  could  it  be  otherwise  in  the  off- 
spring of  such  an  ancestry.  Mrs.  Henderson  is 
alive  to-day,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five,  in  her 
forty-fifth  year  of  widowhood;  loyal  and  faithful 
to  her  husband's  memory,  with  a  mind  clear  and 
intelligent,  showing  in  affliction  the  courage  of 
her  race,  and  with  that  depth  of  love  for  home 
and  kindred  for  which  they  were  noted.  The 
old  homestead,  built  in  1838  under  the  judge's 
supervision,  and  her  every  wish  consulted  in  its 
erection,  bears  its  old-time  appearance  and  serves 
as  an  historic  landmark.  Its  appearance  demon- 
strates the  mother's  desire  to  retain  in  its  en- 
tirety the  home  to  which  her  husband  was  so 
attached,  commemorative  of  struggles  and  tri- 
umphs. Progressive  as  the  family  are  in  every- 
thing else,  the  mother's  feelings  are  too  well 
understood  and  felt  to  have  am*  change  sug- 
gested that  would  rob  the  home  of  any  recollec- 
tion of  its  happiest  hours. 

The  family  consisted  of  four  children.  Mar- 
garet S.,  who  resides  at  Lyons,  Mich.,  is  the 
widow  of  John  A.  Kelly,  captain  of  Company  K, 
One  Hundreth  Illinois  Infantry,  during  the  Civil 
war.  Daniel  C,  who  married  Rose  W.  Wood- 
ruff, of  New  York,  was  for  many  years  editor  of 
the  Joliet  Daily  and  Weekly  Record  and.  died  in 
1898,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
James  E.,  publisher  of  the  Joliet  Signal,  the  old- 
est paper  in  the  state,  married  Kate  A.  Alpine, 
who  is  at  present  public  librarian.  John  D.  is 
represented  in  the  following  sketch.  Honest  and 
upright  in  all  their  dealings,  liberal  and  generous 
as  the  case  demands,  unassuming  at  all  times,  it 
need  not  be  wondered  at  that  the  Henderson  fam- 
ily are  so  highly  esteemed  in  the  community. 

The  old  files  of  the  Record  and  Signal,  as  well 
as  the  court  records,  bear  ample  testimony  to 
Judge  Henderson's  success  as  a  lawyer  prior  to 
his  election  as  judge  of  the  circuit  court,  to  suc- 
ceed Hon.  Theophilus  W.  Smith.  The  seventh 
judicial  circuit  in  those  days  embraced  the  coun- 
ties of  Will,  Dupage  and  Iroquois.  His  ac- 
knowledged ability,  illustrated  in  his  able  deci- 
sions, his  impartiality  in  all  cases  and  at  all 
times,  were  no  more  conspicuous  than  his  up- 
right character,  which  won    for    him  the  respect 


of  the  bar  and  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
community.  No  wonder  then  that  his  name  and 
fame  should  spread  to  other  districts  and  that  he 
should  be  selected  as  the  banner  bearer  of  the 
Democratic  party  which  had  determined  that  his 
name  should  head  the  state  ticket  for  governor  of 
Illinois.  However,  Fate  willed  it  otherwise. 
That  parental  affection  characteristic  of  the  fam- 
ily prompted  him  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  scenes  of 
his  boyhood  days  and  to  the  old  folks  at  home 
who  cherished  his  memory.  He  left  his  family 
and  Joliet  October  1,  1854;  he  was  in  good  health 
and  spirits,  and  little  dreamed  it  was  the  last 
parting  from  his  dear  ones.  On  the  journey  he 
caught  a  severe  cold  which  developed  into  pneu- 
monia, and  he  died  on  the  22d  of  the  same  month. 
No  opposition  was  raised  to  the  wishes  of  his 
relatives  to  have  him  laid  to  rest  near  his  birth- 
place, and  Norway  cemetery  contains  all  that  is 
mortal  of  Judge  Henderson,  whose  name  will  be 
perpetuated  in  the  annals  of  his  adopted  city  and 
state  and  whose  memory  is  still  green  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  held  him  dear.  At  the  De- 
cember term  of  court,  Mr.  Osgood,  by  request  of 
the  bar,  presented  resolutions  of  respect  which 
were  adopted  and  spread  on  the  records. 

Joliet  is  proud  of  preserving  the  names  of  the 
pioneers  worthy  of  honor  and  to  her  everlasting 
credit  will  it  be  placed  that  the  judge's  memory 
has  been  perpetuated  by  naming  after  him  a 
school  and  a  leading  thoroughfare — the  Hen- 
derson school  and  Henderson  avenue. 


(John  d.  Henderson,  of  joliet,  a  son  of 

I  Judge  Hugh  Henderson,  was  born  October 
Q)  16,  1 85 1,  in  the  house  where  he  now  resides. 
Deprived  of  his  father  by  death  when  he  was  too 
small  to  realize  his  loss,  he  was  reared  under  the 
wise  yet  gentle  rule  of  his  mother,  who  gave  him 
good  educational  advantages  and  fitted  him  for  an 
honorable  place  in  the  business  world.  From 
early  boyhood  he  was  connected  with  railroad 
companies,  being  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  for 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5i7 


eleven  years,  the  Santa  Fe  for  six  years,  and  the 
Rock  Island  for  twelve  3-ears.  When  he  began 
work  he  carried  messages  for  the  operator,  who 
was  none  other  than  the  present  Sir  William  Van 
Horn,  president  of  the  Canadian  Pacific.  Dur- 
ing all  this  time  he  was  located  in  Joliet.  Owing 
to  failing  health  he  was  obliged  to  resign  his 
position  and  seek  other  employment.  In  1895  he 
embarked  in  the  real-estate  and  loan  business, 
which  he  has  since  followed,  having  his  office  in 
the  Barber  building.  The  change  of  occupation 
has  proved  helpful  to  him,  for  he  now  enjoys  ex- 
cellent health.  At  the  same  time  he  has  been 
financially  prospered  and  has  accumulated  a 
competency  through  his  intelligent  and  indus- 
trious efforts.  He  opened  a  subdivision  on  Hen- 
derson avenue  and  Jackson  street,  just  east  of 
Spring  Creek,  and  here  he  platted  thirty- eight 
residence  lots. 

In  politics,  though  not  a  partisan,  Mr.  Hen- 
derson is  a  staunch  Democrat,  adhering  to  the 
party  in  which  his  father  was  so  prominent  a 
figure  for  years.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  Powhatan  and  Rebekah  lodges  and  Eagle  En- 
campment of  Odd  Fellows.  December  22,  1880, 
at  Lyons,  Mich.,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Cora  E.  Coon,  daughter  of  Peter  Coon,  a  mer- 
chant of  that  town.  Two  children  have  been 
born  of  their  marriage,  Louis  J.  and  Edna  L- 


HON.  HENRY  SNAPP.  Through  his  hon- 
orable record  as  state  senator  and  member 
of  congress,  Mr.  Snapp's  name  and  life  are 
worthy  of  perpetuation  in  the  annals  of  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  Livingston  County, 
N.  Y.,  June  30,  1822,  a  son  of  Abratn  Snapp, 
who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  (born  in  1795) 
and  descended  from  a  Strassburg  (Germany)  fam- 
ily that  settled  in  America  about  1740.  From 
Pennsylvania  Abram  Snapp  removed  to  New 
York,  where  he  worked  as  a  farmer  and  cabinet- 
maker.    In    1825  he  settled  in  the  western  part 


of  New  York,  and  was  deputy  sheriff  in  Rochester. 
In  1833,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, he  started  west,  traveling  via  lake  to  De- 
troit, thence  by  team  to  Illinois,  and  establishing 
his  home  in  what  was  known  as  "Yankee  Settle- 
ment" (now  Homer  Township,  Will  County). 
It  was  then  in  Cook  County,  Will  County  not 
being  organized  until  1836.  He  entered  a  large 
tract  of  land  and  engaged  extensively  in  farming, 
continuing  until  1863,  when  he  retired  to  Joliet. 
An  accident  that  resulted  in  blood  poisoning 
caused  his  death  in  1865.  He  had  served  as  an 
officer  in  the  Baptist  Church,  in  the  work  of 
which  he  was  long  a  leader.  His  wife  was  Sarah 
Weed,  member  of  an  old  eastern  family  and  a 
cousin  of  Thurlow  Weed.  Of  their  three  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons,  only  two  daughters  are  living, 
Mrs.  Johnson,  of  Kankakee,  and  Mrs.  Mather,  of 
Joliet. 

From  the  age  of  eleven  years  the  life  of  Henry 
Snapp  was  identified  with  the  growth  of  Will 
County.  From  his  father  he  inherited  a  strong 
will  and  uncompromising  integrity,  together  with 
intellectual  traits  of  no  common  order.  Upon  at- 
taining his  majority  he  came  to  Joliet  and  read 
law  with  E.  C.  Fellows  and  S.  W.  Randall,  and 
in  1S43  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  For  the 
legal  profession  his  ready  command  of  language, 
his  quick  wit  and  keenness  of  discrimination  ad- 
mirably fitted  him.  His  mind  was  logical  in  its 
processes.  He  reasoned  from  cause  to  result, 
and  the  intricacies  of  complicated  cases  yielded 
to  his  acute  reasoning  faculties.  In  spite  of  his 
many  duties  and  interests  he  never  ceased  to  he 
a  student  of  the  law,  and  thus  he  kept  himself  in 
touch  with  every  advance  made  in  its  various  de- 
partments. 

The  qualities  possessed  by  Mr.  Snapp  were 
such  as  fitted  him  for  the  public  service.  This 
was  recognized  by  his  fellow-citizens,  who 
tendered  him  offices  of  responsibility  and  honor. 
In  1868  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate.  Four 
years  later  he  resigned  the  office  in  order  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination  to  represent  the  sixth  (now 
the  seventh)  congressional  district  in  congress, 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Hon.  B.  C.  Cook, 
resigned.     On  the  expiration  of  the  term  he  de- 


5i8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


clined  renomination,  but  returned  to  Joliet  and 
resumed  his  law  practice,  in  which  his  subsequent 
years  were  passed.  During  the  long  period  of 
his  practice  he  had  various  partners.  At  first  he 
was  with  Mr.  Fellows,  later  was  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Snapp  &  Breckenridge,  afterwards  was 
successively  with  Goodspeed  &  Snapp,  and  Good- 
speed,  Snapp  &  Knox,  finally  being  with  his  son 
as  Snapp  &  Snapp,  practicing  throughout  the 
northern  part  of  the  state.  During  the  war  he 
and  his  father  were  stanch  Abolitionists  and  sup- 
porters of  the  Union.  He  assisted  in  organizing 
the  Republican  party  in  this  count}-  and  his  serv- 
ices as  speaker  were  frequently  in  demand  at  that 
time.  In  religion  he  was  of  the  Baptist  faith. 
He  died  in  this  city  November  26,  1895,  when 
seventy-three  years  of  age. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Snapp  was  Mary  Adeline 
Broadie,  who  was  born  in  Delaware.  One  of  her 
paternal  ancestors  took  the  side  of  the  second 
pretender  in  Scotland  and  for  that  reason  sought 
a  new  home  in  America.  Her  father  came  from 
Ohio  to  Kankakee,  111.,  in  1S33,  and  the  next 
year  settled  in  what  is  now  New  Lenox  Town- 
ship, Will  County,  where  he  died.  He  married 
a  Miss  White,  of  English  ancestry.  Mrs.  Mary 
Adeline  Snapp  died  in  18S4,  leaving  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Sarah  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Judge  Dorrance  Dibell,  of  Joliet;  Elizabeth,  who 
married  George  M.  Campbell,  of  this  city;  Henry 
Douglas  and  Howard  M.,  both  of  Joliet;  and 
Charles,  who  is  a  business  man  in  Memphis, 
Tenn. 


HOWARD  M.  SNAPP.  As  a  potential  factor 
in  the  work  of  the  Republican  party,  Mr. 
Snapp  is  well  known  throughout  this  coun- 
ty. While  he  has  never  been  a  candidate  for 
public  office  and  has  not  sought  official  honors, 
he  has  nevertheless  wielded  a  strong  influence  in 
all  party  matters  and  has  perhaps  accomplished 
more  than  any  other  citizen  to  secure  victory  for 
Republican  principles  in  this  locality.  In  1884 
he  was  made  secretary  of  the  county  central  com- 


mittee, an  office  that  he  filled  with  efficiency  until 
1892,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  chairmanship 
of  the  committee.  It  is  said  that  he  has  held 
this  position  for  a  longer  period  than  any  of  his 
predecessors.  In  1896  he  was  chosen  a  delegate 
to  the  national  Republican  convention  in  St. 
Louis,  when  William  McKinley  was  nominated 
for  president,  and  he  has  frequently  been  a  dele- 
gate to  conventions  of  lesser  importance. 

In  Joliet,  where  he  now  resides,  Mr.  Snapp 
was  born  September  27,  1855,  a  son  of  Hon. 
Henry  Snapp.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
local  schools  and  in  Chicago  University.  At  the 
close  of  the  junior  year  he  left  the  university  and 
took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Hill  & 
Dibell,  continuing  to  read  with  that  firm  until  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  187S,  at  Ottawa. 
From  that  time  until  1888  he  was  with  his  father 
and  Mr.  Breckenridge,  and  later,  with  his  father, 
formed  the  law  firm  of  Snapp  &  Snapp,  which 
partnership  continued  until  the  retirement  of  the 
firm's  senior  member  in  1890.  Since  then  Mr. 
Snapp  has  been  alone.  In  addition  to  his  private 
practice  he  has  held  the  office  of  master  in  chan- 
cery since  1884,  having  been  first  chosen  by 
Judge  McRoberts  and  afterward  reappointed 
every  two  years. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Snapp  is  a  member  of  Matte- 
son  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  the  chapter  and 
council,  Mount  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T., 
and  Medinah  Temple,  N.  M.  S.,  of  Chicago. 
His  marriage  in  Kansas  City,  Kans.,  united  him 
with  Miss  Alice  Halsey,  who  was  born  in 
Henrietta,  N.  Y.,  a  member  of  a  prominent  old 
family  of  Monroe  County.  Three  children  com- 
prise their  family,  Dorrance,  Helen  and  How- 
ard M.,  Jr. 


(lOHNSON  FOLKERS  is  a  prominent  Ger- 
I  man-American  citizen  of  Frankfort  Station, 
G/  who  keeps  abreast  with  the  progress  of  the 
times,  and  has  endeavored  at  all  times  to  advance 
the  interests  of  his  adopted  country.  Ever  since 
he  was  a   boy,  and  from  an  early  day  in  the  his- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5i9 


tor)-  of  this  county,  he  has  made  his  home  here. 
His  life  of  industry  and  his  record  for  integrity 
in  all  relations  of  life  have  given  him  a  stauding 
in  his  community  which  might  well  be  a  source 
of  gratification  to  any  citizen.  At  one  time  he 
had  many  important  business  interests  in  his 
home  town,  but  for  some  years  past  he  has  been 
practically  retired  from  business  cares,  transfer- 
ring his  interests  to  his  sons,  in  whose  hands 
they  have  received  careful  attention. 

Mr.  Folkers  was  born  in  Ostfriesland,  Hano- 
ver, Germany,  June  11,  1836,  a  son  of  Frank 
Theilen  Folkers  and  Ariane  (Gummels)  Folkers. 
His  father  was  a  large  merchant  in  his  native 
place,  Neustadt  Goedens,  Germany,  but  after 
coming  to  America,  in  1852,  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farm  pursuits.  He  died  in  Frankfort  Sta- 
tion, Will  County,  March  14,  1893,  when  ninety- 
seven  years  of  age.  He  wife  had  died  in  Ger- 
many in  1843,  leaving  five  children,  viz.:  Rica, 
who  lives  at  Frankfort  Station;  Angelina,  widow 
of  Philip  Klaman;  Peter,  of  West  Superior, 
Wis  ;  Johnson;  and  Annie,  wife  of  George  Stauf- 
fenberg,  of  Manhattan  Township.  The  grand- 
parents of  our  subject  on  his  father's  side  were 
Didde  Jansen  Hinzaga  and  Anna  Muttera  Folk- 
ers, the  former  a  miller  by  occupation,  and  known 
and  honored  as  a  good  citizen  and  an  honest  man. 
In  religious  faith  the  family  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

In  1849  Johnson  Folkers  came  to  America  with 
his  uncle,  Diederich  Brumund,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  where  Mokena  now  stands,  near  Hickory 
Creek,  Frankfort  Township.  For  a  few  years  he 
made  his  home  with  his  uncle.  Later  he  settled 
in  what  is  now  Greengarden  Township.  When 
he  was  fifteen  he  began  to  work  out  by  the 
month,  and  continued  as  a  farm  hand  until  he 
was  twenty-five.  During  the  construction  of  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad  he  was  employed  as  a 
teamster  near  Mokena.  In  1853  he  worked  on 
the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  near  Joliet.  In 
1863  he  bought  a  piece  of  land  adjoining  Frank- 
fort Station.  Settling  here,  he  embarked  in  the 
meat  business,  which  he  carried  on  until  1SS9, 
being  the  first  to  open  a  meat  market  in  the  town. 
Some  years  later   he  bought  out  the  livery,  and 


this  he  carried  on  in  addition  to  his  market. 
Later  he  bought  the  Doty  hotel.  These  three 
lines  of  business  he  conducted  successfully  until 
1889,  when  he  turned  them  over  to  his  three 
sons,  Frank,  William  and  Peter. 

While  he  never  cared  for  office  nor  desired  to 
be  active  in  politics,  Mr.  Folkers  takes  an  inter- 
est in  public  affairs  and  is  a  firm  Republican.  In 
April,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twentieth 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  in  the  same  until 
1862,  when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  dis- 
ability. With  his  regiment  he  was  engaged  prin- 
cipally in  service  on  the  frontier.  He  fought  in 
the  battle  of  Frederickstown  with  the  western 
division  of  the  army  under  Colonel  Marsh.  As  a 
soldier  he  was  prompt,  reliable  and  faithful.  On 
his  return  home  from  the  front  he  married  Sophia, 
daughter  of  John  Eberhard,  theirwedding  occur- 
ring February  23,  1862.  Besides  their  three  sons, 
they  have  reared  two  adopted  daughters,  Hattie 
and  Mabel,  bestowing  on  them  the  most  careful 
attention  and  giving  them  excellent  educational 
advantages. 


V  /|  ORRIS  NIVER,  a  retired  farmer  living  at 
Y  Lockport,  was  born  at  Ulster  County,  N.Y. , 
(g  January  23,  1818,  a  son  of  James  and 
Sarah  (Terwilliger)  Niver.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  shoemaker  and  local  Methodist  preacher. 
In  1853  he  came  to  Illinois.  After  three  years 
he  moved  to  Clinton  County,  Iowa,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  some  years,  and  then  re- 
tired, removing  to  Clinton,  where  he  died  at 
ninety-three  years  of  age.  His  grandfather, 
Godfrey,  was  a  German,  and  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica long  before  the  Revolutionary  war,  settling  in 
Ulster  County,  N.Y. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  oldest  of  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and  six 
are  still  living.  He  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  seventeen,  when  he  began  to  work  on  a  farm 
and  in  a  sawmill  at  $10  and  $12  a  month.  After- 
ward, until  he  was  twenty-one,  he  paid  his  father 
$100  per  year  for  his  time.     In    1839  his  em- 


520 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ployer,  Martin  Rich,  sent  him  to  Michigan  with 
a  threshing-machine,  but  he  worked  there  only 
three  weeks,  when  he  came  to  Will  County,  111., 
and  secured  a  job  of  threshing  on  Hickory  Creek. 
A  week  later  he  went  to  Plainfield,  where  he  was 
employed  in  threshing,  using  the  first  horse- 
power threshing-machine  brought  into  the  coun- 
ty. During  the  season  he  followed  threshing 
for  seven  years.  He  then  rented  a  farm  one  mile 
south  of  Plainfield, where  he  lived  for  four  years. 
Meantime  he  bought  wild  land  three  and  one-half 
miles  southeast  of  Plainfield,  paying  $100  for 
eighty  acres.  Thirty-seven  years  later  he  sold 
the  property  for  $100  an  acre.  On  locating  in 
Lockport  he  bought  seven  lots,  three  of  which  he 
sold  for  residence  lots. 

In  1843  Mr.  Niver  married  Mrs.  LucinaStowe, 
who  was  born  in  Lewis  County,  N.  Y. ,  September 
9,  1S20,  and  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents 
in  1840.  Her  father,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
settled  in  Lewis  County  in  boyhood  and  there 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  On  coining  to 
Illinois  he  settled  near  Plainfield.  A  few  years 
later  he  moved  near  Ottawa,  111. ,  thence  went  to 
Wheatland,  Iowa,  where  his  wife  died  at  fifty-two 
years  of  age.  Afterward  he  made  his  home  with 
his  daughter  until  his  death,  when  eighty-one 
years  of  age. 


G>GjlLLIAM    CORRIE    is    assistant    general 

\  A  /  manager  of  the  Joliet  Limestone  Company, 
V  V  which  has  its  main  office  in  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  building,  Chicago,  and  its  Joliet 
office  on  the  corner  of  Rowell  and  Fourth  ave- 
nues. The  officers  of  the  company  are:  Hugh 
Young,  president;  R.  C.  Harper,  vice-president 
and  general  manager;  and  C.  S.  Metcalfe,  secre- 
tary. The  quarries  owned  by  the  company  are 
the  most  extensive  and  their  business  the  largest 
of  any  in  Joliet.  Besides  the  quarrying  of  stone, 
they  are  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sawed 
and  machine-dressed  stone  of  all  descriptions, 
curbing,  engine  beds,  limestone  sidewalks,  etc. 
Mr.  Corrie  was  born    in  Greenock,   Scotland, 


December  12,  1S46,  a  son  of  William  and  Isa- 
bella (Maine)  Corrie,  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
try. His  father,  who  was  an  expert  silk  buyer, 
brought  his  family  to  America  in  1850  and  settled 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  was  employed  by  A. 
T.  Stewart  and  James  Beck  as  an  expert  in  silk. 
In  1862  he  removed  to  Tipton,  Cedar  County, 
Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  he  died. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  Maine,  a 
carpenter,  and  a  member  of  a  very  old  and  prom- 
inent family  of  Scotland,  is  still  living  in  Iowa, 
and  is  now  about  ninety  years  of  age.  Of  their 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  are  in  Ida 
County,  Iowa,  except  William,  the  oldest  of  the 
family  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  at- 
tended ward  school  No.  35,  on  Thirteenth  street 
near  Sixth,  New  York.  In  May,  1861,  at  the 
first  call  for  volunteers,  he  enlisted  as  a  drum- 
mer boy  in  the  Twelfth  New  York  Infantry,  and 
afterward  took  a  part  in  all  the  engagments  of 
his  regiment,  including  the  first  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  Antietam,  Gettysburg,  etc.  At  Gaines' 
Mill  he  was  struck  by  a  spent  ball  and  lay  un- 
conscious for  some  time,  and  was  reported  among 
the  killed.  At  this  battle  his  regiment  was  so 
badly  cut  up  that  it  was  consolidated  as  guard 
for  headquarters.  On  the  day  before  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  he  was  mustered  out  at  Frederick . 
City,  Md.,  but  accompanied  the  command  to 
Gettysburg  and  took  part  in  that  memorable  en- 
gagement. Afterward  he  returned  to  New  York 
and  then  went  to  Iowa,  where  his  father  had 
moved  during  his  absence  at  the  front. 

At  Muscatine,  Iowa,  Mr.  Corrie  again  enlisted 
in  the  army,  and  was  assigned  to  the  scouting 
troops  of  the  Mississippi  marine  brigade,  attached 
to  the  treasury  department,  and  ordered  to  pro- 
tect the  Mississippi  River.  They  were  mounted 
and  took  their  horses  with  them  on  boats,  going 
down  the  Mississippi  from  Memphis  to  New 
Orleans,  then  up  the  Red  River,  and  having  a 
skirmish  with  some  of  the  southern  troops  almost 
daily.  Near  Rodney,  Miss.,  Mr.  Corrie  was 
wounded  in  the  leg,  but  soon  returned  to  active 
service.  At  other  times  he  was  wounded,  though 
not  so  seriously.  He  continued  in  the  army 
until  February,  1S66,  when    he    was    honorably 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


521 


discharged.  After  the  war  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and  resided  successively  in  Ogle,  Winnebago  and 
Carroll  Counties,  being  for  a  time  in  the  employ 
of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Com- 
pany as  baggage-master  and  at  Winnebago. 

In  1887  Mr.  Corrie  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
was  time-keeper  for  the  Young  &  Farrell  Dia- 
mond Stoue  Sawing  Company,  with  whom  he  was 
later  employed  as  superintendent.  For  two  years 
he  was  superintendent  of  the  Detroit  Brownstone 
Company,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  for  a  similar  pe- 
riod was  superintendent  of  the  Portland  Stone 
Company  in  Indiana.  Returning  to  Joliet  in  the 
spring  of  1898,  he  became  assistant  general  mana- 
ger of  the  Joliet  Limestone  Company.  He  is  a  past 
commander  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  a  past  officer  of  the  local  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows, 
alsoa  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican. 

While  living  in  Ogle  County,  Mr.  Corrie  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  M.  Black,  who  was  born  there,  a 
daughter  of  William  Black,  who  in  an  early  day 
came  to  Illinois  from  Virginia.  They  are  the 
parents  of  six  children.  The  eldest,  Belle,  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Schumann,  who  is  one  of  the  largest 
stone  contractors  in  San  Francisco,  Cal. ,  and, 
among  other  contracts,  had  that  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  Leland  Stanford  University.  The 
other  children  are  as  follows:  William  Albert,  a 
painter  and  paper-hanger,  living  in  Joliet;  E.  J., 
who  is  connected  with  the  Joliet  Limestone  Com- 
pany; Mrs.  Blanche  Mathers,  of  Joliet;  Bessie 
and  Ruby,  at  home. 


'HOMAS  LANG  DON.  A  lifelong  resident 
of  this  county,  familiar  with  its  growth  and 
interested  in  its  prosperity,  Mr.  Langdon  is 
especially  qualified  to  discharge  with  efficiency 
his  duties  as  supervisor  of  Troy  Township.  Four 
times  he  has  been  elected  to  this  office,  and  his 
repeated  selection  for  the  place  is  ample  evidence 
of  his  ability  to  fill  it  and  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens.     He  is 


one  of  the  local  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party 
and  takes  the  liveliest  interest  in  the  success  of 
its  candidates  and  principles.  Besides  the  office 
he  now  holds,  he  has  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner for  two  terms.  By  the  board  of  supervisors 
he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee in  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  county 
poor  farm  buildings,  on  which  $22,500  was  ex- 
pended, and  he  faithfully  discharged  the  trust  re- 
posed in  him.  For  several  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  the  poor  farm,  and  at  this 
writing  he  is  a  member  of  the  committee  to  settle 
with  the  sheriff  and  the  committee  on  fees  and 
salaries. 

The  farm  which  Mr.  Langdon  occupies  is 
situated  in  Troy  Township,  five  miles  west  of 
Joliet.  He  was  born  in  this  township  September 
27,  1846.  His  father,  John  Langdon,  came  to 
the  United  States  in  early  manhood  and  for  a 
time  made  his  home  in  New  York  state,  but  in 
1835  settled  in  Illinois,  taking  up  land  in  this 
township,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers. 
After  a  time  he  purchased  eighty  acres,  which 
made  his  farm  one  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  and  to  the  cultivation  of  this  property  he 
gave  the  subsequent  years  of  his  life.  Prior  to 
coming  to  America  he  married  Bridget  Gillespie. 
They  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of 
whom  two  sons  and  three  daughters  are  now  in 
this  county:  Mrs.  Eliza  Green  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
Ryan  (twins);  Francis  E. ;  Thomas;  and  Nellie, 
wife  of  Martin  Langdon,  of  Omaha. 

After  having  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  agriculture  by  working  on  the  home  farm,  our 
subject  started  out  for  himself  at  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  For  four  years  he  rented  a  place, 
after  which  he  bought  and  removed  to  a  farm  of 
his  own.  However,  since  1880  he  has  operated 
his  present  estate,  where  he  farms  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  making  a  specialty  of  raising 
corn,  oats  and  hay.  He  also  engages  in  raising 
cattle,  mostly  of  the  Durham  breed.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church 
of  Joliet,  to  the  work  of  which  he  is  a  regular 
contributor.  January  3,  1 87 1 ,  he  married 
Catherine  Talbot,  of  this  county.  They  are  the 
parents   of  five   children    now    living,     namely: 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


John  Ambrose,  who  is  traveling  from  Omaha  for 
the  Cudahy  Brothers;  Richard  T.,  who  assists  in 
cultivating  the  home  farm;  Blanche  Lorene; 
Catharine  Frances,  a  student  in  the  Joliet  high 
school;  and  Elizabeth  Agnes  (Bessie)  Langdon. 


61  UGUST  MAUE,  principal  of  the  Eastern. 
LA  avenue  public  school,  is  one  of  the  success- 
/  I  ful  teachers  of  Joliet.  He  represents  the 
third  generation  of  his  family  resident  in  Will 
County  and  was  himself  born  here,  at  Mokena, 
in  1866.  His  grandfather,  Francis  Maue,  a  na- 
tive of  Bavaria,  Germany,  grew  to  manhood  at 
his  native  place  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine.  In 
addition  to  farming  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade. 
About  twenty  years  after  his  marriage  he  decided 
to  seek  a  home  in  the  United  States.  Accom- 
panied by  his  family,  in  1S47  he  set  sail  for  the 
new  world.  After  a  voyage  of  twenty- one  days, 
which  was  considered  remarkably  short  for  the 
time,  he  reached  New  York.  Thence  he  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Hudson  River  and  along  the  Erie 
canal  to  Buffalo,  and  from  there  via  the  lakes  to 
Chicago,  from  which  point  he  drove  into  the 
country,  looking  for  a  good  location.  Finding 
the  farm  land  in  this  county  fertile,  he  settled  in 
Frankfort  Township  and  took  up  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land,  which  he  began  to  im- 
prove and  cultivate.  Besides  farm  pursuits,  he 
followed  his  trade,  working  at  Mokena. 

Through  his  excellent  management  he  was 
able  to  spend  his  last  years  in  ease,  having  given 
his  children  a  good  start  in  life.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years  on  the  old  homestead  at 
Mokena.  His  wife  survived  him  seventeen 
years,  departing  this  life  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven. 

When  the  family  came  to  this  county  the  only 
son,  Daniel,  was  a  boy  of  sixteen  years.  The 
succeeding  years  were  busy  ones  for  him,  be- 
cause much  of  the  business  devolved  upon  him. 
In  those  days  the  absence  of  railroads  made  it 
necessary   to  do  much  teaming  to   the  Chicago 


markets.  This  fell  to  his  part  of  the  work. 
When  he  married  he  became  the  owner  of  the 
major  part  of  the  homestead,  which  has  since 
been  acquired  by  him  in  full.  He  built  a  home 
of  his  own,  when  married,  near  his  father's 
place.  He  is  still  in  active  life,  carrying  on  his 
work  on  the  farm  with  the  aid  of  his  youngest 
son,  now  just  grown  to  manhood.  In  late  years 
he  moved  to  an  adjoining  farm  which  he  had 
purchased .  He  has  never  aspired  to  public  work, 
although  he  assumed  his  just  share  of  the  work 
in  township  offices.  He  has  adhered  to  the  Re- 
publican party  in  politics. 

His  wife  was  Sarah  Mast,  daughter  of  German 
parents,  who  came  to  this  country  in  the  same 
year,  1847.  She  is  a  woman  of  domestic  habits 
and  strong  character,  which  has  impressed  itself 
upon  the  children.  The  large  family  has  none 
not  honored  by  neighbors  and  friends  for  in- 
tegrity and  industry. 

Ten  children  were  born  of  their  union,  namely: 
Francis,  a  farmer,  living  one  mile  from  the  old 
homestead;  Daniel,  at  home;  Julius,  who  died  in 
childhood;  Carl  B. ,  a  business  man  of  Minne- 
apolis; George,  who  operates  the  original  home- 
stead of  his  grandfather;  Edward,  who  farms  an 
adjoining  place;  August;  Amelia,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Cleveland,  of  Frankfort  Township;  Ida, 
who  keeps  house  for  her  brother  George;  and 
Albert,  who  is  with  his  father. 

The  education  of  August  Maue  was  commenced 
in  district  and  continued  in  village  schools.  The 
fund  of  knowledge  thus  acquired  was  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  of  study  in  the  Adrian 
Normal  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1885.  He  taught  for  a  year  at  Goodeuow  and 
then  became  principal  of  the  Monee  school,  being 
at  the  time  the  youngest  principal  in  the  entire 
county.  Feeling  the  need  of  even  broader 
knowledge  than  he  had  hitherto  acquired,  he  en- 
tered the  University  of  Illinois  at  Champaign, 
where  he  took  a  course  of  bellesdettres,  graduat- 
ing in  1 89 1  with  the  degree  of  B.  L.  Having 
decided  to  follow  the  occupation  of  a  teacher  he 
accepted  the  principalship  of  the  Elwood  schools, 
and  a  year  later  took  charge  of  the  Mokena 
school.      He    resigned    this    position    after    one 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


523 


term,  in  order  to  accept  the  principalship  of  the 
Broadway  school  in  Joliet,  and  since  then  he  has 
been  connected  with  educational  work  in  this 
city.  In  his  present  position  he  has  fifteen  teach- 
ers under  him.  His  work  is  so  systematized  that 
he  is  able  to  discharge,  carefully  and  well,  every 
duty  devolving  upon  him.  As  an  instructor  he 
is  thorough.  He  has  the  happy  art  of  being  able 
to  impart  knowledge  in  such  a  manner  as  to  in- 
terest and  please  the  student,  but  he  is  not  super- 
ficial; on  the  other  hand,  those  under  his  imme- 
diate oversight  are  invariably  well  grounded  in 
their  studies.  As  a  disciplinarian  he  is  firm,  yet 
kind,  and  many  of  his  best  friends  are  those  who 
have  been  his  pupils. 


G|  CLINTON  DILLMAN.  Typical  of  the 
L_l  progress  of  Joliet  in  commercial  lines 
f  J,  stands  the  firm  of  Poehner  &  Dillman, 
which  was  organized  in  1S90,  and  has  since  be- 
come one  of  the  substantial  companies  of  the  city. 
In  the  Metropolitan  block,  Nos.  417-19  Cass 
street,  they  occupy  two  floors  48x130  feet,  hav- 
ing a  basement  that  is  used  for  storage  and  also 
as  a  shop,  while  the  stock  of  hardware  and  stoves 
is  kept  upon  the  first  floor.  The  firm  has  the 
largest  trade  in  plumbing  and  hot-air  and  steam- 
heating  in  the  city,  and  also  takes  many  con- 
tracts for  gas-fitting,  furnishing,  in  their  various 
departments,  employment  to  thirty-five  hands. 
Among  their  most  important  contracts  were 
those  for  the  Farragut  school,  Metropolitan 
block,  two  residences  for  the  Sehrings,  the  new 
Central  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  residences 
of  Col.  John  Lambert  and  Henry  Piepenbrink,  in 
all  of  which  the  systems  of  heating  and  plumbing 
have  been  modern,  thorough  and  entirely  satis- 
factory. 

The  Dillman  family  descends  from  German  an- 
cestry. Michael  Dillman,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, removed  to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
an  early  day  settled  in  Plainfield,  111.,  where  for 
a  time  he  carried  on  a  foundry,  but  later  engaged 
in   farming.     His  son,  Lewis  E.,  was  born   in 


Summit  County,  Ohio,  March  21,  182-8,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier.  In 
1847  he  drove  to  Illinois  by  wagon  with  A.  II. 
Shreffler,  stopping  at  Plainfield  and  selling  four 
Hussy  reapers,  the  first  introduced  into  Will 
County.  In  May,  1849,  he  brought  his  father, 
Michael,  and  the  other  members  of  the  family  to 
Plainfield,  and  the  firm  of  M.  Dillman  &  Co. 
was  soon  afterward  organized.  Later  he  drove 
back  to  Ohio,  where,  April  4,  1851,  he  married 
Miss  Maria  E.  Hunsberger,  whom  he  brought 
back  to  Plainfield  in  his  buggy.  He  then  started 
a  foundry  and  machine  shop  and  began  the  manu- 
facture of  agricultural  implements,  this  being  the 
start  of  what  is  now  the  Joliet  Manufacturing 
Company.  On  selling  that  he  engaged  in  gen- 
eral merchandising  for  a  few  years  and  then  re- 
sumed manufacturing  as  president  of  a  com- 
pany that,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  moved  the  business 
to  Joliet.  The  next  year  he  brought  his  family 
to  this  city,  where  he  was  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany, being  associated  with  A.  H.  Shreffler  and 
Andrew  Dillman. 

After  a  time  Mr.  Dillman  started  a  barb  wire 
business,  which  he  sold  to  the  Lockstitch  Fence 
Company,  becoming  its  treasurer,  and  continu- 
ing in  the  manufacture  of  the  wire  until  a  stroke 
of  paralysis  terminated  his  activities.  He  is  still 
living  in  Joliet,  interested  in  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  city,  with  whose  history  he  has 
for  so  many  years  been  identified.  He  has  been 
acquainted  with  many  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
county — those  men  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for 
our  present  high  standing  among  the  counties  of 
the  state;  and,  indeed,  his  own  work  as  a  pioneer 
business  man  is  of  such  importance  as  to  entitle 
him  to  a  high  place  in  the  gratitude  of  the 
present  generation.  For  two  terms  he  was  alder- 
man from  the  first  ward.  In  religion  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
His  wife  is  also  living,  and  is  now  (1899)  sixty- 
seven  years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of 
three  sous  and  one  daughter  who  attained  matur- 
ity, E.  Corbin  and  A.  Clinton,  of  Joliet;  Milo 
Fred,  who  died  here,  and  Mrs.  Mabel  Moore. 

Born  in  Plainfield,  this  county,  September  23, 
i860,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  spent  all  but 


524 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  first  three  years  of  his  life  in  Joliet.  He 
graduated  from  the  high  school,  after  which,  at 
eighteen  years  of  age,  he  began  to  learn  the  wire 
business.  Three  years  later  he  became  superin- 
tendent of  the  factory  of  the  Lockstitch  Wire 
Fence  Company,  and  continued  with  the  same 
firm  until  1888.  He  then  went  on  a  tour  of  in- 
spection with  a  view  to  locating,  but  his  visit  in 
Nebraska,  Kansas  and  Iowa  disclosed  nothing 
desirable,  and  he  returned  home.  Since  1890  he 
has  been  devoted  closely  to  the  building  up  of 
the  business  with  which  his  name  is  identified. 
Though  not  active  in  public  affairs  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Union  Club.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
Sunday  school  and  a  member  of  the  board  of 
stewards  in  the  Ottawa  Street  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  with  the  work  of  which  he  is  inti- 
mately associated.  His  marriage,  in  this  city, 
united  him  with  Miss  Jessie  Frances  Stevens, 
who  was  born  in  Wisconsin  and  educated  in  the 
Iowa  State  University.  They  and  their  children, 
Milo  Stevens  and  Frances,  reside  at  No.  418 
Eastern  avenue. 


pGJlLLIAM  D.  B.  LINN,  who  came  to  Joliet 
\  A  /  October  1,  1858,  and  has  since  been  iden- 
V  V  tified  with  the  interests  of  this  city  and 
county,  is  a  descendant,  in  the  third  generation, 
from  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  in  the  second 
generation  from  William  Linn,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut,who  served  as  captain  in  the  war  of  1812. 
His  father,  W.  D.  B.  Linn,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Berk- 
shire County,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  the  marble 
business  for  years  in  Pittsfield,  that  county, where 
he  died.  He  had  married  Meliuda  Decker,  who 
was  born  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and  died  in  Massa- 
chusetts; her  father,  Peter  Decker,  was  a  native 
of  New  York,  of  Holland-Dutch  ancestry. 

In  a  family  consisting  of  five  daughters  and 
two  sous,  of  whom  four  daughters  and  one  son 
are  living,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  next  to 
the  oldest.     He  was  born    in  Lanesboro,  Berk- 


shire County,  Mass.,  March  6,  1833,  and  was 
reared  in  and  near  Pittsfield,  where  he  attended 
the  public  school.  Later  he  was  a  student  in  the 
Williamstown  boarding-school,  where  he  clerked 
after  completing  his  studies.  When  he  came  to 
Joliet  he  was  a  total  stranger  to  the  people  in  this 
section  and  knew  but  one  man  in  the  entire  county. 
Settling  on  a  farm  near  Manhattan,  he  began  to 
raise  stock  and  general  farm  products.  Three 
years  later  he  bought  a  farm  in  Manhattan  Town- 
ship, a  portion  of  which  is  now  the  site  of  the 
village  of  Manhattan,  and  for  some  time  he  gave 
his  attention  to  the  improvement  of  its  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres.  Until  1870  he  dealt  in 
various  grades  of  stock,  but  turned  his  attention 
in  that  year  exclusively  to  Holstein  cattle,  bring- 
ing from  Massachusetts  the  first  thoroughbred 
Holstein  ever  brought  into  Illinois.  The  animal 
was  named"  Sleswig,"  and  was  a  pure  Hol- 
stein, he  and  his  breed  being  the  only  ones  that 
were  imported  from  Holstein,  the  others  of  the 
name  having  been  imported  from  the  north  of 
Holland.  For  some  years  his  were  the  only 
Holstein  cattle  in  the  county,  and  at  times  he  had 
as  many  as  thirty  head. 

Selling  his  farm  in  1891,  Mr.  Linn  removed  to 
Joliet,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home-.  In 
the  fall  of  1894  he  embarked  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, renting  a  barn  44x150  feet  at  Nos.  815-817 
Cass  street,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  livery 
and  boarding-stable.  He  has  never  been  active 
in  politics,  but  takes  an  interest  in  the  same,  and 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party.  For  a  time  he 
served  as  township  clerk  of  Manhattan.  In  1861 
he  was  made  a  Mason  in  Matteson  Lodge,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  Joliet,  with  which  he  has  since 
been  connected.  His  marriage  united  him  with 
Miss  Harriet  M.  Buck,  who  was  born  in  Berk- 
shire, Mass.,  and  by  whom  he  has  a  daughter, 
Florence.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  he,  his 
father  and  his  grandfather,  were  each  the  only 
son  in  the  family  who  attained  years  of  maturity. 
He  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  takes  an  in- 
terest in  matters  that  will  promote  the  welfare  of 
his  city  and  county. 


OF    i   IE 
UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


Kf/h+f^ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


527 


JOHN  Y.  BROOKS. 


(JOHN  Y.  BROOKS.  Those  able  men  whose 
I  sound  judgment  has  promoted  the  industrial 
Q)  growth  of  their  community  and  whose  en- 
ergy has  brought  an  enlarged  prosperity  to  every 
line  of  human  activity  deservedly  occupy  posi- 
tions of  prominence  among  their  fellow  men.  A 
volume  wherein  reference  is  made  to  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Joliet  should  not  omit  mention  of  Mr. 
Brooks,  whose  indefatigable  industry  and  keen 
discrimination  have  been  factors  in  bringing  suc- 
cess to  every  enterprise  with,  which  he  has  been 
identified.  Few  are  more  familiar  with  the  wire 
business  than  he,  and  his  management  of  the  four 
mills  of  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  Company 
(those  located  at  Rockdale,  and  on  Scott  street, 
Meeker  avenue  and  Bluff  street)  has  been  char- 
acterized by  sound  judgment  and  great  enter- 
prise. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  born  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
March  14,  1863,  a  sou  of  John  Haverly  anil 
Olivia  Almira  (Green)  Brooks,  natives  respect- 
ively of  New  York  and  Rhode  Island,  and  de- 
scendants of  ancestors  from  England,  Holland 
and  Ireland.  He  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Peter 
Brooks,  who  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  March 
4,  1733,  and  was  of  English  parentage.  Jonathan 
Brooks,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
a  farmer  and  married  Maria  Haverly,  who  was 
born  in  Normansville  in  1774,  a  daughter  of 
Johannes  and  Annatje  (Adams)  Haverly,  natives 
of  Holland.  John  H.  Brooks,  Sr. ,  the  grand- 
father of  John  Y.  Brooks,  was  a  contractor  and 
became  interested  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Syracuse,  continuing  as  proprietor  of  a  store  until 
his  retirement  from  business.       He   married  Isa- 


bella Strong,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane 
(Morrow)  Strong,  natives  of  County  Antrim, 
Ireland.  One  of  the  sons  born  of  this  marriage, 
Hon.  William  S.  Brooks,  was  an  early  settler  of 
Joliet  and  became  quite  prominent  in  political 
circles;  he  represented  this  district  in  the  state 
senate.  Another  son,  John  H.  Brooks,  Jr.,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  spent  his  entire  business  life 
as  a  merchant  in  Syracuse  and  died  while  visiting 
in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  July  20,  1891.  -  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Almira  (Moore) 
Green,  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  April  11, 
1797,  and  died  April  25,  1893. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  sixth  in  order 
of  birth  among  the  children  of  John  H.  Brooks, 
Jr.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
and  high  schools  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  after- 
ward studied  for  four  years  in  the  Peekskill 
(N.  Y.)  Military  Academy,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1S80  wiih  the  highest  honors  of  his 
class.  Immediately  afterward  he  came  to  Joliet, 
where  he  entered  the  hardware  store  of  his  uncle, 
Hon.  William  S.  Brooks.  In  1883  he  began  to 
work  in  the  shipping  department  of  the  Ashley 
Wire  Company,  and,  being  remarkably  quick 
and  capable,  he  soon  rose.  In  1886  he  became 
secretary  of  the  Joliet  Enterprise  Company,  and 
continued  in  that  capacity  until  the  panic  of  1893, 
when  the  business  went  into  the  receiver's  hands, 
and  he  assisted  the  receiver  in  settling  up  affairs. 
Afterward,  in  1894,  he  became  connected  with 
the  Consolidated  Steel  and  Wire  Company  as 
manager  of  their  mill  and  continued  as  such  until 
the  company  was  consolidated  with  the  American 
Steel  and  Wire  Company,  when  he  was  placed  in 


528 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


charge  of  the  four  Joliet  mills.  He  gives  his  at- 
tention very  closely  to  business  matters,  and, 
aside  from  the  Union  Club,  is  not  identified  with 
any  societies  or  fraternal  organizations.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopalian  Church. 
He  was  married,  in  Joliet,  to  Miss  Jennie  Gray, 
daughter  of  John  Gray,  an  earl}-  settler  of  this 
city .  The}-  are  the  parents  of  a  daughter,  born 
February  2,  1900. 


HENRY  SWIVAL,  who  has  met  with  grati- 
fying success  in  his  work  as  a  farmer  and 
cattle-feeder,  is  one  of  the  well-known  men 
of  Florence  Township.  He  was  born  in  Switzer- 
land September  9,  1834,  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Rachael  (Haefner)  Swival,  of  whose  six  children 
the  daughters  remained  in  their  native  laud,  and 
the  sons,  David,  Frederick  and  Henry,  came  to 
America.  David  is  now  deceased,  and  Frederick 
lives  in  Iroquois  County,  111.  Both  of  the  pater- 
nal and  maternal  ancestors  represented  long- 
established  families  of  Cauton  Glarus,  where  the 
father  and  mother  were  born  and  reared.  The 
fui  mer  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing. He  died  about  1847  and  his  wife  twelve 
years  later.  Both  were  adherents  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church. 

The  common  schools  of  Switzerland  gave  our 
subject  all  the  educational  advantages  he  ever  re- 
ceived. In  1853  he  left  home  and  went  to  Liver- 
pool, where  he  embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel 
bound  for  New  York.  After  a  voyage  for  forty- 
two  days  he  arrived  in  this  country,  May  2,  1853. 
The  next  day  he  started  for  Chicago.  From 
that  city  he  went  to  Gilman,  111.,  where  he  en- 
gaged to  work  for  a  railroad  contractor  on  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  for  $4  a  month.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1854  he  worked  under  the 
same  employer  for  three  months  on  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  at  Chicago 
Heights.  Following  this  he  went  to  Greengar- 
den,  111.,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand. 
In  April,  1855,  he  settled  in  Wesley  Township, 
'Will  County,  where  he  was  employed  on  a  farm 


for  four  years.  He  then  spent  one  year  in 
Florence  Township,  after  which  he  herded  cat- 
tle for  eight  years,  being  in  the  saddle  almost 
constantly  day  and  night.  During  the  first  six 
years  of  this  time  he  had  charge  of  the  cattle 
owned  by  a  large  cattle  company,  receiving  at 
first  $50  a  mouth,  and  later  $75.  Afterward  for 
two  years  he  bought  and  sold  cattle  for  a  gen- 
tleman in  Kankakee,  being  paid  $110  per  month 
for  the  first  five  months,  after  which  he  hired  to 
him  at  $850  per  year  and  all  expenses  paid. 

In  1865  Mr.  Swival  bought  one  hundred  and 
ten  acres  of  laud  in  Florence  Township,  where  he 
now  lives.  March  5,  186S,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Linebarger,  a  native  of 
Parke  County,  Ind.,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Nancy  (Stone)  Linebarger.  When  she  was 
a  small  child  her  father  came  to  Will  County 
about  1S50  and  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
Florence  Township.  In  186S  he  removed  from 
that  place  to  Elwood  and  later  settled  in  Livings- 
ton County,  this  state.  His  last  years  were  passed 
in  Bonfield,  Kankakee  County,  where  he  died  in 
1885.  He  was  an  earnest  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  served  as  a  trustee 
and  class-leader  for  years,  and  was  well  known 
for  his  upright  Christian  life,  his  hospitality  and 
his  generous  aid  given  to  charitable  movements. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Swival  settled  down  to 
farm  pursuits  on  the  place  he  had  purchased 
three  years  before.  In  his  new  home  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  stock  business  proved  most  advan- 
tageous to  him.  He  began  at  once  to  raise  cat- 
tle and  hogs,  and  during  the  winter  months  was 
a  large  feeder  of  cattle  for  the  maket.  In  time  he 
became  a  heavy  buyer  of  stock,  particularly  hogs. 
As  the  years  passed  by  he  came  to  be  recognized 
as  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  the  township. 
In  1878  he  bought  another  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres,  making  his  farm  one  of  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres.  Recently  he  purchased 
three  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  in  Dickinson 
County,  Iowa,  four  and  one-half  miles  from 
Spirit  Lake,  where  he  plans  to  send  a  couple  of 
his  sons  in  the  spring  of  1901.  He  and  his  wife 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom 
survive,  namely:     John,  a  farmer,  who  married 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


529 


Etta  Newton  and  lives  in  Florence  Township; 
Nellie,  wife  of  Clarence  Randolph,  of  Joliet; 
Minnie,  who  married  Robert  Ward,  a  fanner  of 
Wesley  Township;  Ara,  William  and  Roy,  at 
home;  and  Nettie,  deceased. 

In  national  issues  Mr.  Swival  votes  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket,  but  in  local  matters  he  is  independ- 
ent, voting  for  the  measures  best  calculated  to 
advance  his  township  interests  and  the  welfare  of 
the  people.  For  one  term  he  held  the  office  of 
highway  commissioner  and  for  several  years 
served  as  school  director.- 


JEROME  P.  STEVENS  is  a  member  of  a 
family  that  has  be.en  well  known  throughout 
this  county  from  a  very  early  period  of  its 
settlement.  He  was  born  in  Joliet  in  1854  and 
has  always  made  this  city  his  home,  being  now 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  loan  business  here. 
His  father,  Henry  K.  Stevens,  a  native  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  born  in  181 1,  came  west  in  1829, 
first  settling  in  Michigan,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  cultivation  of  farm  land.  From  that  state  he 
moved  to  Indiana  in  1832  and  settled  on  the 
Wabash  River.  The  year  1836  found  him  a  pio- 
neer settler  of  Will  County,  111.,  where  he  spent 
one  year  on  a  farm.  In  1837  he  came  to  Joliet 
and  opened  a  tavern  on  North  Chicago  street, 
where  the  Bissell  hotel  is  now  standing.  His  inn 
was  the  leading  and  the  largest  hotel  in  the  city 
and  was  known  as  the  Waving  Banner.  While 
conducting  it  he  began  to  purchase  real  estate 
and  in  time  his  property  interests  became  so 
valuable  that  he  abandoned  the  hotel  business 
and  turned  his  attention  to  the  real-estate  and 
loan  business,  which  he  continued  very  success- 
fully for  years.  A  man  of  shrewd  judgment, 
keen  intuition  and  quick  in  forming  decisions,  he 
prospered  in  his  real-estate  transactions,  and 
bought  and  sold  extensively.  When  he  came  to 
Joliet  it  was  a  small  village,  sparsely  populated, 
and  giving  to  the  casual  observer  few  indications 
of  future  prosperity;  but  he  discerned  its  advan- 


tages and  was  at  once  convinced  that  investments 
made  here  would  prove  profitable.  Subsequent 
events  have  proved  the  wisdom  of  his  judgment. 
After  a  business  life  covering  many  years  he  re- 
tired, dividing  his  property  among  his  children, 
and  has  since  made  his  home  with  his  son, 
Jerome.  His  wife,  who  died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years,  was  Mary  A.  Bissell,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio.  They  became  the  parents  of  five 
children,  namely:  Eliza,  wife  of  O.  S.  Chamber- 
lin;  Albert  P.  and  Henry  T.,  of  Joliet;  Addie, 
who  married  Dr.  W.  O.  Cheeseman,  of  Chicago; 
and  Jerome  P.,  of  Joliet. 

After  completing  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Joliet,  Jerome  P.  Stevens  began  to  deal  in  real 
estate  in  Joliet.  In  1891  he  removed  the  busi- 
ness to  Chicago,  where  he  devoted  his  time  to 
the  placing  of  loans  and  the  buying  and  selling 
of  real  estate  until  1897,  when  he  returned  to 
Joliet.  As  a  business  man  he  possesses  many  of 
the  traits  that  made  his  father  successful,  and  it 
is  safe  to  predict  for  him  a  busy  and  prosperous 
life,  in  the  carrying  forward  of  the  various  en- 
terprises he  has  already  placed  upon  a  sub- 
stantial basis.  His  marriage  took  place  in 
Mokena,  Will  County,  in  189 1  and  united  him 
with  Miss  Clara  Belle  Jones,  by  whom  he  has 
two  children,  Mary  C.  and  Arthur  J. 


QATHAN  BENNETT.  Through  his  con- 
r  /  nection  with  the  business  interests  of  Joliet 
IIS)  and  his  former  prominence  in  local  labor 
unions,  Mr.  Bennett  has  become  well  known  among 
the  people  of  his  home  city.  In  1891  he  started  a 
coal,  coke,  wood  and  feed  business,  at  the  site 
where  he  has  since  remained,  and  he  has  built  up 
a  large  trade  in  hard  and  soft  coal;  his  yards  are 
on  Washington  street,  near  the  Michigan  Central 
tracks.  Besides  his  fuel  business  he  has  taken 
contracts  for  the  building  of  sewers  and  water 
mains.  In  local  affairs  he  has  been  deeply  inter- 
ested. After  having  served  as  assistant  supervi- 
sor for  six  years,  he  was  elected  supervisor  in  the 


530 


GK  XK  A  LOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


spring  of  1893  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1895  and  1S97,  mean  time  taking  a  11 
active  part  in  much  of  the  important  business 
brought  before  the  board.  In  the  spring  of  1899 
he  was  again  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
For  three  years  he  was  highway  commissioner  of 
Joliet  Township. 

The  Bennetts  are  an  old  family  of  Shropshire, 
England.  Samuel  Bennett,  who  was  born  there, 
became  a  civil  engineer,  and  for  some  time 
held  a  position  as  engineer  of  water  works.  He 
and  his  wife,  who  was  Margaret  Ashley,  both 
died  in  Shropshire.  Of  their  eleven  children  five 
are  living,  three  of  whom  are  in  England  and 
one  in  Chicago.  The  oldest  of  those  now  living, 
Nathan,  was  born  in  Midland,  England,  March 
iS,  1S45.  His  home  town  was  a  centre  for  iron 
manufacturing,  hence  he  early  became  familiar 
with  this  work.  When  eleven  years  old  he  en- 
tered a  wire  mill  and  afterwa'rd  worked  in  differ- 
ent departments,  thus  gaining  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  business.  In  the  fall  of  186S  he 
came  to  America  and  engaged  as  puddler  for  the 
Bremen  works  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  received  $7 
for  work  that  brought  him  only  $2.25  in  his  old 
home.  In  the  spring  of  1S70  he  came  to  Joliet, 
being  one  of  the  first  six  furnace  men  here. 
When  the  steel  mill  was  built  he  entered  it  and 
learned  the  business  thoroughly.  For  many 
years  he  worked  as  heater  in  the  mill,  and  from 
1870  to  1893  he  was  interested  in  iron  work. 
Not  only  was  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  men  in  the 
business  at  this  point,  but  one  of  the  most  reli- 
able as  well,  and  he  stood  high  in  the  opinion  of 
those  most  competent  to  judge  his  ability.  His 
experience  was  long  and  varied.  When  he  was 
a  boy  working  for  seventy-five  cents  a  week  he 
was  employed  in  the  wire  mill  where  the  wire 
was  manufactured  that  was  used  in  making  the 
first  cable  ever  laid,  and  he  therefore  assisted  in 
making  the  first  cable. 

The  year  before  leaving  England  Mr.  Bennett 
married  Miss  Mary  Ann  Guy,  by  whom  he  has 
five  children  now  living,  viz.:  Sarah  A.,  Mrs. 
J.  James,  of  Joliet;  Albert  Edward,  who  assists 
his  father  in  the  coal  yards;  Edith  E.,  who  is  in 
her  father's  office;   Mabel  H.  and  Marion  L-    Fra- 


ternally Mr.  Bennett  is  past  chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  holds  membership  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  has  passed  the 
various  chairs  in  the  order,  Sons  of  St.  George. 
In  1S70  he  was  one  of  the  principal  organizers 
of  the  Sons  of  Vulcan,  the  first  labor  associa- 
tion formed  in  Joliet,  and  the  first  meeting  (at- 
tended by  seven  members)  was  held  one  Sunday 
afternoon  in  a  barn  on  Cass  street.  This  was  the 
nucleus  around  which  centered  the  now  large 
and  formidable  Amalgamated  Association  of 
Joliet.  For  six  terms  he  acted  as  president  of 
the  society.  Later  it  was  merged  into  the  Amal- 
gamated Association  of  Iron  and  Steel  Workers, 
and  he  continued  an  active  worker  until  he  re- 
signed his  position  in  the  mill,  since  which  he 
has  been  an  honorary  member.  He  is  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  denomi- 
nation, and  his  wife  and  family  are  actively  con- 
nected with  the  Ottawa  Street  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 


[""  RANCIS  F.  STOWE,  a  merchant  at  Lock- 
ed port,  was  born  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  July 
I  11,  1S34,  a  son  of  Nathaniel  H.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Partridge)  Stowe,  and  a  descendant  of 
John  Stowe,  who  emigrated  from  England  in 
1634  and  settled  in  Middlesex  County,  Mass. 
He  was  one  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
living.  One  of  these,  Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Twitchell, 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  is  an  author  of  some  note  and 
was  selected  to  speak  concerning  single  tax  at  a 
congress  held  in  connection  with  the  World's 
Fair.  Francis  F.  Stowe  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  although  for 
some  three  years  before  he  had  been  teaching 
school.  On  leaving  home  he  went  to  Clayton 
County,  Iowa,  where  he  taught  school  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Two  years  later  he  went  to 
Erie  County,  Pa.,  where  for  ten  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business,  meantime  also 
taught  several  terms  of  school.  In  April,  1869, 
he  came  to  Lockport  and  opened  a  grocery,  since 
which  time  he  has  continuously  engaged  in  busi- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


531 


ness  here.  For  a  time  he  was  president  of  the 
Lockport  State  Bank,  now  the  Exchange  Bank. 
He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  American  Press  Asso- 
ciation. 

Mr.  Stovve  married  Miss  Sophia  F.  Barnard,  of 
Ellington,  N.  Y.  They  have  three  children: 
Frederick  W. ,  a  partner  with  his  father  in  the 
grocery  business;  Grace  E.,  who  married  George 
F.  Seeley,  of  New  York  City;  and  Wayne  B., 
who  is  one  of  the  managers  and  directors  of  the 
American  Press  Association,  of  New  York  City. 
Politically  Mr.  Stowe  is  a  Republican.  For 
twenty-four  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  While  in  Erie  County,  Pa.,  he  was  for 
three  years  a  member  of  the  county  board  of 
auditors.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Lock- 
port  Lodge  No.  538,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Mutual  Aid. 


30HN  WILLIAMSON,  formerly  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Amalgamated  Association  of 
Iron,  Tin  and  Steel  Workers  of  America, 
was  appointed,  June  1,  1899,  deputy  internal 
revenue  collector,  under  Hon.  F.  E.  Coyne,  for 
the  thirteenth  division  of  the  first  internal  reve- 
nue district  of  Illinois,  his  territory  being  Kan- 
kakee County  and  all  of  Will,  Grundy  and  La- 
Salle  Counties  lying  south  of  the  Illinois  River. 
A  resident  of  Joliet  since  December  27,  188  r,  he 
is  a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  born  Septem- 
ber 25,  1S61,  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Chal- 
mers) Williamson,  who  were  born  in  the  same 
cit\-  as  himself.  His  father,  who  was  an  iron 
moulder  by  trade,  died  in  1869,  when  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  leaving  three  children:  John,  who 
was  then  a  boy  of  eight  years;  Elizabeth,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  and  James 
L.,  a  machinist  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  The 
mother,  who  was  a  daughterof  Hugh  Chalmers, 
a  merchant  tailor  of  Glasgow,  brought  her  chil- 
dren to  America  in  1872  and  settled  in  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  where  she  died  at  fifty-one  years  of 
age. 


Mr.  Williamson  was  but  eleven  years  of  age 
when  he  became  self-supporting.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  public  schools.  After 
he  commenced  work  his  evenings  were  devoted 
to  study.  He  also  entered  Taylor's  Business 
College,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  graduated  in  1880.  He  is  well  read  and 
keeps  abreast  with  the  times,  and  is  well  posted 
on  all  the  live  topics  of  the  day. 

His  first  employment  was  on  a  farm.  After- 
ward he  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account, 
in  the  prosecution  of  which  he  traveled  exten- 
sively in  New  York  and  northern  Michigan. 

In  1881  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  secured 
employment  in  the  converting  department  of  the 
Joliet  Steel  Company,  now  a  portion  of  the  Fed- 
eral Steel  Company.  From  a  very  humble  posi- 
tion he  worked  his  way  to  a  place  of  much  re- 
sponsibility, being  in  charge  of  the  steel  ladles  in 
this  department.  He  continued  with  this  com- 
pany until  he  was  appointed  deputy  internal  rev- 
enue collector. 

The  whole  life  of  Mr.  Williamson  is  a  splen- 
did example  of  what  pluck,  honesty  and  energy 
can  accomplish.  Though  early  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources,  he  did  not  sit  idly  by  and  wait  for 
something  to  turn  up,  but  while  a  mere  boy  pro- 
ceeded to  carve  out  his  own  future.  He  has  risen 
rapidly,  not  only  in  his  own  chosen  business, 
but  also  (and  this  he  prizes  more)  in  the  estima- 
tion of  his  fellow-workmen  and  the  citizens  of 
Will  County.  He  is  highly  respected  in  this 
community,  and  during  all  the  time  he  was  en- 
gaged at  the  steel  mills  he  enjoyed  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow-workmen  and  his  employers.  He 
was  always  a  member  of  the  committee  to  settle 
wages  or  grievances.  This  position  required 
great  tact  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  local  con- 
ditions. His  recommendations  were  invariably 
accepted  and  his  advice  sought  on  all  important 
matters  pertaining  to  tire  welfare  of  his  fellow- 
workmen,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  was 
for  four  consecutive  terms  president  of  the  Mu- 
tual Lodge  No.  12,  Amalgamated  Association  of 
Iron,  Tin  and  Steel  Workers,  during  which  time 
he  also  served  as  deputy  vice-president  of  the 
fourth  district,  which  included  Illinois,  Wiscon- 


532 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sin  and  northern  Indiana.  This  office  he  filled 
for  five  years.  Later  he  was  chosen  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  same  district  and  held  this  office  at 
the  time  he  was  appointed  deputy  collector  of  in- 
ternal revenue.  He  is  stijl  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  association.  His  advice  and  services 
are  still  at  the  disposal  of  his  associates. 

Mr.  Williamson  is  past  noble  grand  of  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Lodge,  a  member  of  the  encampment, 
for  three  terms  served  as  captain  of  Joliet  Canton 
No.  52,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  order  of 
Rebekahs.  He  is  an  active  Mason  and  a  member 
of  Joliet  Chapter.  He  has  always  been  active  in 
politics  and  considers  it  a  part  and  parcel  of  good 
citizenship  to  properly  attend  to  such  matters. 
He  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  although  giving 
willing  support  to  his  party,  he  steadily  refused 
office  until  1897  and  1S98,  when  he  was  elected 
assistant  supervisor  of  Joliet.  His  services  and 
ability  were  recognized  by  appointment  as  deputy 
internal  revenue  collector.  This  position  was  ten- 
dered him  without  solicitation  on  his  part  and  was 
finally  accepted.  This  position  is  very  responsi- 
ble, requiring  tact,  good  judgment  and  business 
ability,  as  it  brings  him  in  contact  with  the  dif- 
ferent commercial  interests  of  Illinois  and  all 
classes  of  people.  His  friends  say  he  is  emi- 
nently fitted  for  this  work  and  predict  a  rapid 
rise  and  a  bright  future  for  him. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  married,  February  12, 
1885,  to  Miss  Sarah  Hewlett,  of  Joliet.  The 
couple  have  two  sons,  John  Raymond  and  Elmer 
Harold.  They  now  reside  at  their  home,  No.  913 
Benton  street,  Joliet. 


|~"DWARD  ETHERIDGE.  After  twenty 
Kt)  years  with  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  as 
I  foreman  in  charge  of  bricklaying,  during 
which  time  he  won  and  retained  the  confidence 
of  the  officers  of  the  company  and  made  an  en- 
viable record  for  efficiency,  Mr.  Elheridge  in  1897 
resigned  his  position  in  order  to  engage  in  con- 
tracting, an  occupation  that  he  had  followed  years 


before  with  success.  During  his  early  connec- 
tion with  this  business  he  built  the  Centennial 
block,  Mr.  Fortune's  home,  the  Mclntyre  resi- 
dence in  Wilmington,  the  old  post-office  (now 
the  First  National  Bank  building,)  and  many 
other  substantial  blocks  and  houses.  Since  re- 
suming work  as  a  contractor  he  has  had  the 
contracts  for  the  Boston  store,  and  the  buildings 
owned  by  Anderson  &  Flint,  Cudahy  Packing 
Company  and  the  Anheuser-Busch  Brewing 
Company. 

Mr.  Etheridge  was  born  in  Worcestershire, 
England,  December  6,  1847,  a  son  of  James  and 
Leah  (Shelvock)  Etheridge.  His  grandfather, 
Joseph  Etheridge,  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  nails  in  the  days  when  they  were  made  by 
hand;  he  died  when  almost  eighty  years  of  age. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Thomas  Shelvock, 
was  a  brewer  of  stout  ale.  James  Etheridge, 
who  was  a  bricklayer,  died  at  sixty-three  years, 
and  his  wife  was  also  about  the  same  age  at  the 
time  of  her  death.  Of  their  twenty-two  children, 
nine  attained  mature  years,  and  eight  are  living, 
three  sons,  Eli,  Felix  and  Edward,  being  in  Jo- 
liet. Another  son,  William,  who  was  also  a 
resident  of  this  city,  was  accidentally  killed  by 
falling  from  a  buggy.  One  of  the  daughters, 
Fannie,  resides  in  Joliet;  another,  Mrs.  Amelia 
Phellis,  makes  her  home  in  Toronto,  Canada; 
and  the  third,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Ward,  is  in  Eng- 
land, while  a  son,  Arthur,  also  lives  in  the 
mother  countr}-. 

When  only  seven  years  of  age  our  subject  be- 
gan to  work  at  the  nailer's  trade  with  an  uncle, 
remaining  with  him  for  six  months  and  being 
paid  only  two  cents  per  week.  His  next  work 
was  in  a  gun  barrel  plant,  after  which  he  worked 
with  his  father  in  the  brick-laying  trade,  contin- 
uing with  him  from  the  time  he  was  thirteen  un- 
til he  was  eighteen.  The  next  year  he  spent  in 
Birmingham,  England.  After  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Eliza  Sawyer,  which  took  place  in  Hole- 
sowen,  August  20,  1866,  he  worked  at  his  trade 
in  Staffordshire.  In  1869  he  went  to  North  Lan- 
cashire, and  continued  there  until  1872,  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States.  March  13,  1872,  he 
took  passage  from   Liverpool  on   a   steamer  that 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


533 


crossed  to  Portland,  Me.,  from  which  point  he 
proceeded  to  Chicago,  arriving  there  April  i , 
and  coming  on  to  Joliet  June  14.  Here  he  worked 
as  a  bricklayer  with  the  Joliet  Steel  Company 
until  1874,  after  which  he  was  in  the  Braddock 
steel  works  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  next  assisted 
in  the  construction  of  the  blast  furnaces  of  the 
James  Green  iron  works  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Re- 
turning to  Joliet,  he  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building.  In  1877  he  became  a  bricklayer,  and 
later  foreman  with  the  Illinois  Steel  Company, 
remaining  in  this  position  until  he  embarked  in 
contracting.  In  national  politics  he  votes  the 
Republican  ticket.  At  one  time  he  was  identi- 
fied with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  now  holds 
connection  with  the  Sons  of  St.  George.  In  re- 
ligious views  he  is  a  Methodist,  belonging  to  the 
Irving  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Etheridge  is  a  daughter  of  Zacha- 
riah  and  Sarah  (Hacket)  Sawyer,  of  whose  five 
children  Mary  is  in  England;  Henry,  Thomas 
and  Emma  reside  in  Chicago.  The  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Etheridge  has  been  blessed  by  four 
children,  namely:  George,  a  bricklayer,  who 
since  1897  nas  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Etheridge  &  Sous;  James,  who  is  also  a  member 
of  the  firm;  Mrs.  Sarah  Shelbaek,  of  Chicago, 
and  Mrs.  Martha  Sunbaum,  of  Joliet. 


EOL.  ALBERT  W.  BRIGGS,  who  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  county  during  much  of  the 
time  since  1852,  is  descended  from  a  colo- 
nial family  of  Massachusetts.  His  father,  Charles 
W.,  son  of  Richard  Briggs,  was  born  on  a  farm 
near  Rutland,  Vt. ,  and  in  early  life  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carriage-maker,  which  he  followed  in 
Painesville,  Ohio.  In  1852  he  brought  his 
family  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Plainfield,  but  later  removed  to  Chicago  and 
lived  there  in  retirement  until  his  death  in  1886. 
He  married  Julia  A.  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Rut- 
land County,  Vt.,  and  died  in  Will  County,  111. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  three 


daughters,  namely:  Julia,  Mrs.  K.  J.  Hammond, 
of  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  Albert  W.  and  Arthur  R. 
(twins);  Eliza  S.,  wife  of  VV.  C.  Goodhue,  of 
Chicago;  C.  R.,  whose  home  is  in  Redlands, 
Cal.;  and  Tinnie  H.,  wife  of  R.  H.  Terhune,  of 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Our  subject's  twin 
brother,  who  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  business  in  Chicago,  afterward 
went  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  carried  on  a 
large  trade  in  wholesale  groceries  and  fruits;  he 
is  now  living  retired. 

Colonel  Briggs  was  born  in  Painesville,  Ohio, 
March  21,  1839.  He  was  thirteen  years  of  age 
when  the  family  settled  in  this  county,  and  his 
education  was  afterward  carried  on  in  the  Plain- 
field  public  school  and  academy  and  the  Blue  Is- 
land schools.  In  1859  he  went  to  California  via 
New  York  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  From 
San  Francisco  he  proceeded  to  the  mountains  at 
Shasta,  thence  to  Virginia  City,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  silver  mining.  While  he  was  in 
Nevada  he  was  commissioned  by  James  \Y.  Nye 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  First  Nevada  Regiment, 
which  was  raised  by  Charles  A.  Sumner,  a 
nephew  of  Charles  Sumner.  His  regiment  was 
assigned  to  duty  on  the  great  plains  between 
Utah  and  California,  where  they  had  many 
skirmishes  with  the  Indians,  and  rendered  faith- 
ful service  under  the  leadership  of  Colonel  Sum- 
ner and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Briggs.  After  two 
years  in  the  army  the  latter  resigned  his  com- 
mission in  order  to  return  east.  While  he  was 
on  the  homeward  voyage,  at  Panama,  he  learned 
of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln. 

Upon  his  return  to  Joliet,  in  1865,  Colonel 
Briggs  opened  a  drug  store  on  Jefferson  street, 
opposite  the  court  house.  When  the  country 
around  Manistee,  Mich.,  began  to  open  up  here- 
moved  the  drug  business  to  that  town  and  for  a 
few  years  conducted  it  there.  Later  he  became 
interested  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Green,  Briggs  &  Co.  For 
three  years  he  met  with  success,  but  the  dis- 
astrous fire  in  the  town  caused  a  heavy  loss. 
Returning  to  Joliet  he  carried  on  a  grain  business 
with  H.  S.  Carpenter  for  several  years.  Next  he 
became  a   member  of  the  grain    firm  of  W.  S. 


534 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Johnson  &  Co.,  in  Chicago,  operators  of  elevators 
of  the  Northern  Iowa  division  of  the  North- 
Western  Railroad.  In  1S91  he  retired  from  that 
firm  and  accepted  a  position  as  assistant  immigra- 
tion agent  for  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  a 
position  that  obliged  him  to  travel  throughout 
the  entire  country.  After  three  years  as  agent 
he  resigned  in  1894  and  has  since  acted  as  man- 
ager of  Lambert  &  Cochrane's  real-estate  busi- 
ness in  Joliet.  He  has  laid  out  three  subdivis- 
ions in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  city  and  one 
in  the  southwest  part,  and  has  also  made  build- 
ing improvements  on  the  property.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  but  not  active. 

The  marriage  of  Colonel  Briggs  united  him 
with  Miss  Rose  Cagwin,  who  was  born  in  Joliet, 
daughter  of  Abij ah  Cagwin,  deceased,  ofthiscity. 
The}- are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Theirson, 
Arthur  A.,  a  graduate  of  a  Chicago  high  school, 
has  for  fourteen  years  been  connected  with  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Chicago.  The  daughter, 
Julia  H.,who  has  a  soprano  voice  of  unusual 
sweetness  and  power,  is  prominent  in  the  best 
society  in  Joliet. 


Sl.MOS  EIB.  As  a  representative  of  a  pioneer 
/  I  family  of  this  county  Mr.  Lib  is  well 
/  I  known  in  Jackson  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Harrison  County,  W.  Ya..  July  29,  1823. 
He  was  ten  years  old  when  the  family  settled  in 
Illinois  and  he  has  ever  since  been  identified  with 
the  farming  interests  of  Will  County.  His  first 
purchase  consisted  of  eighty  acres  of  canal  land, 
the  present  site  of  his  home.  In  1862  he  bought 
an  additional  one  hundred  acres,  which  he  still 
owns.  Later  he  added  more  land,  but  of  recent 
years  has  sold  it,  retaining  only  his  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  acres.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  has  been  interested  in  educa- 
tional matters  and  served  for  twelve  years  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board. 

March  28,  1S51,  Mr.  Eib  married  Miss 
Catherine  Gouter,  who  was  born  April  7,  1834, 
in    Alsace,    France.     She  was   one   of   the    five 


children  of  Michael  and  Catherine  (Arnholdt) 
Gouter,  and  has  one  brother  and  one  sister  now 
living,  viz.:  Michael,  of  Russell  County,  Kans.; 
and  Susan,  wife  of  William  Brown,  of  this 
county.  In  1840  Mr.  Gouter  brought  his  family 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  three  miles  south 
of  Joliet.  After  a  few  years  he  purchased  laud 
in  Jackson  Township  and  there  remained  until 
his  death.  The  five  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Eib  are  named  as  follows:  Levi  H.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  and  real-estate  business  in 
Joliet:  George  W.,  a  wheat  grower  in  Colusa 
County,  Cal. ;  Albert  M.,  a  farmer  in  Will 
County;  Clara  E.,  who  married  Albert  Cotton, 
of  Kankakee,  111.;  and  Susan,  wife  of  Alvin 
Spangler,  of  Jackson  Township,  this  county. 


30HN  A.  HATCH,  general  merchant  and 
grain  dealer  at  Mokena,  Frankfort  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  1S42  near  his  present  place 
of  residence.  His  father,  John  Hatch,  who  was 
born  in  England  in  1816  and  came  to  America 
in  1S35,  settled  in  Chicago  and  thence  came  to 
Will  County,  purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  from  the  government  at  $1.25  an  acre.  In 
1869  he  moved  from  hereto  Linn  County,  Mo., 
and  purchased  a  farm,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  He  is  a  Republican  and  for  several 
years  served  as  road  master.  His  wife  was  born 
in  Scotland  and  died  in  Missouri  in  1S93,  aged 
eighty-two,  leaving  seven  children:  Eliza,  John 
A.,  William,  Charlotte,  Edwin,  Mary,  and 
Charles  (now  deceased). 

In  1S69  our  subject  went  to  Missouri  with  his 
parents,  where  he  was  afterward  variously  em- 
ployed until  his  return  to  Mokena  in  1876.  Here 
he  was  first  employed  in  a  mercantile  store.  After- 
ward he  purchased  the  store  and  goods  and  has 
since  carried  on  business  for  himself.  Besides  gen- 
eral merchandising,  he  deals  in  grain,  feed,  coal, 
tile,  etc.,  and  operates  a  feed  mill  and  grain  eleva- 
tor. For  several  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
psace  and  school  director.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  Seventy-second  Illinois  Infantry,  as 
a  private.      Later   he  was  appointed  a  lieutenant 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


535 


in  Company  E,  Forty-seventh  United  States  Col- 
ored Infantry,  attached  to  the  department  of  the 
gulf,  under  General  Canby.  He  took  part  in 
various  engagements  of  the  war,  some  of  them 
being  among  the  fiercest  battles  of  the  four  years, 
but  he  was  not  once  wounded  or  imprisoned.  He 
is  now  a  member  of  U.  S.  Grant  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
in  Chicago.  In  1S66  he  married  Nancy  M., 
daughter  of  Ozias  MeGovney,  of  Mokena.  They 
have  eight  children:  Jane,  wife  of  Henry  Stell- 
wagen;  Nannie  E.,  wife  of  Samuel  J.  Fulton; 
John  O.,  Grace  E.,  Etta  O.,  Elbert  R.,  Lois  V. 
and  Alfred  C. 


(JOHN  FAHRNER,  M.  D.,  who  has  been 
I  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  medi- 
Q)  cine  in  Joliet  since  1882,  is  a  descend- 
ant of  an  old  German  family,  and  was  born 
in  Marienbad,  Bohemia,  Austria,  February  11, 
1854,  a  son  of  Dr.  Valentine  and  Mars-  A. 
(Tauber)  Fahrner,  natives  of  the  same  country. 
His  father  received  excellent  advantages  in  his 
native  land,  and  after  graduating  from  the 
University  of  Prague  with  the  degree  of  M.  D., 
he  engaged  in  practice  in  Marienbad.  From 
there,  in  1854,  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
establishing  an  office  in  Chicago,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  1868.  After  a  year  in  Europe,  in 
1S69  he  settled  in  Mokena  Township,  this  county, 
and  two  years  later  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  built 
up  a  general  practice.  He  died  in  this  city  in 
July,  1S79,  when  seventy-five  years  of  age. 
His  wife  preceded  him  in  death  some  years,  pass- 
ing away  in  Joliet  May  28,  1873.  They  were  the 
parents  of  one  son  and  two  daughters,  but  one  of 
the  daughters  died  at  twelve  years  of  age;  the 
other,  Mrs.  Catharine  Lehuer,  makes  her  home 
in  Joliet  Township.  The  earliest  recollections  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  are  associated  with  Chi- 
cago, which  he  remembers  as  a  small  city, widely 
differing  from  the  present  metropolis.  His  pri- 
mary education  was  obtained  in  parochial  schools, 
after  which  he  took  a  classical  course  in  St. 
Joseph's  College.    In  1S68  he  returned  to  Europe 


with  his  parents,  and  a  year  later  settled  with 
them  in  this  county.  Under  his  father's 
instructions  he  gained  his  first  knowledge  of 
the  medical  science,  with  whom  he  studied  and 
whom  he  also  assisted  in  practice  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Possessing  a  talent  for  the  pro- 
fession and  a  genuine  love  for  it,  he  readily 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  its  intricacies.  In  1879 
he  matriculated  in  Bennett  Medical  College  of 
Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1882,  after 
a  three  years'  course.  Returning  to  his  home 
county  he  opened  an  office  in  Joliet,  and  has  since 
established  a  large  and  growing  office  practice. 
He  has  his  office  on  the  corner  of  Center  and 
Oneida  streets.  Movements  relating  to  the  pro- 
fession receive  his  attention  and  assistance,  and 
he  is  actively  connected  with  the  Illinois  Eclectic 
Medical  Society.  In  national  polities  he  supports 
Democratic  principles,  but  in  local  affairs  believes 
in  supporting  the  men  best  calculated  to  represent 
the  people.  When  he  finds  enterprises  are  cal- 
culated to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  city  he 
gives  them  his  unqualified  support.  He  is  con- 
nected with  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church 
and  St.  Aloysius  Branch  No.  21,  of  the  Western 
Catholic  Union. 

December  28,  1875,  in  Joliet,  Dr.  Fahrner  and 
Miss  Magdalena  Kachelhoffer  were  united  in 
marriage.  Mrs.  Fahrner  was  born  in  this  city, 
to  which  her  father,  F.  X.  Kachelhoffer,  came  in 
an  early  day  from  Alsace  and  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  here.  The  doctor's  children  are 
John,  Pius,  Angela,  Walter,  Alphouse,  Char- 
lotte, Frederick,  Esther,  Arthur,  Julius  and 
Elsie. 


HOMAS  DIXON.  Prominent  among  the 
successful  farmers  of  Florence  Township 
may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Dixon,  who,  after 
years  of  active  and  arduous  labor,  has  retired 
from  farming  cares  and  is  passing  his  declining 
days  quietly  at  his  home  in  the  suburbs  of  Sym- 
ertou.  For  years  he  has  occupied  a  position  of 
influence   in  the  affairs  of  his  community.     Al- 


536 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


though  he  has  refused  all  public  offices  except 
one,  he  has  nevertheless  been  foremost  in  move- 
ments for  the  public  good  and  has  won  the  es- 
teem of  his  associates.  For  eighteen  years  he 
served  as  road  commissioner,  and  during  that 
time  became  recognized  as  a  steadfast  champion 
of  good  roads. 

Of  English  birth  and  parentage,  Mr.  Dixon 
was  born  in  Nottinghamshire,  February  19,  1826, 
a  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Dickerson)  Dixon, 
who  lived  and  died  in  England,  the  former  being 
almost  ninety  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  the 
family  there  were  seven  children,  viz.:  Sarah, 
who  is  in  England;  Thomas;  John,  of  Wilming- 
ton, this  county ;  William,  deceased;  Ann,  who 
is  the  wife  of  William  Connors;  George,  of  Sym- 
erton;  and  Hannah,  who  remains  in  England. 
When  a  boy  our  subject  had  no  chance  to  attend 
school,  for,  the  family  being  poor,  he  was  obliged 
to  support  himself  from  an  early  age.  He  worked 
as  a  day  laborer  until  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
when,  in  185S,  he  came  to  America,  accompanied 
by  his  sister  Anna,  sailing  from  Liverpool  May  2 
on  the  sailer  "Excelsior,"  and  landing  in  New- 
York  June  14.  From  New  York  he  proceeded 
direct  to  Chicago  and  thence  to  Lockport,  where 
he  met  some  English  acquaintances.  For  five 
years  he  worked  on  the  old  John  Lane  farm  in 
Homer  Township,  where  the  first  steel  plow  was 
made.  Next  he  rented  a  farm  in  Felix  Township, 
Grundy  Count}-,  and  this  he  operated  for  four 
years.  Returning  to  Will  County  in  1S69,  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  in 
Florence  Township,  and  at  once  began  the  task 
of  clearing,  improving  and  cultivating  a  farm. 
He  became  especially  interested  in  stock-raising, 
and  made  a  specialty  of  Durham  cattle  and 
Clydesdale  horses,  dealing  exclusively  in  fine 
stock.  In  1891  he  rented  the  farm  to  a  son  and 
built  a  new  house  on  his  land  near  the  village. 
His  life  is  an  example  of  what  ma}-  be  accom- 
plished when  the  spirit  of  determination  is  exer- 
cised in  connection  with  the  everyday  affairs  of 
existence.  His  farming  operations  have  resulted 
satisfactorily,  and  he  is  now  in  a  position  to  enjoy 
the  comforts  of  life  in  his  declining  years.  While 
he  is  not  active  in  politics,  he  is  a   pronounced 


Democrat,  strongly  in  sympathy  with  his  party. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Church,  in  which  he  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
Sunday-school. 

Miss  Mary  Ann  Taylor,  who  became  Mr. 
Dixon's  wife  in  1852,  was  born  in  the  same  shire 
as  himself  and  was  a  friend  of  his  in  their  child- 
hood days.  They  are  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, seven  now  living,  as  follows:  Harriet,  wife 
of  William  Blood;  Joseph,  who  makes  his  home 
in  Joliet;  Fannie,  wife  of  Timothy  Badgley,  of 
Chicago;  Sarah,  Mrs.  John  Singleton;  Thomas, 
who  superintends  the  old  homestead;  John,  living 
in  Iowa;  and  Rosie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Frederick 
Behrn,  of  Joliet. 


3  AMES  \V.  LOYE,  who  is  engaged  in  jobbing 
and  repairing,  and  in  the  manufacture  of 
store  and  office  fixtures,  is  one  of  the  reli- 
able business  men  of  Joliet,  and  has  a  shop  at 
No.  212  North  Ottawa  street  that  is  provided 
with  electric  power  and  other  modern  improve- 
ments. His  grandfather,  Thomas  Love,  was 
gamekeeper  on  the  estate  of  a  nobleman  near 
London.  For  many  years  he  was  an  officer  in 
the  English  army,  much  of  his  service  being  in' 
Canada,  where  he  finally  retired  to  private  life, 
engaging  in  farming  and  stock-raising  in  Ontario 
County,  Ontario.  Among  the  offices  which  he 
held  were  those  of  magistrate  and  township 
supervisor.  In  religion  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  England. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  James  Love,  was 
born  near  London,  England,  and  for  years  carried 
on  a  farm  near  Seaforth,  Huron  County,  On- 
tario, but  later  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of 
the  homestead  near  Greenbank.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Canadian  Presbyterian  Church  and  a 
man  of  upright  Christian  character.  Our  sub- 
ject, James  \Y.  Love,  was  born  in  Whitby,  Can- 
ada, March  17,  1855,  and  was  reared  on  his 
grandfather's  farm,  which  he  assisted  in  clearing 
and  improving.  At  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  being  with 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


537 


the  same  employer  for  five  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1877  he  came  to  the  States  and  settled  in  Joliet, 
111.,  where  he  was  employed  by  Mr.  Burlingame 
for  three  years  and  by  Mr.  Van  Fleet  for  six 
years.  Later  he  was  in  charge  of  a  gang  of 
laborers  in  the  bridge  department  of  the  Chicago 
&  Rock  Island  Railroad.  In  1S94  he  began 
jobbing,  opening  a  shop  in  the  old  Republican 
Sun  building  near  the  river.  Two  years  later  he 
moved  to  North  Joliet  street,  and  after  a  year 
located  at  his  present  place. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Love  is  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  The  Republican  party  has  always 
received  his  support  since  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  and,  while  not  desiring  political  offices,  he 
has  been  willing  to  aid  his  party  by  serving  on 
committees  and  as  a  delegate  to  conventions, 
etc.  In  Seaforth,  Ontario,  March  24,  1885,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Essie  Ward, 
of  Canada,  by  whom  he  has  one  son,  Harry  Ward 
Love. 


(1  OSEPH  ROSE.  The  farmers  of  this  county 
have  a  good  representative  in  Mr.  Rose,  who 
G/  for  years  diligently  and  successfully  culti- 
vated a  farm  in  Manhattan  Township,  but  who 
since  1S91  has  been  living  retired  from  active 
cares  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  earned 
by  his  former  industry,  is  quietly  passing  the 
twilight  of  his  life  in  Manhattan.  The  period  of 
his  connection  with  the  history  of  this  county 
covers  a  half  century.  It  was  on  the  19th  of 
June,  1850,  that  he  arrived  in  Lockport,  a  stran- 
ger in  a  strange  land,  with  whose  customs  and 
people  he  was  wholly  unfamiliar.  He  was  with- 
out means  and  was  glad  to  secure  work  at  fifty 
cents  a  day  and  his  board.  In  the  years  that 
have  since  come  and  gone  he  has  labored  to  such 
good  purpose  that  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  improved  land  besides  his  property 
in  town. 

A  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Whitely)  Rose,  the 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Nottingham- 
shire, England,  March  1,  1S25.  He  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
birthplace  until  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  the 
United  States.  After  a  voyage  of  nearly  six 
weeks  from  Liverpool  on  the  good  sailing  ship 
"Manhattan,"  Captain  Mulligan,  he  arrived  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  spent  a  few  days.  He 
then  proceeded  to  Albany  and  from  there  pur- 
sued his  way  to  Chicago,  at  that  time  an  insig- 
nificant village  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  swamp. 
From  Chicago  he  came  via  canal  boat  to  Lock- 
port,  where  he  secured  employment.  Later,  for 
three  years,  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  D.  C. 
Young,  and  while  in  his  employ  he  helped  to 
clear  up  the  land  now  occupied  by  Oakwood 
cemetery. 

Renting  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  Mr.  Rose  be- 
gan independent  farming.  He  spent  four  years 
on  the  same  place,  and  in  1858  removed  to  Man- 
hattan Township,  where  he  operated  a  rented 
farm  for  six  years,  and  in  1864  bought  a  farm  in 
Wilton  Township,  between  Peotone  and  Wilton. 
Upon  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  compris- 
ing the  farm  he  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  later  bought  eighty  acres  of 
land  west  of  Wilton  Center.  He  remained  on  his 
farm  until  his  removal  to  Manhattan  in  1891. 
He  has  never  cared  for  office  and,  aside  from 
voting  the  Republican  ticket,  takes  no  part  in 
politics.  In  1846  he  married  Miss  Mary  Hallam, 
a  native  of  England.  They  are  the  parents  of  the 
following-named  children:  Charles,  James  1'., 
Robert  H.,  Elizabeth,  Mary  J.  and  Harriet  S. 
Of  these  Charles  is  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 


"■PHRAIM  L.  SHAFFNER.  The  business 
*T)  interests  of  Joliet  have  an  energetic  repre- 
__  sentative  in  Mr.  Shaffner,  who  for  years  has 
been  the  owner  and  manager  of  a  coal  yard  in 
this  city.  Forming  a  partnership  with  his  father, 
under  the  firm  name  of  B.  Shaffner  &  Son,  in 
1876  he  embarked   in  the  coal  business.     Eight 


533 


GKXKALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years  later  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  he  as- 
suming full  control  of  the  business,  which  he  has 
since  enlarged  to  its  present  magnitude.  His 
yard  is  conveniently  located  near  the  tracks  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton,  Illinois  Central  and  Santa 
Fe  Railroads.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business 
ability  and  sound  judgment,  and  has  attained  a 
success  of  which  he  is  eminently  deserving. 

In  1S46  John  Shaffner  came  to  this  county  and 
took  up  government  land,  on  which  he  engaged 
in  farming.  His  son,  Benjamin,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  County,  Pa  ,  in  1825.  The  next 
year  the  family  removed  to  Summit  County. 
Ohio,  and  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  removal  to  Illinois,  the  family  settling 
in  Xew  Lenox  Township,  this  county.  Later  he 
acquired  a  farm  in  Jackson  Township,  where  he 
remained  until  1S57.  On  selling  that  place  he 
removed  to  Joliet  and  began  working  at  the  car- 
penter's trade,  but  after  a  time  became  interested 
in  wagon-making,  also  carried  on  a  grocery  and 
provision  business,  and  finally  opened  a  coal 
yard.  About  1884  he  retired  from  active  business 
cares,  and  has  since  lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  an 
income  sufficient  for  his  needs,  occupying  a  com- 
fortable home  in  this  city.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican. 

By  the  marriage  of  Benjamin  Shaffner  to  Caro- 
line Larkin,  of  this  county,  two  children  were 
born,  E.  L.  and  E.  P.,  both  of  Joliet.  The  former 
was  born  in  New  Lenox  Township,  October  1, 
1S52,  and  received  a  common-school  education. 
At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  secured  employment 
with  the  Joliet  Iron  &  Steel  Company  as  an  office 
boy.  Gaining  the  confidence  of  his  employers, 
he  was  promoted  from  one  position  to  another 
until  he  was  finally  given  charge  of  the  pay  rolls, 
and  he  continued  with  the  company  until  he  re- 
signed to  engage  in  the  coal  business. 

June  21,  1S77,  Mr.  Shaffner  married  Miss 
Frances  A.  Stanley,  who  was  born  in  Joliet  June 
10,  1855.  Her  father,  Francis  G.  Stanley,  was 
for  twenty-seven  years  foreman  of  the  William 
Adams  Lumber  Company,  continuing  in  the  po- 
sition until  the  time  of  his  death.  Mrs.  Shaffner 
died  May  12.  1885,  leaving  four  children.  The 
eldest,  Edwin  Stanley,  who  was  born   May   29, 


1878,  is  assisting  his  father  in  business.  Frances 
M.,  born  December  7.  1S80,  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Joliet  high  school,  and  resides  at  home.  Lottie 
A.  died  at  five  years;  and  Benjamin  F. ,  born 
January  8,  1885,  is  with  his  father.  The  second 
marriage  of  Mr.  Shaffner  took  place  May  iS, 
1S86,  and  united  him  with  Miss  Martha  J. 
George,  who  was  born  in  Bucyrus,  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
(Stickler)  George.  Her  father  came  from  Ohio 
to  Will  County  in  an  early  day  and  after  a  resi- 
dence here  of  several  3-ears  returned  to  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shaffner  are  the  parents  of  a  daughter,  Clara 
Belle,  born  June  9,  1889. 


GlLKXAXDER  DAVIDSON,  proprietor  of  a 
L\  livery  on  South  Bluff  street,  Joliet,  was  born 
/  1  in  Scrauton,  Pa.,  June  9,  1S70,  a  son  of 
Francis  P.  and  Elizabeth  1  MeNeal)  Davidson, 
who  were  born,  reared  and  married  in  Scotland. 
His  father,  who  followed  the  machinist's  trade 
in  Scotland  for  some  3-ears,  after  coming  to  Amer- 
ica became  master  mechanic  in  the  steel  mills 
at  Scranton.  In  1S73  he  removed  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  held  a  position  as  master  mechanic  in 
the  Vulcan  iron  works  at  Caroudelet.  His  next 
location  was  in  Crystal  City,  as  master  mechanic 
in  the  plate  glass  works  there.  In  1SS0  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  became  superintendent  of  the 
Morton  Frog  &  Crossing  works,  having  charge 
of  the  building  and  fitting  up  of  the  new  plant. 
Coming  to  Joliet  in  1S90,  he  accepted  a  position 
as  manager  of  the  Fox  Pressed  Steel  Company 
(now  the  Pressed  Steel  Car  Company).  This 
plant  he  fitted  with  machinery  and  put  in  run- 
ning order.  In  1892  he  went  to  Montana  as 
superintendent  of  the  mechanical  part  of  the 
noted  Anaconda  mines.  Since  1898  he  has  been 
retired  from  business  cares  and  has  made  his 
home  in  Joliet,  where  he  stands  high  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  people  as  a  reliable  citizen.  Among 
those  in  his  line  he  has  always  held  a  high  rank, 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


539 


and  during  his  active  years  he  was  considered  one 
of  the  most  skilled  mechanics  in  America.  Reared 
under  the  influences  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
Church,  he  has  always  adhered  to  its  doctrines 
and  endeavored  to  live  up  to  its  teachings. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  acquired 
principally  in  South  Chicago.  When  a  mere  boy 
he  was  apprenticed  to  the  moulder's  trade,  serv- 
ing his  time  with  Fraser  &  Chalmers,  and  work- 
ing in  Chicago.  When  his  father  went  to  Ana- 
conda he  accompanied  him,  but  after  a  stay  of 
three  months  returned  to  Chicago.  However,  in 
1893  he  again  went  to  Montana,  this  time  re- 
maining until  June,  1895,  when  he  settled  in 
Joliet.  His  connection  with  the  Bates  Machine 
Company  began  shortly  after  he  settled  in  this 
city  and  continued  until  March,  1899.  He  then 
bought  out  the  business  he  now  successfully  con- 
ducts. Everything  about  his  barns  is  first-class. 
His  carriages  are  all  rubber-tired  and  modern  in 
every  particular.  He  owns  ten  horses  of  high 
grade  and  also  has  a  number  of  boarders  in  his 
stables.  He  gives  his  attention  very  closely  to 
his  business,  desiring  in  every  particular  to  please 
his  customers  and  to  conduct  affairs  in  a  manner 
satisfactory  to  patrons  and  profitable  to  himself. 
Politically  he  has  not  allied  himself  with  any  po- 
litical party,  but  is  independent  in  his  vote. 


(p\  BIJAH  R.  STARR,  former  proprietor  of  the 
LI    Stone  City  greenhouses  at  No.  110  Macom- 

/  I  her  avenue,  made  his  home  in  Joliet  from 
1S71  until  his  death  in  1S99.  He  was  born  in 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1832,  a  son  of  William 
Russell  Starr.  The  common  ancestor  of  all 
branches  of  the  Starr  family  in  America  was  Dr. 
Comfort  Starr,  a  native  of  Ashford,  Kent  County, 
England,  and  a  prominent  surgeon  and  owner  of 
large  estates.  This  ancestor  settled  in  Massa- 
chusetts in  1635  and  afterward  made  his  home 
there.  He  was  a  warden  in  St.  Mary's  Church 
at  Ashford,  Kent  County,  England.  Both  he 
and  his  descendants  were  prominently  identified 


with  many  important  movements  for  the  develop- 
ment of  New  England,  and  the  family  name  was 
a  synonym  of  honesty  and  uprightness.  His  son, 
Thomas,  came  to  America  in  1637;  his  name  is 
mentioned  in  the  early  history  of  Massachusetts, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  surgeons  that  went  out 
with  the  army  against  the  Pequod  Indians. 

Capt.  Josiah,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  Starr,  was 
born  at  Chestertown,  Mass.,  September  1,  1657, 
and  became  the  founder  of  the  branch  of  the 
family  in  Danbury,  Conn.  He  was  elected  the 
first  town  clerk,  captain  of  the  first  military  com- 
pany there,  and  also  held  the  offices  of  justice  of 
the  peace  and  surveyor.  In  1702  he  was  chosen 
deputy  to  the  general  court,  a  position  of  great 
distinction.  This  office  he  held,  by  re-election, 
during  the  remaining  years  of  his  life.  He  had  a 
grandson  who  bore  the  same  name  ashimself  and 
who  was  born  in  1717.  He  was  a  member  of 
what  was  then  known  as  the  train-bard.  In 
1754  he  was  chosen  ensign  of  his  company.  In 
August,  1755,  he  was  chosen  second  lieutenant 
of  the  Fifth  Company  to  go  against  Crown  Point. 
In  1756  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel. 
His  father  also  served  as  an  ensign  and  captain 
and  as  deputy  to  the  general  court  and  was  promi- 
nent in  church  affairs. 

Abijah,  son  of  Colonel  Starr,  was  born  in  Dan- 
bury,  Conn.,  about  1744,  and  removed  thence  to 
Patterson,  Putnam  County,  N.  Y.  His  sou, 
Abijah,  a  native  of  Patterson,  settled  in  Ithaca 
about  1S16,  and  afterward  followed  surveying. 
By  his  marriage  to  Hauna  Watts  he  had  three 
children,  of  whom  the  eldest,  William  Russell 
Starr,  was  born  in  Patterson  August  4,  1 S07 ,  and 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  there.  In 
1S34  he  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up  some  land 
near  Crete,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  a  stanch  Whig  and  Abolitionist.  For  some 
years  he  was  postmaster  at  Crete.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Crete.  November  18,  1829,  he 
married  Harriet  L-  Royce,  daughter  of  Asahel 
and  Sally  (Clark)  Royce.  He  died  February 
10,  1857. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  their  only  son. 
He  was  two  years  of  age  when  they  brought  him 


54° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  this  county,  coming  via  the  lakes  on  one  of 
the  earliest  steamers,  "Uncle  Sam,"  that  made 
the  voyage.  When  a  boy  he  attended  school 
held  in  a  log  building  put  up  by  the  pioneers,  and 
containing  openings  for  windows  and  doors; 
afterward  doors  and  windows  were  made  of  what 
was  known  as  shake  boards,  split  out  of  logs.  In 
1850  he  went  to  California,  driving  across  the 
plains  with  a  large  party.  The  journey  was  a 
perilous  one,  owing  to  the  hostility  of  the  Indians. 
At  night  and  day  guards  were  on  the  alert  to 
protect  the  travelers  against  possible  attacks,  but 
they  were  not  molested.  As  a  miner  he  had  fair 
success.  After  two  years  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
on  account  of  his  father's  illness,  and  resumed 
the  management  of  the  home  farm.  Four  years 
later  his  father  died  and  the  farm  was  sold  to  our 
subject's  uncle.  Our  subject  then  went  to 
Wheaton,  Dupage  County,  where  for  eight  years 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business. 

Iu  March,  1S71,  Mr.  Starr  sold  out  in  Wheaton 
and  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  and  his  wife  started 
a  store  at  No.  69  Jefferson  street,  which  they 
carried  on  for  five  years.  The  management  of  the 
store  was  almost  wholly  in  his  wife's  hands,  and 
she  displayed  excellent  judgment  in  superintend- 
ing it.  Meantime  he  had  started  a  greenhouse 
on  Macomber  avenue,  which  was  the  first  one 
started  in  Joliet.  In  1S7S  he  and  his  wife  dis- 
posed of  their  stock  of  goods  and  turned  their  at- 
tention wholly  to  the  florist's  business.  They 
rebuilt  their  residence  and  erected  another  house 
on  an  adjoining  lot.  In  the  greenhouses  there 
are  five  thousand  feet  of  glass.  The  accommoda- 
tions are  ample  for  the  care  of  a  large  variety  of 
plants,  two  of  the  houses  being  20x50,  while  two 
others  are  20x70. 

Mr.  Starr  was  a  stockholder  in  the  first  build- 
ing and  loan  association  organized  in  Joliet.  As 
a  Republican,  he  was  fairly  active  iu  politics  and 
attended  numerous  conventions.  In  religion  he 
was  a  Methodist.  During  his  residence  in 
Wheaton  he  was  made  a  Mason,  and  after  coming 
to  Joliet  he  joined  Matteson  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  in  which  he  held  positions  of  trust. 

October  24,  1853,  Mr.  Starr  married  Sarah 
Ann,    daughter   of    Jared    and    Lana    (Young) 


Mogg,  and  a  native  of  Clay,  N.  Y.  Her  grand- 
father, Jeremiah  Young,  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier  and  traced  his  ancestry  to  Germain',  his 
great-grandfather  having  come  to  this  country 
from  that  land.  Many  of  the  name  still  reside  in 
Schoharie  and  Onondaga  Counties,  N.  Y.,  where 
the  original  emigrants  settled.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Connecticut  in  1791,  and  was  orphaned 
by  the  death  of  his  parents  when  he  was  a  small 
boy.  He  was  bound  out  and  in  boyhood  was 
compelled  to  work  very  hard,  with  no  advantages 
or  opportunities.  While  he  was  still  very  young, 
the  treatment  he  received  caused  him  to  run 
away  from  his  master.  He  secured  work  on  a 
farm  and  was  employed  as  a  hand  until  he  had 
saved  enough  to  start  out  for  himself.  After  his 
marriage  he  bought  a  farm  in  Onondaga  County. 
After  a  time  he  bought  another  farm  and  also  ran 
a  sawmill  in  Oswego  County.  A  strong  Jackson 
Democrat,  he  took  an  active  part  in  politics.  He 
was  a  very  upright,  honorable  and  industrious 
man,  one  who  had  many  friends  in  his  com- 
munity. In  his  family  there  were  fourteen  chil- 
dren, all  but  one  of  whom  attained  maturity,  and 
ten  are  still  living,  the  youngest  of  these  being 
fifty-seven  years  old,  it  being  the  oldest  and 
largest  (taken  altogether)  of  any  family  now 
living  that  was  born  in  Onondaga  County.  Mr.  - 
and  Mrs.  Starr  became  the  parents  of  three 
daughters,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  A.  C.  John- 
ston, of  Joliet;  Ellen,  a  physician  and  the  wife  of 
Dr.  C.  H.  L.  Souder,  of  Chicago;  and  Attie  Cor- 
delia, wife  of  George  T.  Relyea,  a  wholesale 
grocer,  of  Joliet. 

At  his  home,  surrounded  by  his  family,  Mr. 
Starr  departed  this  life  December  iS,  1S99,  aged 
sixty-seven  years,  nine  months  and  eighteen 
days.  Throughout  life  he  was  noted  for  his  ster- 
ling honesty  and  positive  convictions,  and  was 
respected  by  all  his  acquaintances  for  his  love  of 
truth  and  right  and  his  bitter  hatred  of  dis- 
honesty and  corruption,  either  in  public  or  pri- 
vate affairs.  He  was  always  kind  and  generous 
in  his  family  and  with  his  neighbors.  His  genial 
and  sympathetic  nature  led  him  to  perform  main- 
acts  of  kindness  and  charity  toward  the  poor  or 
the  distressed  in  his  neighborhood.     Of  his  char- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


54' 


acter  and  life  it  may  truthfully  be  said  that  they 
always  stood  for  the  right  because  it  was  right 
and  not  for  policy's  sake.  He  admired  and 
championed  the  cause  of  truth  and  justice,  and  he 
boldly  denounced  wrong.  In  every  good  cause 
he  was  a  supporter.  He  did  much,  by  example 
and  precept,  to  lead  the  community  in  paths  of 
justice,  loyalty  and  honor. 


EHARLES  W.  KEITH,  foreman  of  the  Joliet 
plant  of  Selz,  Schwab  &  Co.,  is  descended 
from  Scotch  ancestry,  but  his  forefathers 
have  been  in  America  since  1661.  During  that 
year,  Rev.  James,  son  of  Robert  Keith,  came  to 
the  new  world  from  the  county  of  Caithness,  in 
the  northern  part  of  Scotland.  From  him  descend 
all  of  the  Keiths  of  New  England.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Marshall  College,  Aberdeen,  and  came 
to  America  immediatly  after  completing  hiscollege 
course.  •  He  was  called  to  be  the  first  minister  at 
Duxbury,  Mass.  His  son,  Simeon,  was  born  in 
Mendon,  May  6,  1742,  and  was  orphaned  at  an 
early  age;  learning  the  blacksmith's  trade,  he 
started  out  for  himself  when  eighteen  years  of 
age.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war  he  enlisted  in  a  company  of  volunteers 
under  Captain  Wilkinson,  of  Sutton.  He  marched 
with  the  company  to  Roxbury,  but  there,  through 
the  exposure  of  camp  life,  caught  a  severe  cold 
resulting  in  fever,  from  which  he  died  January  3, 
1776.  Though  he  did  not  live  to  see  the  inde- 
pendence of  our  country,  his  name  deserves  to  be 
perpetuated  among  those  of  other  patriots  who 
gave  their  lives  for  their  native  land.  By  his 
marriage  to  Rebecca  Leland  he  had  five  children, 
of  whom  the  second,  Royal,  was  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject. 

Royal  Keith  was  born  February  23,  1769,  and 
was  seven  years  of  age  when  his  father  died. 
The  care  of  the  family  then  fell  upon  the  mother, 
who,  in  spite  of  the  hardships  of  war,  the  priva- 
tions of  poverty  and  the  sorrows  of  widowhood, 
managed  to  keep  the  children  together  and  reared 


them  to  become  useful,  honorable  citizens.  As 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  earn  money  Royal 
helped  to  support  the  family.  He  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade  with  his  uncle,  Elijah  Stanton. 
In  1788  he  went  to  Boston,  where  he  found  em- 
ployment in  a  shoe  store  occupying  a  room  in 
Faneuil  hall.  Two  years  later  he  returned  to 
the  family  home  at  Grafton,  where  he  soon  began 
to  manufacture  shoes  on  his  own  account,  selling 
in  Boston  and  Providence.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  manufacturers  of  custom  shoes  in  Amer- 
ica, having  begun  in  business  soon  after  the  first 
tariff  was  passed  for  the  protection  of  American 
industries.  The  first  shoes  he  manufactured  were 
rough  hand-sewed  articles,  which  were  used  by 
laboring  men  or  shipped  south  for  the  Carolina 
negroes.  After  a  time  these  shoes  were  supplanted 
by  others  more  modern  in  style  and  shape.  Dur- 
ing the  embargo  of  the  war  of  1S12,  transporta- 
tion by  water  was  impossible,  and  Mr.  Keith  sent 
a  shipment  of  shoes  overland  from  Grafton  to 
Richmond,  Va.,  which  was  a  very  difficult  task 
in  those  days.  He  was  a  citizen  highly  esteemed 
for  his  worthy  qualities.  Possessing  excellent 
business  qualities  he  always  succeeded  in  busi- 
ness enterprises.  Often  he  was  appealed  to  by 
his  neighbors  for  advice  in  weighty  matters.  He 
was  frequently  chosen  to  serve  in  official  capaci- 
ties, and  in  1836  was  the  representative  from 
Grafton  in  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts. 
He  died  November  13,  1S57,  after  a  long  and 
successful  life. 

By  the  marriage  of  Royal  Keith  to  Deborah 
Adams,  which  was  solemnized  December  26, 1797, 
ten  children  were  born,  of  whom  Royal  A.,  the 
sixth,  was  born  December  27,  1809.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  although  he  also  engaged 
in  the  meat  business  for  some  years.  In  religion 
he  was  a  Congregationalist.  He  was  a  man  of 
quiet,  unassuming  disposition,  who,  like  his 
father,  was  respected  wherever  known.  He  at- 
tained an  advanced  age,  and  passed  from  earth 
August  29,  18S2.  By  his  marriage,  September 
2,  1840,  to  Lydia  D.  Fisher,  eight  children  were 
born,  Charles  being  the  fifth.  The  last-named 
was  born  at  Grafton,  Mass.,  April  19,  1849,  and 
was  educated  in  common  schools.     In  youth  he 


542 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


became  familiar  with  the  shoe  business.  About 
1865  he  went  to  Worcester,  but  a  year  later  re- 
turned to  Grafton,  and  for  six  years  was  with 
J.  W.  Slocum  &  Sou.  Next  he  went  to  Upton, 
where  lie  was  similarly  employed  for  two  years. 
For  five  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  C.  A. 
Claflin,  of  Hopkinton,  Mass.  Later  he  was  with 
J.  H.  and  G.  M.  Walker  at  Worcestsr  until  1883, 
when  he  came  to  Joliet  upon  the  recommendation 
of  Mr.  Claflin,  who  was  at  the  time  assistant  su- 
perintendent for  Selz,  Schwab  &  Co.,  in  this  city. 
For  a  part  of  the  first  year  he  was  assistant  to  the 
foreman,  after  which  he  was  appointed  foreman, 
and  has  held  this  position  since,  notwithstanding 
the  different  administrations  of  affairs.  A  fter  the 
first  year  he  took  the  place  of  two  foremen,  hav- 
ing charge  of  from  seventy  to  eighty  men. 

In  politics  Mr.  Keith  is  a  believer  in  Republi- 
can principles,  but  in  local  affairs  believes  it  is 
more  a  question  of  the  right  man  than  of  political 
principles,  hence  he  supports  the  men  he  consid- 
ers best  qualified  to  represent  the  people.  Janu- 
ary 28,  1S80,  he  married  Carrie  A.,  daughter  of 
Lovett  B.  Hayden,  who  was  engaged  iu  the  boot 
and  shoe  business  in  Hopkinton,  Mass.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Carrie  Ethel, 
Royal  Adams,  Nina  Hayden  and  Robert  Elwin. 


HENRY  CHRISTMANN,  who  is  proprietor 
of  a  meat  market  at  No.  623  South  Chicago 
street,  Joliet,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, October  14,  1865.  He  was  the  third 
among  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing. His  father,  Christopher  Christmann,  was 
for  twenty-five  years  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Bavaria,  but  in  1S80  left  Germany  and 


emigrated  to  America,  settling  in  Joliet,  where 
he  is  now  living,  retired  from  business  cares. 
Since  identifying  himself  with  our  government 
he  has  been  a  stanch  Republican.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Bavaria  iii  1859  to  Margarita  Schneider, 
who  is  yet  living,  in  Joliet. 

At  the  time  of  comiirg  to  the  United  States 
Henry  Christmann  was  a  boy  of  fifteen  years. 
From  an  early  age  he  has  been  self-supporting, 
and  through  his  industry  and  perseverance  he  has 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  very  profitable  business. 
After  working  for  six  months  in  a  butcher  shop 
he  started  a  meat  market  of  his  own,  and  has 
since  continued  in  business  for  himself.  In  1S92 
he  erected  a  two-story  brick  building  north  of  his 
shop,  but  this  he  later  sold.  In  all  of  his  work 
he  has  showed  good  judgment.  He  uses  great 
care  in  the  selection  of  his  meats,  thus  gaining 
the  confidence  of  his  customers.  His  long  ex- 
perience in  the  business,  combined  with  his  en- 
ergy and  perseverance,  well  qualify  him  to  carry 
on  his  market  with  success. 

While  he  has  never  been  active  in  local  affairs, 
Mr.  Christmann  has  firm  opinions  on  political 
subjects  and  votes  with  the  Republicans.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Woodmen  of  America, 
Home  Forum  and  Loyal  Orange  Lodge.  He  is  ' 
connected  with  the  German  Protestant  Church 
and  is  now  serving  as  its  secretary.  His  first 
marriage  took  place  January  21,  1S88,  and 
united  him  with  Emma  Liederbach,  who  died  in 
1895,  leaving  two  children,  Christopher  Frederick 
and  Catherine  Louise.  March  3,  1S97,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Helen  Dieterich,  of 
Joliet,  a  daughter  of  Lawrence  and  Susannah 
(Schneider)  Dieterich,  natives  of  Germany. 
They  settled  in  Troy  Township,  where  Mrs. 
Dieterich  yet  resides,  on  the  old  homestead. 


uwv^Vo?—  « 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


545 


ROMAINE  J.  CURTISS. 


ROMAINE  J.  CURTISS,  M.  D.  Those  who 
possess  originality  of  mental  attributes  form 
striking  figures  in  local  or  general  history. 
In  keenness  of  perceptive  qualities,  in  clearness 
of  mind  and  firmness  of  convictions,  Dr.  Curtiss 
has  a  leading  position  among  Joliet  physicians 
and  surgeons.  His  record  is  that  of  a  man  fear- 
less in  the  defence  of  truth,  firm  in  the  expres- 
sion of  his  opinions,  even  when  these  convictions 
are  diametrically  opposed  to  the  views  of  his  co- 
laborers.  A  constant  student  of  his  profession, 
he  has  kept  in  touch  with  every  development 
that  has  been  made  in  the  medical  science,  and 
has  himself  been  a  leader  in  the  forward  march 
of  discovery  and  research. 

Many  generations  gone  by,  in  the  remote  past, 
the  Curtiss  family  emigrated  from  Spain,  where 
its  members  had  long  lived  in  peace  under  their 
own  vine  and  fig  tree,  and  settled  in  the  less 
genial  England.  From  there  three  brothers 
came  with  the  Cambridge  colony  to  America, 
settling  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  Dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war  the  family  was  repre- 
sented at  the  front.  Zurial  Curtiss,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  removed  to  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y., 
wherehissou,  Newell,  was  born.  Later  he  set- 
tled in  the  timber  near  Plymouth,  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  reared  his  family  on  a 
farm  and  spent  his  remaining  years  Newell 
Curtiss  was  a  farmer,  and  also  owned  a  saw  and 
grist  mill,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
lumber  and  flour,  having  his  mill  near  New  Ha- 
ven, Huron  County,  Ohio,  where  he  moved  soon 
after  the  birth  of  his  son,  RomaineJ.  After  a 
busy  and  active  life  he  retired  to  the  quiet  of  his 
home  and  is  now  living  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  at  the 
28 


age  of  more  than  ninety  years.  He  married 
Marilla  Sage,  who  was  born  in  Oswego,  N.  Y., 
and  is  still  living;  her  father,  Roswell,  was  a 
farmer  in  New  York. 

Of  four  children  Dr.  Curtiss  was  the  eldest, 
and  is  now  the  sole  survivor.  He  was  born  near 
Plymouth,  Ohio,  October  1,  1840,  and  was  reared 
in  Huron  County.  At  seventeen  years  of  age 
he  entered  Hillsdale  (Mich.)  College,  where  he 
remained  for  two  years.  He  then  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Charles  Richards 
of  New  Haven,  after  which  he  entered  the  Buf- 
falo Medical  College  with  the  intention  of  com- 
pleting his  course  there.  However,  the  Civil  war 
came  on  and  he  enlisted  as  a  medical  cadet  in  the 
army.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  on  a  hospital 
boat  containing  the  wounded  from  Vicksburg 
who  were  being  taken  to  St.  Louis,  and  made 
several  similar  trips  until  illness  forced  him  to 
resign.  In  1864  he  graduated  from  Ohio  Medi- 
cal College  at  Cincinnati  as  an  M.  D.,  and  shortly 
afterward  entered  the  navy  as  assistant  surgeon 
on  the  United  States  flagship  ' '  General  Burn- 
side,"  assigned  to  the  Mississippi  squadron, 
eleventh  division.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  home  on  an  extended  furlough,  and  four 
months  later  was  discharged. 

For  seven  years  Dr.  Curtiss  practiced  at  An- 
dover,  N.  Y.  While  there,  through  an  accident 
on  the  railroad,  eighty  people  were  killed  and 
sixty  wounded.  After  the  accident  he  was  the 
first  on  the  ground,  and  was  given  charge  of  the 
wounded.  Later  he  was  made  surgeon  for  the 
Buffalo  &  Erie  (now  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern)  Railroad,  being  the  first  railroad  sur- 
geon ever  appointed  in  the  United   States.     In 


546 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


September,  1S73,  he  came  to  Joliet  and  opened 
an  office  for  practice.  He  soon  built  up  a  repu- 
tation for  efficiency  and  skill.  For  years  he  was 
surgeon  for  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern,  and  the 
Santa  Fe  roads;  for  ten  }-ears  was  surgeon  in 
charge  of  St.  Joseph  Hospital,  and  also  acted  as 
surgeon  for  steel  wire  mills,  etc.  He  was  the 
first  health  commissioner  of  Joliet  and  organized 
the  health  department,  also  wrote  all  of  the  ordi- 
nances for  the  same.  On  the  reorganization  of  the 
Will  County  Medical  Society  he  was  its  president 
for  a  year,  and  later  served  as  secretary  for  thir- 
teen years,  but  in  1895  resigned.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and 
Grand  Army,  and  in  religion  he  is  a  Catholic. 

The  thoroughness  of  the  researches  which  Dr. 
Curtiss  has  made  in  the  realm  of  bacteriology 
and  in  hygiene  have  brought  him  into  promi- 
nence. After  long  years  of  study,  investigation 
and  experiment,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
disease  is  incurable,  but  its  prevention  is  possi- 
ble, and  therefore  he  has  advocated  hygiene  and 
prevention  rather  than  cure.  Logically,  he  prac- 
tices the  prevention  of  disease  and  is  an  ardent 
hvgienist.  In  explanation  of  his  theory  and  in 
proof  of  its  validity,  he  has  contributed  papers 
frequently  to  medical  journals,  and  these  have 
been  studied  by  members  of  the  profession 
throughout  the  entire  country.  Recently  con- 
siderable attention  was  attracted  to  him  through 
his  letter  to  Andrew  Carnegie,  inviting  him  to 
invest  a  princely  adequate  sum  of  money  in  the 
erection  of  a  great  technical  school  where  people 
might  be  taught  the  science  of  hygiene  and 
longevity.  In  1882  he  was  elected  to  the  chair 
of  bacteriology  and  hygiene,  and  the  chair  of 
general  pathology  in  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  of  Chicago.  After  he  had  com- 
menced to  lecture  there  he  took  up  the  germ 
theory  as  being  the  true  cause  of  disease.  The 
other  twenty  members  of  the  faculty  at  first  op- 
posed his  theory,  but  in  time  they  were  converted 
to  the  principle;  meantime,  however,  the  strug- 
gle was  a  hard  one  for  him,  as  he  was  denounced 
by  main-,  and  only  the  influence  of  Dr.  Senn,  the 
famous  surgeon,  saved  him  from  being  asked  to 
resign.     After  ten  years  in  the  college  he  with- 


drew to  private  life.  Like  all  discoverers  of  new- 
ideas,  he  has  made  enemies  in  his  professional 
career,  but  he  has  also  made  many  warm  friends 
and,  by  his  originality  of  thought  and  force  of 
character  has  won  for  himself  an  honorable  po- 
sition in  the  world  of  thought. 


.  RASTUS  W.  WILLARD,  of  Lockport, 
'y  superintendent  of  the  lands  of  the  Illinois 
_  and  Michigan  canal,  is  a  member  of  a 
family  that  has  been  identified  with  American 
history  since  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  first  of  the  name  in  this  country 
was  Maj.  Simon  Willard,  who  was  born  in 
County  Kent,  England,  and  settled  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  about  1630,  afterward  serving  as  com- 
mander of  expeditions  in  the  early  wars  and 
taking  a  prominent  part  in  many  historic  move- 
ments. Nor  were  his  descendants  less  patriotic 
than  he.  One  of  them,  Ambrose  Willard,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts  and  a  farmer  of  that 
state,  served  during  the  war  of  1812,  defending 
the  American  interests  in  that  conflict.  He  at- 
tained the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  His  son, 
Erastus  H.  Willard,  M.  D.,  who  was  born  in 
Worcester,  Mass.,  accompanied  his  parents  to 
New  York  in  boyhood,  and  later  became  a  phy- 
sician. In  1848  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
state  senate.  During  the  existence  of  the  Whig 
party  he  affiliated  with  its  members,  and  after  its 
disintegration  became  a  Democrat.  He  died  at 
his  home  in  Spencer  July  18,  1S86. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Willard  united  him  with 
Mary  S.  Moses,  who  was  born  in  Livingston 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1808,  and  was  reared  in  Lima, 
in  the  home  of  her  grandfather,  a  leading  educa- 
tor of  that  city.  Her  father  was  killed  when  she 
was  a  mere  child.  She  died  in  18S0.  Like  her 
husband  she  always  adhered  to  the  Presbyterian 
faith.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  their  union  six 
are  still  living.  Erastus  W.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Belmont,  Allegany  County, 
N.  Y.,  October  22,  1S38.     Between  the  years  of 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


547 


twelve  and  sixteen  he  was  a  student  in  the 
academy  near  his  home.  In  January,  1S56,  he 
came  west  to  Illinois  and  secured  a  clerkship  in 
a  drug  store  in  Wilmington,  Will  County,  re- 
maining there  for  several  years.  Returning  to 
New  York  he  opened  a  grocery  at  Friendship, 
but  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  gave  his 
mother  a  bill  of  sale  for  the  store  and  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army.  He  was  a  non-commissioned 
officer,  belonging  to  Company  E,  Twenty-third 
New  York  Infantry,  but  was  soon  transferred  to 
a  position  as  hospital  steward.  Later  he  received 
a  commission  as  first  lieutenant  of  Company  G, 
Sixty-fifth  New  York  Infantry.  At  the  close  of 
his  time  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Almira,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  took  the  enroll- 
ment of  his  town  and  served  as  assistant  provost- 
marshal  until  1863. 

Deciding  to  again  seek  a  home  in  the  west  Mr. 
Willard  returned  to  Wilmington,  111.,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1863.  The  following  year  when  President 
Lincoln  called  for  men  to  enlist  for  one  hundred 
days  in  order  to  relieve  soldiers,  he  went  out  as 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  G,  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-eighth  Infantry.  The  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Leavenworth,  Kaus. ,  where  Mr.  Wil- 
lard served  on  the  court  martial  for  two  months. 
He  then  took  his  company  to  Paola,  thence  re- 
turned to  Leavenworth,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
the  time  of  service  went  back  to  Springfield,  111. 
During  the  Price  raid  he  went  to  Missouri  and 
remained  there  for  two  weeks,  after  which  he 
again  went  to  Springfield  and  was  mustered  out 
of  the  service. 

On  resuming  the  pursuits  of  civic  life  Mr. 
Willard  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  Wil- 
mington, where  he  remained  until  1886.  He 
came  to  Joliet  and  established  a  drug  business, 
which  he  couducted  for  years.  After  selling  out 
his  store  he  was  for  six  months  editor  of  the 
Daily  Press,  which  was  then  one  of  the  leading 
papers  of  the  city.  A  prominent  Republican,  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  state  central  committee 
in  1892,  1894  and  1S96,  and  acted  as  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  organization  in  1S96  and  1898. 
He  served  as  chairman  of  the  Will  County  cen- 
tral committee  in  1S92  and  1896.     In  1884,  when 


he  took  charge  of  the  Republican  committee,  the 
county  had  been  giving  Democratic  majorities 
for  several  years,  but  under  his  management  an 
enthusiasm  in  behalf  of  the  Republican  party 
was  developed.  In  1880  he  did  the  entire  work 
for  the  Republican  cause  in  the  county,  and 
secured  John  A.  Logan  to  come  to  Wilmington 
and  make  a  speech.  Under  the  administration 
of  Governor  Tanner  in  February,  1897,  he  was 
appointed  to  superintend  the  landed  interests  of 
the  canal,  and  at  the  same  time  established  his 
home  in   Lockport,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Willard  is  connected  with 
Lodge  No.  208,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Joliet  Chapter 
No.  27,  R.  A.  M.;  Joliet  Commandery  No.  24, 
and  for  three  years  was  master  of  the  lodge,  for 
some  years  served  as  high  priest  of  the  chapter, 
and  for  two  years  was  eminent  commander  of  the 
commandery.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Grand  Army  post  in  Wilmington  and  was  elected 
its  first  commandei;  afterward,  on  removing  to 
Joliet,  he  identified  himself  with  the  post  of  this 
city. 

June  28,  1S71,  Mr.  Willard  married  Miss 
Jessie  R.  Duck,  of  Wilmington,  by  whom  he  has 
three  children,  Francis  D.,  Edward  H.  and  Jessie. 


V  A  ICHAEL  C.  HALEY,  a  pioneer  of  Man- 
Y  hattan  Township,  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
(9  1842,  and  at  two  years  of  age  was  brought 
to  America  by  his  parents,  Martin  and  Catherine 
(Curry)  Haley.  Not  long  afterward  his  father 
died  in  New  York  while  still  a  young  man;  the 
mother  passed  away  at  the  home  of  her  son,  July 
30,  1S95,  and  their  only  daughter,  Bridget,  is 
also  deceased,  so  that  our  subject  is  the  only  liv- 
ing member  of  the  family.  He  was  reared  by  his 
uncle,  Thomas  Haley,  whom  he  accompanied  to 
Illinois  at  twelve  years  of  age,  and  with  whom  he 
remained  until  grown.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
Company  D,  Ninetieth  Illinois  Infantry,  in 
which  he  served  for  eighteen  months,  and  was 
then  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  wounds 


54S 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


received  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  Jul)'  13,  1863.  Re- 
turning to  his  uncle's  home,  he  was  for  a  time 
unable  to  engage  in  active  work,  but  as  soon  as 
he  had  regained  his  strength  he  began  farming 
for  himself.  In  1864  he  bought  forty  acres  from 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company.  Three 
years  later  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  on  which  he  has  since  made  improvements 
and  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits. 
Besides  this  place  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  ill  Kit  Carson  Count}',  Colo. 

In  his  political  opinions  Mr.  Haley  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  has  worked  actively  for  his  party.  For 
several  years  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff  under 
Sheriffs  Houston,  Piepenbrink  and  Francis.  Dur- 
ing most  of  the  years  since  1864  he  has  been  con- 
stable of  the  township.  In  Goddard  Post, G.  A.  R., 
at  Manhattan,  he  is  an  active  worker  and  senior 
vice-commander.  He  assisted  in  the  organization 
of  the  Anti-Horse-thief  Association,  of  which  he 
has  since  been  captain.  October  16,  1864,  he 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Murphy,  of 
Joliet.  One  child  blessed  their  union,  a  son, 
William  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years.  Mr.  Haley  has  been  a  hard-working 
man,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  wife  has  be- 
come the  owner  of  valuable  property,  which  rep- 
resents years  of  industry  and  tireless  application 
on  his  part. 


KEELSON  E.  HAZELTON.  The  entire  life 
I  /  of  Mr.  Hazelton  has  been  passed  on  the 
1/3  family  homestead  in  Wesley  Township, 
where  he  was  born.  His  father,  Charles  R.,  a 
native  of  Bennington,  Vt.,  removed  to  Ohio  in 
early  life,  thence  years  afterward  went  to  Aurora, 
111.,  and  about  1852  settled  in  Wesley  Township, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres.  The  subsequent  years  of  his  busy  life  were 
passed  here.  The  principal  development  of  his 
township  took  place  under  his  immediate  obser- 
vation. From  an  uncultivated  prairie  he  saw  it 
changed  to  a  garden  spot,  worthy  to  be  compared 
with  the  finest  places  in  his  native  New  England. 


His  attention  was  chiefly  directed  to  general 
farming,  although  he  bestowed  some  attention  on 
stock-raising.  From  time  to  time  he  added  to  his 
possessions  until  he  owned  about  six  hundred 
acres,  all  representing  his  unaided  efforts.  His 
success  was  even  more  gratifying  than  his  fondest 
hopes  had  painted,  for  when  he  left  Vermont,  a 
poor  youth  of  eighteen,  and  started  for  a  strange 
section  of  the  country,  he  had  not  dared  to  hope 
that  he  would  be  in  later  years  a  large  land 
owner.  He  was  spared  to  a  very  advanced  age, 
being  eighty-nine  at  the  time  he  was  called  from 
earth,  November  14,  1898.  His  first  wife  died  in 
Ohio,  leaving  two  sons,  Norman  and  George. 
Afterward  he  married  a  widow,  Mrs.  Annie  (Van 
Fleet)  Ball,  by  whom  he  had  five  children, 
namely:  Ella,  wife  of  William  Mellen;  Vesta, 
who  married  Amasa  Bell;  Ida,  wife  of  Charles 
Walton;  Susan,  Mrs.  Thomas  B.  Reid,  of  Kansas; 
and  Nelson  E.,  of  this  sketch.  The  widowed 
mother,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  is  a  re- 
markably well-preserved  old  lady,  keen,  active 
and  vigorous;  she  is  living  on  a  part  of  the  old 
homestead. 

Born  in  1862,  our  subject  passed  the  years  of 
youth  at  the  old  homestead,  carefully  reared 
under  the  supervision  of  his  parents.  He  re- 
ceived common-school  advantages,  and  these, 
aided  by  reading,  observation  and  experience, 
have  made  him  a  well-informed  man.  He  has 
followed  the  uneventful  life  of  a  farmer,  having 
taken  charge  of  the  home  farm  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  and  now  he  cultivates  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  besides  buying  and  selling 
stock.  In  1899  he  erected  on  the  old  home  place 
a  residence  that  is  without  doubt  the  finest  in  the 
township,  being  modern  in  its  appointments  and 
artistic  in  appearance,  while  its  furnishings  are  of 
a  character  that  indicate  the  refined  tastes  of  the 
family.  It  contains  not  only  the  necessities  but 
also  the  comforts  of  modern  life.  While  he  was 
more  fortunate  than  some  young  men  in  that  he 
was  given  a  start  in  life  by  his  father,  yet,  had  it 
not  been  for  his  energy,  good  judgment  and  in- 
dustry, he  could  not  have  attained  the  success 
now  his.  His  farm  work  is  invariably  conducted 
in  a  thorough  and  progressive  manner.    He  raises 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


549 


large  quantities  of  grain,  averaging  three  thou- 
sand bushels  of  corn  and  seven  thousand  bushels 
of  oats  each  year. 

Like  the  other  members  of  the  Hazelton  family, 
Mr.  Hazelton  is  a  Republican,  but  not  a  poli- 
tician nor  a  partisan.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
May  21,  1885,  he  married  Jennie,  daughter  of 
John  W.  Raymond,  of  Kankakee  County.  They 
have  two  daughters,  Nellie  and  Genieve.  The 
family  occupy  a  high  position  in  the  social  life  of 
the  community  and  always  lend  substantial  aid 
to  educational  and  charitable  enterprises. 


P  QERDEN  BUCK,  who  is  one  of  the  success- 
\  A  /  ful  business  men  of  Joliet,  is  a  son  of 
YV  George  A.  Buck,  a  pioneer  of  this  city. 
He  was  born  in  Manhattan,  Will  County,  in 
1869,  on  the  9th  of  February,  and  spent  his  early 
childhood  years  in  that  place,  but  in  18S0  came 
to  Joliet,  where  he  attended  the  high  school  until 
the  close  of  the  junior  year.  His  first  employ- 
ment, for  which  he  was  paid  $5  a  week,  was  as 
collector  and  night  operator  for  the  Chicago  Tele- 
phone Company,  a  position  that  required  him  to 
work  twenty  hours  out  of  the  twenty- four.  After 
six  months  in  the  position  he  became  an  employe 
of  Paige  &  Benson,  owners  of  a  grocer}'  and  a 
coal  and  ice  business.  At  first  he  was  connected 
with  the  ice  department.  Soon  A.  W.  Hays  and 
Chester  Paige  succeeded  J.  D.  Paige  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  while  Paige  &  Benson  remained  in 
the  ice  and  fuel  business.  In  1888  Mr.  Buck 
bought  Chester  Paige's  interest  in  the  grocery, 
which  was  conducted  under  the  title  of  A.  W. 
Hays  &  Co.,  the  location  being  in  the  old  opera 
house  block,  on  the  corner  of  Chicago  and  Clin- 
ton streets.  When  that  building  was  burned 
down,  in  1892,  the  business  was  removed  across 
the  street  to  the  Auditorium  block,  where  Mr. 
Buck  has  since  carried  on  a  large  and  profitable 
trade,  at  No.  302  Chicago  street. 

In  1S94  the  firm  opened  a  coal  and  building 


material  business  on  Cass  street,  where  the}' 
dealt  in  sewer  pipe,  drain  tile  and  fuel.  March 
9,  1898,  Mr.  Buck  bought  his  partner's  interest, 
and  has  since  been  sole  proprietor  of  the  coal 
yards,  at  Nos.  511  513  Cass  street.  He  has  a 
building  40x132,  with  yards  in  the  rear,  and 
carries  in  stock  all  kinds  of  pressed  brick  manu- 
factured in  the  United  States,  also  sewer  pipe, 
drain  tile,  etc.,  in  which  he  conducts  an  exten- 
sive business.  He  is  president  of  the  Retail  Mer- 
chants' Association  of  Joliet,  and  stands  high 
among  the  business  men  of  his  city,  where  he  is 
known  as  a  man  of  unusual  enterprise  and  sound 
judgment.  As  a  Democrat,  he  has  been  active 
in  politics,  and  has  served  as  treasurer  of  the  city 
Democratic  committee.  For  one  term  he  held 
the  office  of  township  collector.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Buck,  which  took  place  in 
Joliet,  united  him  with  Miss  Inez  Paige,  daugh- 
ter of  J.  D.  Paige,  superintendent  of  the  Joliet 
fire  department.  One  son  blesses  their  union, 
George  Paige.  Mrs.  Buck  is  a  Universalist  in 
religious  belief,  and,  while  Mr.  Buck  is  not  con- 
nected with  any  denomination,  he  is  in  sympathy 
with  all  movements  for  the  uplifting  of  humanity. 
He  is  a  progressive  citizen  and  earnestly  favors 
measures  for  the  benefit  of  Joliet,  in  whose  future 
as  a  commercial  center  he  has  the  srreatest  faith. 


I  ALTER  D.  STEVENS  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising business  men  of  Joliet,  where 
since  1896  he  has  been  proprietor  of  a  car- 
riage repository.  He  occupies  a  three-story 
building,  66x60  feet,  furnished  with  every  mod- 
ern equipment,  inclnding  elevators,  etc.,  and 
stocked  with  Babcock  buggies,  Ariel  bicycles  and 
vehicles  of  all  kinds.  The  location,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Van  Buren  and  Joliet  streets,  is  convenient 
and  central.  As  a  business  man  he  has  already 
gained  a  name  and  place  among  the  people  of 
Joliet.    Active  and  judicious,  he  uses  sagacity  in 


55° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


all  of  his  business  dealings,  and  shows  keen  judg- 
ment in  both  buying  and  selling.  His  honorable 
dealings  have  won  for  him  the  confidence  of  the 
people. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  J.  W.  Stevens,  was 
born  in  Gaudhurst,  England,  and  coming  to 
America,  became  a  business  man  of  Joliet  in 
1S4S,  opening  a  dry-goods  store  on  Jefferson 
street.  Two  years  afterward  his  wife  joined 
him,  crossing  the  ocean  on  the  sailing  vessel 
"  Irving,"  which  landed  in  New  York  after  a 
voyage  of  thirty  days.  Her  brother  in-law, 
Capt.  R.  J.  Doughty,  was  owner  of  the  vessel  on 
which  she  crossed.  From  New  York  she  pro- 
ceeded by  rail  to  Buffalo,  thence  via  the  lakes  to 
Chicago  and  canal  to  Joliet.  She  was  born  in 
County  Kent,  England,  and  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Hirriet  Deverson.  Her  father,  Daniel 
Deverson,  also  a  native  of  County  Kent  and  a 
f  ir  ner,  dial  there  at  eighty-six  years,  while  her 
mother,  Annie,  daughter  of  Stephen  Stokes,  a 
far  ner,  spent  her  entire  life  in  the  same  county, 
where  she  died  at  eighty-four  years.  There  were 
t  .valve  children  in  the  family,  but  only  four  are 
living.  Harriet,  who  was  next  to  the  youngest 
of  the  twelve,  is  the  only  member  of  the  family 
in  America.  Possessing  considerable  business 
ability,  as  soon  as  she  joined  her  husband  in  Joliet 
she  began  to  assist  him,  and  for  some  time  car- 
ried on  a  millinery  business  in  connection  with 
his  dry  goods  store.  After  his  death,  in  1859, 
she  continued  at  the  head  of  the  entire  establish- 
ment. In  186 1  she  was  a  second  time  married, 
becoming  the  wife  of  Frank  Bush,  who  was  born 
in  Whitehall,  N.  Y. ,  a  son  of  Stephen  and  a 
brother  of  J.  E.  Bush.  He  came  to  Illinois  about 
1S54,  and  with  his  brother,  Henry,  engaged  in 
cattle  dealing  and  the  wholesale  meat  business. 
He  owned  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  adj  lining  the  city.  He  died  November  10, 
1897.  The  following  year  forty  acres  of  his  farm 
was  sold  to  Joliet  for  a  park  and  was  named  Bush 
park. 

In  1871  Mrs.  Bush  bought  a  store  on  Jefferson 
street,  where  she  continued  business  until  1892, 
and  then  sold  both  the  stock  of  goods  and  the 
building.      In  1863  she   bought  a  beautiful  home 


on  the  corner  of  Western  avenue  and  Hickory 
street.  She  has  built  many  tenement  houses 
both  on  the  east  and  west  sides,  and  built  the 
Bush  block  on  the  corner  of  Exchange  and  Bluff 
streets.  In  1892  she  erected  the  Strobridge  build- 
ing, corner  of  Van  Bureu  and  Joliet  streets.  She 
still  owns  ninety  acres  of  land  adjoining  Bush 
park,  and  this  she  superintends.  To  her  first 
marriage  three  sons  were  born,  Walter  D.; 
Irving  D.  (in  Alaska),  formerly  the  first  secre- 
tary of  the  Joliet  Stove  Works,  afterward  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments, and  for  thirty  years  one  of  the  prosperous 
and  prominent  business  men  in  Joliet;  and  Eu- 
gene, an  assayer  of  great  ability  and  promince,  in 
Leadville,  Colo.  Fcur  children  were  .horn  of  her 
second  marriage,  namely:  Hattie,  wife  of  Peter 
Shitts,  attorney,  of  Joliet;  Luella,  at  home; 
Charles  Franklin,  who  is  agent  for  the  Wells- 
Fargo  Express  Company,  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa; 
and  Arthur  Willis,  formerly  manager  of  the  Jo- 
liet Gas  Company. 

At  the  time  his  mother  came  to  Joliet  our  sub- 
ject was  two  years  old.  He  was  born  in  Dover, 
England,  September  28,  1S48,  but  the  only  home 
he  remembers  in  connection  with  his  early  child- 
hood is  Joliet.  During  the  war  he  was  sent  to 
school  in  England  and  spent  five  years  in  Can- 
terbury Academy,  after  which  he  shipped  in  the 
English  merchant  marine  service  under  an  uncle, 
who  was  a  captain  engaged  in  the  Mediterranean 
trade.  Returning  to  Joliet  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Car- 
son &  Stevens,  after  which  he  was  in  the  lumber 
business  with  Frank  Bush  &  Co.,  then  engaged 
in  the  book  and  stationery  business  alone.  In 
1873  he  went  to  Georgetown,  Colo.,  where  at 
first  he  was  interested  in  prospecting  and  mining, 
but  soon  turned  his  attention  to  the  insurance 
and  real-estate  and  mining  business.  In  1879  he 
went  from  Georgetown  to  Leadville,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  same  business.  While  in  the 
west  he  traveled  through  the  coast  country  and 
in  British  Columbia.  Returning  to  Joliet  in  1893 
he  was  first  connected  with  his  brother  Irving 
D.,  but  in  1S96  he  started  in  business  alone. 

In   politics    Mr.  Stevens   has  always  affiliated 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


55' 


with  the  Republicans.  From  1873  to  1893  he 
served  as  a  delegate  to  every  state  Republican 
convention  in  Colorado.  For  one  term  he  was 
assessor.  He  also  served  as  police  magistrate 
and  ex-ofneio  mayor  of  Georgetown.  He  is 
well-informed  regarding  public  affairs,  although 
he  has  not  been  so  active  in  Illinois  as  in  Col- 
orado, for  his  attention  is  quite  closely  given  to 
business  matters,  and  he  has  little  leisure  for 
participation  in  politics. 


EYRUS  A.  LEWIS.  No  man  has  done  more 
for  the  development  of  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  New  Leuox  Township  than  has 
Mr.  Lewis,  and  few  are  better  known  that  he. 
Since  he  came  to  this  county  in  1850  and  settled 
upon  his  present  farm  he  has  transformed  the 
raw  prairie  land  into  a  valuable  and  highly-cul- 
tivated tract,  having  purchased,  soon  after  his 
arrival,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  at  $4  an 
acre,  to  which  he  has  since  added  until  he  now 
owns  four  hundred  acres  of  fine  laud,  devoted  to 
general  farm  products.  He  also  owns  city  prop- 
erty and  is  a  director  in  the  Joliet  National 
bank. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  Decatur,  N.  Y.,  July 
19,  1824,  a  descendant  of  ancestors  who  came 
from  Wales  and  settled  in  Hartford  County, 
Conn.  His  father,  Justus  Lewis,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  removed  to  New  York  in  an  early 
day  and  settled  in  the  woods,  where  he  cleared  a 
farm.  Upon  that  place  he  made  his  home  for 
sixty  years.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  he 
was  stationed  at  West  Point,  on  the  Hudson,  and 
helped  to  forge  and  lay  the  chain  across  the  river 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  enemy  from 
coming  up  stream.  He  died  when  eighty-six 
years  of  age.  His  wife  was  Candace  Spencer,  of 
Connecticut,  who  died  in  1843,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
three  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Coridon  S.,  deceased;  Marilla,  widow 
of  A.  B.  Cornwell;  Jane,  deceased;  and  Cyrus  A. 
Educated  in  the  common  schools  of  New  York, 


Mr.  Lewis  remained  at  home  until  his  removal 
to  Illinois  in  1850,  and  since  then  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  history  of  this  county.  He 
has  held  a  number  of  township  offices  and  has 
always  been  a  stanch  Republican.  By  his  mar- 
riage, in  1847,  to  Emeline  Seward,  a  native  of 
New  York,  he  has  seven  children.  The  oldest 
son  and  second  child,  Spencer,  went  to  China  in 
1881  as  a  missionary  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  is  now  superintendent  of  the  West 
China  mission.  Since  going  to  that  country  he 
has  twice  returned  to  America  to  visit  relatives, 
and  his  two  children  are  now  attending  school  in 
Chicago.  The  other  members  of  the  family  are 
as  follows:  Mary,  wife  of  William  Greenwood; 
Candace,  who  married  Calvin  Armigast;  Nellie, 
Mrs.  Julian  Barnes;  C.  Almon,  Sherman  and 
Jennie,  Mrs.  Henry  Lantz. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Grange  Mr.  Lewis 
took  an  active  part  and  he  served  as  its  master 
for  several  years.  A  man  of  firm  religious  con- 
victions, he  has  long  been  a  leading  member  of 
the  Ottawa  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Joliet,  and  for  some  years  officiated  as  a  trustee. 
All  movements  for  the  benefit  of  the  community 
receive  his  sympathy  and  support.  The  pros- 
perity which  he  has  attained  is  solely  the  result 
of  individual  application  and  effort.  When  he 
began  to  work  he  received  $4  a  month  at  car- 
pentering, and  from  that  small  beginning  he  has 
worked  his  way  forward  to  a  position  of  financial 
prosperity  and  an  assured  standing  as  a  farmer 
and  a  citizen. 


(ILLIAM  E.  DAVISON,  who  is  well 
known  as  a  successful  merchant  tailor  of 
Joliet,  was  born  near  West  Woodburn, 
thirty  miles  north  of  Newcastle-ou-Tyne,  County 
Northumberland,  England,  on  Christmas  day  of 
1862.  His  father  and  grandfather,  both  of  whom 
bore  the  name  of  Walter  Davison,  were  natives 
of  the  same  county  as  himself.  His  father,  who 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  also  in  the  manu- 
facture of  shoes,  made  his  home  at  Laurel  cot- 


552 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tage,  a  beautiful  place  near  West  Woodburn,  and 
there  he  died  in  May,  1866,  when  our  subject 
was  little  more  than  three  years  of  age.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  Presbyterian.  He  had  married 
Margaret  Brown,  who  was  born  at  Davy  Shield 
Hill,  two  miles  from  the  famous  battlefield  of 
Chevychase.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Brown.  She  survived  her  husband  ten  years, 
dying  in  March,  1876.  Of  her  six  children, 
John  Adam,  was  head  bookkeeper  for  a  large 
wallpaper  manufacturing  establishment  at  New- 
castle-on-Tyne  until  his  death  in  1871 ;  Jane  Ann 
lives  at  Ridsdale,  Northumberland;  Margaret  is 
the  wife  of  Ralph  Nesbit,  of  Ridsdale;  Thomas  J. 
succeeded  his  older  brother  as  bookkeeper  in  the 
wallpaper  house,  remaining  there  until  he  died 
in  1891;  Walter  Robson  is  yardmaster  for  the 
Michigan  Central  Railway  Company  at  Joliet. 

The  youngest  member  of  the  family  was  Will- 
iam Edward,  of  this  sketch.  He  was  reared  at 
Laurel  cottage.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he 
completed  the  studies  in  the  government  school. 
August  20,  1875,  he  was  apprenticed  to  the 
tailor's  trade  at  East  Woodburn  and  after  his 
mother  died  he  went  to  live  with  his  employer, 
with  whom  he  remained  during  the  rest  of  his 
five  years'  apprenticeship,  when  he  worked  for 
George  Handyside  at  Cambo,  England.  In 
1880  he  went  to  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  where  he 
pursued  his  trade.  The  next  year  he  secured 
work  at  his  trade  in  Ballymena,  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  where  he  remained  for  more  than  two 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1884  he  took  passage 
from  Liverpool  on  the  "Adriatic."  April  of  the 
same  year  found  him  in  Joliet,  where  he  spent 
the  summer.  In  September  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Ely,  of  Chicago,  and  there  learned  cut- 
ting. In  1887  he  returned  to  Joliet,  which  he 
had  selected  as  his  permanent  location.  In  part- 
nership with  John  W.  Hudson,  who  had  come  to 
America  with  him  in  1884,  he  started  in  busi- 
ness, the  firm  name  being  Hudson  &  Davison. 
After  one  year  on  North  Chicago  street,  Mr. 
Davison  purchased  his  partner's  interest,  contin- 
uing at  the  same  place  until  August,  1889,  when 
he  secured  his  present  location  in  the  Clement 
building,  No.   107   South   Ottawa  street.     Here 


he  has  a  large  stock  comprising  the  latest  and 
finest  patterns,  and  his  business  is  the  largest  of 
its  kind  in  the  city,  a  result  that  is  to  be  at- 
tributed entirely  to  his  energy,  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  business,  and  courteous  treatment  of 
customers. 

Mr.  Davison  was  one  of  the  first  to  build  on 
Buell  avenue,  which  has  since  become  one  of  the 
finest  drives  in  the  city.  He  was  married  in  this 
city,  in  January,  1889,  to  Mrs.  Carrie  (Wallace) 
Sonntag.  Her  father,  George  Wallace,  a  native 
of  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  was  a  nephew  of  the  late 
Firman  Mack,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  and 
prominent  business  men  of  Joliet.  Mr.  Wallace 
was  reared  in  his  native  place.  For  some  years 
he  clerked  in  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in  Phila- 
delphia. In  1849  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
was  employed  by  his  uncle,  Mr.  Mack,  until 
1855.  He  then  opened  a  retail  shoe  store  on  Jef- 
ferson street,  continuing  business  there  until  his 
retirement.  He  died  October  6,  1 881,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-two  years.  He  had  married,  October  22, 
1857,  Elizabeth  P.  Moore,  who  was  born  at 
Clarkson,  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  James  H.  and  Jane  (Parkinson)  Moore. 
Her  father,  who  was  born  near  New  York  City, 
was  for  years  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  During  the  '40s  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  Kendall  County,  where  he  was 
a  pioneer  preacher.  At  the  time  of  the  discover}' 
of  gold  in  California  in  1S49,  he  and  his  son, 
Parkinson,  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  where 
the}-  engaged  in  mining  for  some  years.  From 
there  he  returned  to  Illinois.  Soon  afterward, 
however,  he  again  went  west,  this  time  settling 
in  Kansas  in  order  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  the 
free-state  adherents.  He  took  part  in  the  border 
warfare  of  those  days  and  helped  to  vote  in  Kan- 
sas as  a  free  state.  As  a  minister  and  farmer  he 
was  well  known  in  Kansas,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death.  Mrs.  Wallace  resides  on  North 
Hickory  street,  Joliet.  She  had  but  two  chil- 
dren, both  daughters,  Mrs.  Davison,  and  Laura- 
bel,  wife  of  C.  W.  Brown,  of  Joliet.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Davison  are  the  parents  of  three  daughters, 
Kittiebel,  Jessie  Henrietta  and  Clara  Elizabeth. 
The  oldest  daughter  graduated  from    the  Joliet 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


553 


high  school  ill  1899  and  is  now  studying  in  the 
training  school  in  this  city.  The  family  are  con- 
nected with  the  Ottawa  Street  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


GJBNER  C.  GILLETT,  proprietor  of  the 
J  1  Hickory  Creek  dairy  farm  in  New  Lenox 
/  I  Township,  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1S42.  His  father,  Isaac  M.  Gillett,  a 
native  of  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  born  November 
28,  1 8 14,  settled  in  Seneca  County,  but  about 
1842  moved  to  Wayne  County,  and  from  there 
came  to  Illinois  in  1855.  The  spring  of  that 
year  found  him  in  Dupage  County,  but  in  the 
fall  he  settled  in  Homer  Township,  Will  County, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres.  By  subsequent  purchase  he  increased 
his  holdings  to  five  hundred  acres.  While  hold- 
ing the  office  of  road  commissioner  he  assisted  in 
laying  out  the  roads  in  the  town  of  Homer. 
Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  He  died  on  his 
homestead  February  25,  1898,  when  eighty-four 
years  of  age.  His  father,  Abner  C.  Gillett,  was  a 
lifelong  resident  and  farmer  of  New  York  and 
was  identified  with  the  early  history  of  Seneca 
County.  A  man  of  deep  religious  convictions, 
he  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  to  which  he  belonged.  He  died  in 
spring  of  1861,  at  seventy-six  years  of  age. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of 
Adam  Carman,  member  of  a  Quaker  family  of 
New  York.  In  her  family  were  four  children, 
namely:  Abner  C. ;  Egbert  A.;  D.  A.,  who  oc- 
cupies the  homestead  in  Homer  Township;  and 
Isaac  M. ,  of  Spencer.  The  mother  is  still  living 
on  the  old  home  farm  and  is  now  eighty-five 
years  of  age.  When  the  family  settled  in  this 
county  our  subject  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  In 
the  fall  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  G, 
Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  Gen.  T.  O. 
Osburn,  and  served  for  three  years,  mostly  in  the 
army  of  the  James  River,  although  he  spent 
eighteen  months  with  Gilmore  in  South  Carolina. 
He  witnessed  the  bombardment  of   Fort  Sumter 


April  7,  1863.  After  being  mustered  out  he  re- 
turned to  his  home.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he 
married  Mary  E.  Gorham,  who  was  born  in  New 
York.  After  his  marriage  he  lived  on  the  old 
homestead  for  three  years.  In  1868  he  moved  to 
Miami  County,  Kans.,  where  he  bought  a  small 
farm  of  forty  acres  and  remained  some  years. 
Returning  to  Will  County  in  1873  he  spent  five 
years  on  his  father's  farm. 

In  the  spring  of  1878  Mr.  Gillett  bought  the 
old  Smith  Reynolds  farm.  He  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  seventy  acres,  on  which  he  engages 
in  dairy  farming,  keeping  about  one  hundred 
milch  cows  and  shipping  twenty  cans  of  milk  to 
Chicago  every  day.  Fraternally  he  is  identified 
with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
in  which  he  is  past  master;  and  also  belongs  to 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  and  his 
wife  have  one  daughter,  Jennie,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Harry  W.  Storm. 


Wj  RS.   MARY  E.  GOTTS.     One  of  the  well- 
Ir      known   business  concerns  of  Joliet  is  the 

(3  American  Ice  Company,  of  which  Mrs. 
Gotts  is  the  proprietor,  and  which  carries  on  a 
large  trade  in  ice,  coal  and  wood.  The  office  and 
yards  of  the  company  are  at  Chicago  and  Col- 
umbia streets,  and  the  ice  houses,  which  have  a 
large  capacity,  are  also  at  the  same  location. 
Three  wagons  are  used  constantly  in  the  delivery 
of  orders.  The  business  is  under  the  personal 
superintendence  of  Mrs.  Gotts  and  its  success  is 
due  almost  wholly  to  her  executive  ability  and 
perseverance,  although  she  has  had  an  able  as- 
sistant in  her  brother,  Edward  F.  Reiter,  who  is 
manager  of  the  ice  business.  In  addition  to  the 
oversight  of  this  work,  she  is  also  proprietor  of  a 
large  dressmaking  establishment  that  furnishes 
employment  to  eight  seamstresses  and  turns  out 
tailor  made  garments  of  the  finest  and  latest 
styles. 

Mrs.  Gotts  was  born  in  Homer  Township,  this 
county,  and  was  third  among  the  eleven  children 
of  Peter  and  Helen  (Biever)  Reiter,  who  settled 
on  a  farm  at   Peck's  Corner,   Homer  Township, 


554 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


about  1863.  When  a  mere  child  she  became  in- 
terested in  dressmaking,  for  which  she  seems  to 
have  inherited  a  natural  talent,  her  ancestors  on 
both  sides  of  the  house  having  been  tailors  and 
dressmakers.  In  1888  she  came  to  Joliet  in  order 
to  engage  more  extensively  in  the  dressmaking 
business,  and  she  has  since  continued  this  work 
successfully,  in  addition  to  personally  superin- 
tending the  ice  business.  She  and  her  son,  Alva, 
reside  at  No.  403  Collins  street. 


EORNELIUS  C.  VAN  HORNE,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  this  county,  descended  from 
a  family  of  Hollanders  who  settled  in  the 
Mohawk  Valley  in  1635  and  from  there  scattered 
throughout  the  country.  He  was  born  in  White- 
house,  N.  J.,  a  son  of  Abraham  Van  Home.  It 
was  the  hope  of  his  parents  to  fit  him  for  the 
ministry.  One  of  his  ancestors,  it  is  said,  was 
the  first  pastor  of  Trinity  Church  in  .New  York 
and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  there.  However, 
his  talents  did  not  seem  to  lie  in  the  line  of  the 
ministry  and  he  studied  for  the  bar,  to  which  he 
was  admitted  in  New  Jersey.  In  1832  he  came 
west  to  what  is  now  New  Lenox  Township,  this 
county.  Two  years  later  he  moved  to  Frankfort 
Township,  where  he  was  a  pioneer  farmer  and 
lawyer.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  ever  ap- 
pointed in  Will  County,  serving  as  such  both  at 
New  Lenox  and  Frankfort,  and  he  also  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace.  In  February,  1852,  he  es- 
tablished his  law  office  in  Joliet.  A  year  later, 
on  the  incorporation  of  the  city,  he  was  elected 
the  first  mayor,  and  was  serving  in  that  office  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  July  7,  1854.  Had  not 
his  career  been  so  suddenly  terminated,  he  would 
undoubtedly  have  attained  great  success  at  the  bar 
of  Joliet  and  in  the  political  life  of  the  city  and 
state,  for  he  was  a  man  of  fine  talents  and  broad 
knowledge.  The  Democratic  party  received  his 
support  and  its  candidates  his  vote.  In  religious 
faith  he  was  a  Universalist. 

Mr.  Van  Home  was  twice  married.     His  first 


wife,  whom  he  married  in  Indiana,  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  died  in  Montreal,  Canada.  Of  the  chil- 
dren of  his  first  marriage,  five  were  sons  and  one 
a  daughter.  One  of  the  sons,  Simon,  yet  lives  in 
California,  and  another,  Abram,  in  Nebraska. 
Five  children  were  born  of  his  second  marriage, 
namely:  William;  Augustus  C. ;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
LefHer,  of  Missouri;  Theodore,  a  telegraph  opera- 
tor for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  at  Bloom- 
ington,  111.;  and  Mary,  who  lives  in  Montreal. 
The  most  distinguished  member  of  the  family  is 
the  oldest  son,  Sir  William  Van  Home,  of  Mon- 
treal. When  a  boy  he  learned  telegraphy  in 
Joliet,  and  afterward  worked  his  way  up  in  the 
railroad  business.  For  many  years  he  was  with 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  and  later  with 
other  roads.  As  general  manager  he  took  the 
contract  for  the  building  of  the  western  end  of 
the  Canadian  Pacific  road  from  Winnipeg  to  the 
coast,  which  work,  had  it  not  been  for  his  efforts, 
would  not  have  been  completed  for  many  years, 
or  perhaps  never.  On  the  completion  of  the 
road  he  was  elected  to  succeed  Sir  John  Stephen- 
son as  president  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad 
Company,  of  which  he  is  still  the  head.  He 
was  afterward  knighted  by  Queen  Victoria  in 
London,  England,  for  services  rendered  in  the 
completion  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad,  and. 
the  development  and  opening  up  to  civilization 
of  British  Columbia. 


G|  UGUSTUS  C.  VAN  HORNE  was  born  in 
I  I  Frankfort  Township,  this  county,  Septem- 
/  )  ber  22,  1844.  He  was  a  boy  of  ten  years 
when  his  father,  Cornelius  C,  died  very  sud- 
denly of  cholera.  At  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
began  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  his 
first  work  being  as  carpenter  with  a  bridge  build- 
ing gang.  A  year  later  he  was  made  a  fireman 
on  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  and  in  1S64 
he  accepted  similar  work  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad.  He  continued  in  that  capacity  until 
187  1 ,  when  he  was  promoted  to  be  engineer  on  a 
freight  train.  From  1873  to  1875  he  was  on  the 
old  Missouri  road,    but   with   that   exception   he 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


555 


continued  steadily  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  for 
some  years.  Later  he  was  with  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  as  engineer  out 
from  Portage,  but  after  two  years  returned  to  the 
Chicago  &  Alton,  on  which  he  has  since  been  en- 
gineer. Meantime  he  was  for  eleven  years  en- 
gine house  foreman  in  Joliet,  for  eighteen  months 
in  Bloomington  and  for  six  months  in  Chicago. 
His  run  is  now  between  Joliet  and  Brighton.  He 
is  a  reliable,  trustworthy  engineer,  and  has  never 
met  with  a  serious  accident  during  all  of  his  long 
connection  with  the  road. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Van  Home  is  at  No.  201 
Union  street,  Joliet.  In  New  Lenox,  this  coun- 
ty, he  was  married  to  Emma  A.,  daughter  of 
George  Nelson  Marvin,  who  came  from  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  to  this  county  in  1S54  and  settled  in 
Plainfield  Township  upon  a  farm.  For  some 
years  he  has  been  retired  and  now  makes  his 
home  with  Mr.  Van  Home.  Both  our  subject 
and  his  wife  are  identified  with  the  Richards 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he 
holds  office  as  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
Politically  he  is  independent.  At  one  time  he 
was  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
at  this  writing  he  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  He  is  a  member  of  Matteson 
Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Joliet  Chapter 
No.  27,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Joliet  Commandery  No. 
4,  K.  T.  With  his  wife  he  is  connected  with 
Chapter  No.  187  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which 
Mrs.  Van  Home  was  the  first  matron  and  in 
which  she  has  since  filled  many  offices  with  tact 
and  abilitv. 


HON.  THOMAS  H.  RILEY.  To  many  of 
the  people  of  this  county  Mr.  Riley  is  best 
known  through  his  efforts  in  behalf  of 
drainage  and  deep-water  interests  and  through 
his  incumbency  of  various  important  offices.  Al- 
ways a  Democrat,  he  has  never  wavered  in  his 
allegiance  to  this  party.  In  1877  he  was  elected 
alderman  from  the  first  ward,  two  years  later  was 
elected   from  the  second   ward,    which  he  after- 


ward represented  in  the  council  for  five  terms, 
making  seven  terms  altogether.  His  object  in 
accepting  the  office  was  in  order  that  he  might 
use  his  influence  to  secure  the  adoption  of 
separate  systems  of  sewage  and  drainage,  and 
upon  accomplishing  that  he  refused  to  serve 
further  in  the  council. 

In  18S6  Mr.  Riley  was  elected  to  the  state  legis- 
lature, serving  in  the  thirty-fifth  assembly.  He 
offered  the  joint  resolution  in  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives creating  a  commission  to  solve  the 
drainage  problem  of  Chicago.  He  was  made  a 
member  of  the  same,  with  instructions  to  report 
to  the  thirty-sixth  assembly  a  practicable  method 
of  disposing  of  the  sewage  of  Chicago.  The 
other  members  of  the  committee  were  John  A. 
Roche  (then  mayor  of  Chicago),  T.  C.  McMillan 
and  Barney  Eckhart,  both  of  Chicago,  and  A.  J. 
Bell,  of  Peoria.  Accompanying  their  report  was 
what  is  now  known  as  the  drainage  law,  of  which 
Mr.  Riley  had  charge  in  the  house  and  L.  E. 
Cooley  in  the  senate,  and  which  they  were  in- 
strumental in  passing.  Later  they  secured  what 
was  known  as  the  passage  of  the  "Little  Water- 
way bill"  to  connect,  by  the  fourteen-foot  chan- 
nel, the  present  drainage  channel  in  Lockport 
and  the  Mississippi  River.  After  a  hard  fight 
this  bill  became  a  law  by  vote  of  the  legislature 
in  1894,  but  was  vetoed  by  Governor  Altgeld, 
and,  as  a  result  of  the  veto,  the  people  are  now 
holding  deep-water  conventions  to  secure  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  same  results.  In  the  thirty- 
fifth  assembly  Mr.  Riley  was  a  member  of  the 
revenue,  canals  and  drainage  and  warehouse 
committees. 

A  resident  of  Joliet  since  1872,  Mr.  Riley  was 
born  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  February  20,  1848,  a 
descendant  of  a  Danish  family  by  whom  the 
name  was  spelled  Reilley,  but  this  was  shortened 
to  its  present  form  by  our  subject  for  convenience. 
He  was  second  of  seven  children,  all  but  one  of 
whom  attained  maturity,  and  five  sons  are  now 
living,  three  being  in  this  county.  One  son, 
James,  now  of  Little  Falls,  N.  Y. ,  was  a  soldier 
in  Scott's  Nine  Hundred  from  New  York  during 
the  Civil  war.  The  father,  Edward  Reilley,  was 
born   in   County  Leitrim,    Ireland,  in    1803,  and 


556 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


came  to  the  United  States  in  1826,  and  in  early 
manhood  settled  iri  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y., 
later  removing  to  a  farm  now  within  the  city 
limits  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  He  became  interested 
in  the  manufacture  of  salt,  which  he  continued 
for  years.  In  1881  he  came  to  Joliet,  and  died 
here  three  years  later,  at  eighty-two  years  of  age. 
He  married  Julia  Black,  who  was  born  in  Coun- 
ty Kiklare,  Ireland,  of  French  descent,  and  died 
in  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Leaving  home  in    1865,  our   subject   went  to 
the  Pennsylvania  oil  region,  where  he  engaged 
in  teaming  for  a  year,  and  then  had  a  boat  of  his 
own   on   the   Allegheny   River,    later   had   three 
boats  on  Erie  canal,  making  Syracuse  his  head- 
quarters.     In  the  spring  of  1872  he  came  to  Joliet 
and   for  a  few  months  was  a  steersman  on  the 
canal.     Afterward  he  clerked  in  a  grocery  until 
the  spring  of  1875,  when  he  started  in  business 
for  himself.     Later  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Au- 
burn house,  and   in    1883  started  in  the  artesian 
well  business,  sinking  several  wells,  the  deepest 
of  which  was  twelve   hundred  feet.     In  1886  he 
sold  out  and  started  in  the  undertaking  business 
at    No.    412    Van    Buren  street,    where  he    had 
erected  a  building  in  rSS2,  and  since  then  he  has 
engaged  steadily   in  business  as   an   undertaker 
and  funeral  director.     He  built  seven  stores,  all 
of  two  stories,  fronting  on  Van  Buren  street,  also 
a  livery  barn.     Meantime,  he  has  also  engaged 
in  general  contracting,  and  had  the  contracts  for 
the  water  works  at   the  state   penitentiary,  also 
for  two  miles  of  dyke  in  the  drainage  ditch,  the 
principal  sewers  of  Joliet,  and  the  water  works 
and  conduits  taking  the   water  to   the   different 
mills  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company.      In  1S90  he 
laid   out   Riley's    Riverview    Driving    Park,    in 
which  he  invested  $25,000  in  improvements,  and 
which  has  a  half-mile  track  that  is  not  only  the 
best  in  the  state,  but  also  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
country.     For  two  years  he  held  a  county  fair, 
but  the  second  year  lost  $5,000,  so  abandoned  the 
enterprise.     He  probably  did  what  no  other  man 
in  the  United  States  ever  attempted,  namely,  he 
himself  organized   the    Will   County  Mechanical 
and    Agricultural    Association,    putting   up   the 
best  buildings  for  that  purpose  in  the  state,  and 


equipping  the  same.  Coming  as  it  did  right 
after  the  World's  Fair  it  was  not  appreciated  by 
the  people  and  the  large  deficit  was  due  to  that. 
In  Joliet  Mr.  Riley  married  Miss  Bridget 
Barry,  whose  father,  Edmund  Barry,  was  an 
early  settler  of  this  city  and  an  employe  on  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  During  the  exist- 
ence of  the  Illinois  Valley  Circuit  Mr.  Riley 
represented  the  whole  of  the  Joliet  interest  and 
therefore  was  one  of  its  prominent  members.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  Court  of  Honor.  The 
noble  impulses  of  Mr.  Riley's  public-spirited 
measures  are  beginning  to  be  understood  and  ap- 
preciated by  the  wise  and  broad  minded  citizens 
of  Joliet,  where  he  has  been  a  conspicious  figure 
for  many  years  and  where  he  is  justly  held  in 
high  esteem  as  an  honored  man  and  a  repre- 
sentative citizen.  He  has  not  sought  his  own 
aggrandizement,  but  has  planned  for  the  best  in- 
terest of  the  city  that  claims  him  and  that  is  justly 
proud  of  him  as  one  of  its  best  citizens.  His 
fight  in  the  thirty-fifth  assembly  against  the  Hurd 
bill  and  his  hard  work  in  favor  of  the  drainage 
law  under  which  the  now  famous  drainage  chan- 
nel was  constructed  are  a  matter  of  history  from 
which  future  generations  will  learn  useful  lessons 
of  unselfish  devotion  to  progress  and  higher- 
civilization. 


r^HILIP  JACOB  KIEP,  a  pioneer  of  Joliet, 
Lf  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  and  was 
K3  orphaned  when  quite  young,  his  mother 
dying  when  he  was  two  yearsof  age  and  his  father 
six  years  later.  In  youth  he  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  which  he  followed  in  his  native 
land  and  also  for  a  time  after  coming  to  America. 
When  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  in  1854, 
he  crossed  the  ocean  to  the  United  States,  pro- 
ceeding direct  to  Joliet,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  shoe  business  for  some  time.  During  the 
early  days  of  his  residence  in  this  city  he  was  a 
volunteer  member  of  the  fire  department.  For  a 
time  he  carried  on  a  liquor  business  and  later 
conducted   a   boarding   house   at   No.  308  South 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


557 


Chicago  street,  where  he  bought  a  substantial 
two-story  building.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Sharpshooters'  Association  and  St.  John's  So- 
ciety, and  he  and  his  wife  were  among  the  first 
members  of  St.  John's  Catholic  Church.  Politi- 
cally, after  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen,  he  al- 
ways voted  with  the  Democratic  party.  He 
bought  residence  property  at  No.  407  North 
Hickory  street  and  built  the  house  in  which  his 
widow  now  resides.  Here  his  death  occurred 
June  15,    1S94. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Kiep  took  place  in  Joliet 
on  the  last  day  of  1857  and  united  him  with 
Miss  Helena  St.  Julian,  who  was  born  in  Alsace, 
a  daughter  of  Anton  and  Elizabeth  (Graff)  St. 
Julian,  natives  of  the  same  province.  Her  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  descendant  of  an  old  French  fam- 
ily, brought  the  family  to  America  in  1847  and 
died  in  Joliet  seven  years  later.  His  wife  died 
in  this  city  in  1S72.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  daughters  and  one  son,  the  latter  now  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Kiep  is  the  only  member  of  the 
family  living  in  Joliet,  and  has  made  this  city 
her  home  since  1847,  when  thirteen  years  of  age. 
Since  her  husband's  death  she  has  lived  quietly 
at  the  homestead,  caring  for  the  interests  of  her 
family  and  overseeing  the  affairs  of  the  home. 
Of  her  children,  the  three  oldest,  John,  Joseph 
and  Frank,  are  proprietors  of  a  meat  market  in 
Joliet;  Robert  is  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business 
on  Chicago  street;  Philip  is  with  his  brothers  in 
the  meat  business;  Josephine,  Mary  and  Theresa 
reside  with  their  mother. 


gERNARD  BAILEY,  superintendent  of  the 
Phoenix  Horse  Shoe  Company  of  Joliet, 
was  born  in  Roseudale,  Ulster  County, 
N.  Y.,  October  19,  1854,  a  son  of  Francis  Henry 
and  Grace  (Straub)  Bailey.  In  184S  his  father 
started  to  cross  the  ocean  on  an  old  sailing  vessel 
that  was  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  Ireland,  after 
which  the  passengers  were  transferred  to  an- 
other ship,    and   finally  reached   the  new  world. 


He  settled  in  Ulster  County  and  embarked  in  the 
hotel  business,  continuing  to  carry  on  a  hotel 
until  his  death  in  1885.  Asa  Republican  he  was 
active  in  local  politics.  During  the  time  of  the 
Civil  war  he  served  as  collector  of  taxes.  He 
was  a  man  of  influence  and  prominence  in  his 
community,  and  was  a  potent  factor  in  the  up- 
building of  the  German  Catholic  Church.  After 
coming  to  this  country  he  married  Miss  Grace 
Straub,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  six  now  living.  All  remain  in  the 
east  excepting  Bernard,  the  eldest.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Ulster  County  schools.  He  served 
an  apprenticeship  as  machinist  with  McEntee  & 
Dillon  at  Rondout,  N.  Y.,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  was  employed  in  a  shop  in  New  York 
City,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  Re- 
turning to  Rondout  he  was  employed  by  the 
West  Shore  Railroad  Company  as  a  machinist 
for  three  and  one  half  years.  His  next  position 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Union  Cement  Com- 
pany, of  East  Kingston,  N.  Y. 

In  October,  1889,  Mr.  Bailey  made  an  engage- 
ment with  the  Phoenix  Horse  Shoe  Company  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  as  a  machinist.  By  this 
company  in  1893  he  was  sent  to  Joliet  as  foreman 
of  the  machine  department,  which  position  he 
held  for  two  years,  and  was  then  promoted  to  be 
superintendent  of  the  roller  mills.  These  are  the 
only  mills  of  the  kind  in  Illinois  and  are  the 
largest  west  of  the  Alleghenies,  having  a  capacity 
of  one  hundred  tons.  The  number  of  employes 
varies  with  the  amount  of  work  on  hand,  but 
usually  reaches  about  three  hundred.  There  is 
such  a  good  demand  for  the  products  of  the  mills 
that  at  this  writing  they  are  running  overtime. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  member  of  the 
lodge,  chapter  and  council  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
Court  No.  177,  Order  of  Foresters,  in  Joliet; 
Stevenson  Camp  No.  2S92,  Modern  Woodmen; 
and  Adler  Lodge  No.  388,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He  has  been  fairly  active 
in  politics  and  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  Re- 
publican conventions  and  in  other  ways  aided 
his  party  in  its  work.  At  the  time  of  President 
McKinley's  visit  to  Joliet  in  1899,  Mr.  Bailey 
was  a  member  of  the   reception  committee  that 


558 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


went  to  Morris  to  meet  the  president.  President 
McKinley  inquired  of  Mr.  Bailey  if  he  carried  a 
"good  luck"  shoe  with  him.  He  replied  that, 
while  he  did  not,  he  would  have  one  made  for 
the  president.  Later  he  made  a  fine  shoe,  which 
was  nickel-plated,  engraved  and  forwarded  to 
Mr.  McKinley. 

December  23,  1879,  Mr.  Bailey  married  Char- 
lotte Schriver,  of  New  York  City.  They  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children:  Bernard  J.,  who  is  in 
the  works  at  Joliet;  Frederick  Raymond,  who  is 
with  the  Bates  Machine  Company;  George,  Hor- 
tense,  Grace,  Samuel,  Lincoln,  William  and 
ElishaH. 


61  LMON  N.  HILTON.  The  record  of  the 
LA  subject  of  this  sketch  entitles  him  to  con 
/  I  spicuous  mention  in  the  present  work,  for 
his  life  is  an  example  of  the  power  of  resolute 
working  and  steadfast  integrity,  and  illustrates 
in  no  uncertain  manner  what  it  is  possible  to  ac- 
complish when  perseverance  and  determination 
form  the  keynote  of  a  man's  life.  He  is  now  in 
the  prime  of  life,  and  the  position  he  has  already 
attained,  though  worthy  of  commendation,  is 
without  doubt  but  an  index  to  future  years  of 
prosperity.  His  keen  business  acumen  and  pro- 
gressive ideas  have  not  only  placed  him  in  the 
front  rank  of  the  citizens  of  Symerton,  but  have 
also  made  him  prominent  among  the  grain  dealers 
in  the  county. 

Mr.  Hilton  was  born  in  North  Anson,  Somer- 
set County,  Me.,  August  6,  1857,  a  son  of  Joshua 
N.  and  Nancy  H.  (Knolton)  Hilton.  He  was 
one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living.  His  sisters  are:  Laura,  wife  of  J.  J. 
Newell,  of  Waterville,  Me.;  H.  May,  wife  of 
Eugene  Lawrence,  of  Madison,  Me.;  and  Win- 
nifred,  who  resides  with  her  father.  The  Hilton 
ancestry  is  traced  back  to  William  Hilton,  a  man 
of  influence  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Dur- 
ing that  war  two  of  his  brothers  were  killed  by 
Indians.  After  peace  had  been  declared  he 
moved  up  the  Kennebec  River  and  settled  on  a 


tract  of  land  in  Somerset  County.  On  this  place 
he  built  a  log  cabin  and  later  a  frame  house. 
It  was  in  this  home  that  his  sou,  Joshua,  grew 
to  manhood,  surrounded  by  all  the  environments 
of  the  frontier.  The  only  advantages  which  he 
had  were  those  physical  benefits  derived  from  an 
outdoor  life;  there  were  no  public  schools,  and 
even  subscription  schools  were  few  in  number,  so 
he  was  forced  to  depend  upon  his  unaided  exer- 
tions in  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  the  three  R's. 
After  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Heald  he  removed  to 
another  part  of  Somerset  County,  and  there  his 
subsequent  years  were  uneventfully  passed. 

On  this  homestead  Joshua  N.  Hilton  was  born 
in  1835.  Some  time  after  his  marriage  he  pur- 
chased and  removed  to  the  property  upon  which 
his  grandfather,  William,  had  settled  as  a  pio- 
neer. He  has  since  continued  to  reside  on  that 
place,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  While 
he  is  not  an  office  seeker  nor  a  politician,  he  is  a 
man  of  influence  in  his  community,  and  a  stal- 
wart supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
long  been  active  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  at  one  time  held  the  highest  office  in 
his  home  lodge.  He  had  a  brother,  Amos  (now 
deceased),  who  was  a  member  of  the  Maine  legis- 
lature and  took  an  important  part  in  the  passing 
of  beneficial  measures  during  his  time  as  a  pub- 
lic servant. 

The  village  of  North  Anson,  at  an  early  period 
of  its  existence,  alive  to  the  advantages  afforded 
by  a  good  education,  had  founded  in  its  midst  an 
academy  where  the  knowledge  acquired  in  public 
schools  could  be  supplemented  by  a  thorough 
course  in  the  higher  branches.  It  was  in  this  in- 
stitution that  our  subject  completed  his  educa- 
tion. As  he  grew  to  manhood  the  question  of  a 
permanent  occupation  and  location  occupied 
much  of  his  time.  He  looked  about  him  upon 
the  surroundings  with  which  he  had  been  familiar 
frj:n  his  earliest  recollections;  he  saw  a  small 
town,  remote  from  the  business  centers  of  the 
country;  obscure  and  unknown;  its  citizens  as  a 
rule  unambitious,  its  opportunities  meagre.  Be- 
lieving that  the  west  would  afford  greater  priv- 
ileges he  determined  to  seek  a  home  here. 

Reaching   Illinois  he  at  once  sought  employ- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


559 


inent,  for  he  had  little  money  and  was  anxious  to 
secure  any  work  that  offered  an  honest  liveli- 
hood. His  first  position  was  in  an  elevator  at 
New  Lenox,  this  county.  His  work  was  ex- 
ceedingly difficult  and  exhausting,  and  after  four- 
teen months,  finding  his  health  was  giving  way 
under  the  strain,  he  felt  obliged  to  resign.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1880  he  visited  California, 
with  a  view  to  recuperating  his  health.  He 
found  a  business  opening  at  Orofino,  Siskiyou 
County,  that  state,  and  so  remained  there  for 
thirteen  months.  Meantime  his  former  employer 
at  New  Lenox  had  been  urging  him  to  return, 
promising  him  more  congenial  employment  in 
his  mercantile  business  which  he  conducted  in 
connection  with  the  grain  business.  Thus  Mr. 
Hilton  was  influenced  to  return.  For  four  years 
he  remained  in  the  store.  In  1885  he  and  his 
cousin,  G.  S.  Hilton,  bought  a  grain  elevator  at 
Manhattan,  and  he  took  charge  of  the  business. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  his  success.  From 
that  time  he  pushed  his  way  ahead,  with  fewer 
obstacles  than  before.  In  December,  1888,  he 
and  his  cousin  sold  the  business  at  Manhattan, 
and  he  came  to  Symerton,  purchasing  the  ele- 
vator at  this  place  early  in  1889.  Here  he  built 
a  large  new  elevator  and  also  added  to  his  grain 
trade  a  drain,  tile,  coal  and  lumber  business. 

In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Hilton  is  a  Repub- 
can.  Though  in  no  sense  a  politician,  he  takes 
an  earnest  and  active  part  in  the  conduct  of 
public  affairs,  and  in  casting  his  ballot  at  local 
elections  casts  his  vote  for  a  candidate  differ- 
ing with  himself  in  politics  if  he  believes  that 
candidate  will  better  serve  the  people  than  his 
own  party's  nominee;  for  it  is  his  belief  that  in 
local  matters  the  man  and  the  principle  should 
carry  more  weight  than  the  opinions  of  the  candi- 
date concerning  protective  tariff,  free  coinage  of 
silver,  expansion,  and  other  national  problems. 
At  various  times  he  has  held  the  town  offices  and 
he  has  also  served  as  supervisor  of  Florence 
Township,  into  which  office  he  has  brought  the 
same  business  traits  and  the  same  energy  notice- 
able in  his  private  affairs.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Symerton  Camp  No.  4361,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.     In  1886  he  married  Miss 


Christina  Bouch,  of  Mokena,  who  was  born  in 
Manhattan  Township.  They  had  four  children, 
Lester  A.,  Roy,  Lloyd  and  Merl.  The  oldest 
son,  born  September  1,  1887,  died  March  4,  1900; 
the  youngest,  born  August  11,  1893,  is  the  only 
one  living;  and  the  other  sons  died  in  infancy, 
while  Mrs.  Hilton  passed  away  February  6,  1895. 


HENRY  T.  TRUBY,  the  well  known  grain 
and  lumber  dealer,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Mar- 
shall Truby.  His  ancestors  came  to  Amer- 
ica as  early  as  1733,  one  of  them,  Christopher 
Truby,  being  an  officer  and  patriot  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  His  father,  Marshall,  was  born 
in  Armstrong  County,  Pa.,  and  was  reared  in 
the  east,  where  for  some  time  he  was  captain  on 
Ohio  and  Allegheny  River  boats.  With  a  fleet 
of  packets,  in  1852,  he  journeyed  down  the 
Ohio,  up  the  Mississippi  and  the  Illinois,  thence 
to  the  canal,  where  he  engaged  in  the  forwarding 
business  between  Lasalle  and  Chicago,  at  the 
same  time  buying  and  improving  a  farm.  In  a 
few  years  he  sold  his  boats  and  bought  a  tract  of 
raw  land  adjoining  the  present  city  limits  of  Jo- 
liet,  a  portion  of  which  is  now  included  in  Bush 
park.  For  some  time  he  devoted  his  attention 
closely  to  the  improvement  of  his  property.  Dur- 
ing the  war  he  resumed  work  on  the  canal,  run- 
ning a  line  of  freight  boats.  He  also  made  trips 
from  Chicago  to  Nashville,  Term.,  bearing  gov- 
ernment supplies  to  the  front  and  delivering  his 
cargoes  each  time  in  safety,  although,  owing  to 
the  proximity  of  the  Confederates,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  be  guarded  by  gunboats.  When  the  war 
was  ended  he  began  in  the  grain  business,  hav- 
ing an  elevator  on  the  canal  at  South  Bluff  street. 
Adjoining  the  site  of  his  elevator,  he  started  a 
lumber  yard,  which  he  conducted  successfully. 
In  1870  he  removed  to  Birds  Bridge,  thiscounty, 
to  engage  in  the  grain  business,  and  he  built  an 
elevator  there,  making  shipments  of  grain  both 
by  canal  and  railroad.  He  continued  in  business 
in  that   village  from    1870  to   1897,   and  during 


560 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


that  entire  time  served  as  postmaster,  also  for 
some  time  held  school  offices  and  was  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  but 
never  exhibited  a  partisan  spirit,  believing  that 
a  true  citizen  rose  above  party  in  loyal  devotion 
to  country.  The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Joliet  numbered  him  among  its  members.  The 
success  which  he  gained  entitled  him  to  respect. 
Without  any  means  to  aid  him  in  securing  a 
start,  and  with  no  influence  to  help  him  along 
except  his  own  good  name  and  upright  conduct, 
with  these  and  by  untiring  industry  and  intelli- 
gent management,  he  steadily  rose  until  he  oc- 
cupied a  position  of  marked  consideration  in 
business  circles  in  Will  County.  If  the  title  of 
self-made  can  with  justice  be  given  any  man, 
it  certainly  belonged  to  him,  for,  against  adverse 
circumstances,  and  in  the  face  of  obstacles,  he  had 
the  energy  and  determination  to  attain  a  high 
degree  of  success.  There  was  no  detail  of  the 
grain  business  with  which  he  was  unfamiliar. 
Nor  did  that  business  represent  the  limit  of  his 
energies.  He  was  also  interested  in  the  lumber 
business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Truby  & 
Co.,  and  he  maintained  a  supervision  of  his  farm 
at  Birds  Bridge,  seven  miles  west  of  Joliet.  In 
addition,  he  was  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of 
M.  Truby  &  Son,  owners  of  elevators  both  at 
Joliet  and  Elwood.  After  seventy-seven  useful 
and  active  years,  he  passed  into  eternity,  July 
26,  1897,  followed  to  the  grave  by  the  respect  of 
those  with  whom  he  had  long  been  associated. 
The  marriage  of  Marshall  Truby  united  him 
with  Maria  McCracken,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 


sylvania, and  is  still  living  at  the  old  home  at 
Birds  Bridge,  in  Troy  Township.  The  family  to 
which  she  belongs  came  to  America  from  the 
north  of  Ireland,  but  is  of  Scotch  origin.  In  her 
family  there  are  three  daughters  and  a  son  liv- 
ing. The  latter,  who  was  next  to  the  oldest  of 
the  children,  was  born  in  Joliet,  September  12, 
1852.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Joliet, 
Jennings  Seminary  of  Aurora,  and  the  Metropol- 
itan Commercial  College  of  Chicago.  He  then 
became  a  bookkeeper  in  his  father's  office.  In 
1875  the  firm  of  M.  Truby  &  Son  embarked  in 
the  grain  business.  Five  years  later  they  bought 
the  two  Elwood  elevators,  taking  J.  C.  Beattie  as 
a  partner,  and  in  1888  purchased  the  Jesse  ele- 
vator in  Joliet,  the  first-named  having  a  capacity 
of  forty  thousand  bushels,  and  the  latter  ten  thou- 
sand. In  1 89 1  Truby  &  Co.  started  a  lumber 
business  across  from  the  elevator  in  Joliet,  hav- 
ing two  acres  for  yards  and  sheds,  and  building 
up  a  large  trade  in  lumber  and  building  material. 
Since  the  father's  death  the  son,  Henry  T.  Tru- 
by, has  conducted  the  business  with  J.  C.  Beat- 
tie,  selling  both  at  wholesale  and  retail.  Besides 
this  business,  he  is  interested,  as  a  director,  in 
the  Will  County  Abstract  Company. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Truby  is  a  member  of  the  blue 
lodge  of  Masons  and  in  politics  he  votes  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  united  in  marriage, 
in  Channahon,  with  Miss  Charlotte  Beardsley 
Fryer,  daughter  of  Hon.  J.N.  Fryer,  an  old  set- 
tler of  Channahon  Township,  where  she  was 
born.  One  son  living,  Charles  L-,  blesses  their 
union. 


OF     :    IE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


563 


JOHN  DALY. 


3OHN  DALY,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Lock- 
port  Township,  stands  high  in  the  regard  of 
his  acquaintances,  and  deserves  all  that  kind 
fortune  can  bestow.  All  that  he  has  and  all  that 
he  is  may  be  attributed  to  his  determination  of 
character  and  his  industry.  When  he  came  to 
this  county  a  young  man,  without  friends  or 
means,  he  was  glad  to  secure  work  at  $6  a  month. 
From  that  small  beginning  he  has  worked  his 
way  to  a  competence  and  an  assured  position 
among  the  farmers  and  dairymen  of  his  town- 
ship. 

A  son  of  Edward  and  Lucinda  Daly,  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  1825,  and  was  nineteen  years  of 
age  when  he  embarked  for  America  on  the  sail- 
ing vessel  "  Lord  Seaton."  After  a  voyage  of 
nine  weeks  he  landed  in  New  York,  from  which 
city  he  went  by  boat  up  the  Hudson  to  Albany, 
then  crossed  New  York  state  by  rail  to  Buffalo, 
and  from  there  came  on  the  great  lakes  to  Chi- 
cago, completing  his  journey  by  wagon  to  Will 
County.  On  his  arrival  in  Lockport  Township, 
in  the  latter  part  of  1844,  he  secured  work  by  the 
month,  and  afterward  for  several  years  was  em- 
ployed at  farming  and  teaming.  For  a  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  Illinois 
and  Michigan  canal  on  the  Lockport  section. 
The  lessons  of  frugality  and  industry  acquired  in 
his  childhood  helped  him  in  this  country,  and  he 
carefully  saved  his  money  until  he  was  able  to 
buy  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  timber 
land  near  his  present  location.  However,  he 
lacked  a  small  sum  of  having  enough  to  pay  for 
the  entire  tract  and  was  obliged  to  go  in  debt  for 


a  part  of  the  place.  The  land  was  in  its  prime- 
val condition.  He  was  forced  to  do  considerable 
"grubbing"  and  clearing  before  he  could  com- 
mence its  cultivation.  He  enclosed  the  land  by 
good  fences  and  built  a  small  house.  As  he 
prospered,  he  bought  other  land,  until  he  now 
owns  nearly  seven  hundred  acres.  His  dairy  in- 
terests are  extensive;  he  owns  about  fifty  cows 
and  ships  milk  to  Chicago,  having  shipped  to  the 
same  firm  there  for  twenty-two  years.  His  resi- 
dence is  a  substantial  stone  building,  the  stone 
for  which  he  hauled  from  Lockport  on  the  canal 
when  it  was  frozen  over  during  the  winter 
months.  Beside  his  home  property  he  owns  a 
number  of  business  houses  in  Lockport. 

In  April,  1S49,  Mr.  Daly  married  Miss  Julia 
Walker,  who  had  come  to  Will  County  the  year 
before  their  marriage.  They  became  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
Thomas,  Margaret,  Susan  and  Edward.  Mar- 
garet married  John  McCoy,  a  farmer  and  dairy- 
man in  Lockport  Township;  they  have  six  chil- 
dren: Julia,  Susan,  Matilda,  Sadie,  Edwin  and 
Ellen.  The  younger  daughter,  Susan,  is  the 
wife  of  George  Bush,  who  lives  in  Wayne,  Neb.; 
they  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  Julia, 
Georgiana,  John  and  Lotta. 

Thomas  Daly,  the  older  of  Mr.  Daly's  surviv- 
ing sons,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Crawford 
County,  Kails.  He  is  an  industrious,  enterpris- 
ing and  intelligent  farmer,  and  well  merits  the 
success  he  is  gaining  in  his  agricultural  enter- 
prises. While  still  a  mere  boy  he  began  to  save 
money,  and  this  he  afterward  invested  in  land, 


29 


5^4 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


thus  gaining  a  foothold  for  future  prosperity. 
He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Riley  Ritchey, 
of  Homer  Township,  and  grand-daughter  of 
James  Ritchey,  who  came  from  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
to  Illinois,  at  a  very  early  day,  and  was  living 
at  Fort  Dearborn  at  the  time  of  the  Blackhawk 
war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Daly  have  six  chil- 
dren now  living,  namely:  John  E.,  Susan  M., 
Eva  L-,  Cleveland  R.,  Jessie  and  Thomas. 

Edward  Daly,  the  youuger  of  our  subject's 
sons,  assists  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
home  farm.  He  married  Suella  Bush,  by  whom 
he  has  three  children,  William,  Clara  and  Pru- 
dence. Another  son  of  our  subject,  David,  was 
born  and  reared  on  the  old  Daly  homestead,  and 
married  Sarah  Kirman,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children,  Jennie,  Julia,  George  E.,  Margaret, 
Grace  and  David.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  a  Democrat. 
He  was  fond  of  military  affairs,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Joliet  Light  Artillery,  with  which  he 
served  under  Colonel  Bennitt  in  some  of  the 
noted  strikes.  Personally,  he  was  genial  and 
popular,  a  man  with  hosts  of  friends  and  many 
enemies.     He  died  September  23,  1892. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in  the 
Presbyterian  faith,  and  has  always  aided  in  its 
work,  besides  which  he  has  contributed  to  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  Lockport.  The  Democratic 
party  receives  his  support  in  national  elections, 
but  in  local  matters  he  is  independent.  He  has 
never  desired  office  for  himself,  preferring  to  de- 
vote his  time  wholly  to  his  farm  and  dairy  in- 
terests. 


G]  NTHONY  WAGNER,  who  is  living  retired 
J  I  in  Joliet,  has  made  his  home  in  this  county 
/  J  since  1846,  having  come  here  with  his  par- 
ents when  he  was  a  boy  of  twelve.  He  was  born 
May  31,  1834,  in  Alsace,  which  was  then  a  French 
province,  but  is  now  a  part  of  Germany.'  His 
father,  Ignatz,  also  of  Alsacian  birth,  for  many 
years  ran  a  ferry  across  the  Rhine  River,  but  in 
1846  emigrated  to  America,  crossing  the  ocean 


on  the  sailing-vessel  "St.  Nicholas,"  which  was 
forty-six  days  upon  the  water.  After  a  pleasant, 
but  somewhat  monotonous  voyage  he  landed  in 
New  York.  There  he  transferred  to  a  Hudson 
River  boat,  in  which  he  sailed  up  to  Albany. 
From  there  he  traveled  via  canal-boat  to  Buffalo 
and  thence  on  the  great  lakes  to  Chicago.  Push- 
ing on  to  Naperville  he  spent  a  few  months  there, 
but  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Joliet, 
securing  employment  on  the  Illinois  and  Michi- 
gan canal.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  farm  work, 
buying  some  land  which  is  now  inside  the  city 
limits  of  Joliet.  Prices  were  very  low  when  he 
settled  here,  and  he  paid  only  $30  for  a  log  house 
and  the  entire  block  on  which  his  son  Anthony 
now  lives,  property  that  has  since  multiplied  in 
value  many  hundredfold.  On  this  place  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  were  passed  and  here  he  died 
in  1883.  He  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church,  in  which  faith  his  children 
were  reared.  After  becoming  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  he  allied  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  By  his  marriage  to  Mary  Ann 
Erhardt  he  had  four  children  who  attained  ma- 
turity, viz.:  Mary;  Ignatz,  deceased;  Anthony 
and  Alois. 

One  of  the  most  vivid  recollections  of  our  sub- 
ject's childhood  was  the  long  journey  by  water 
from  Havre  to  Chicago.  He  well  remembers, 
too,  the  frontier  surroundings  in  this  city  and 
county,  the  sparsely  settled  regions,  the  unim- 
proved land  and  the  log  cabins.  As  soon  as  he 
was  old  enough  to  guide  a  plow  he  was  put  to 
work  at  breaking  prairie  land  with  an  ox-team, 
and  for  some  years  much  of  his  time  was  given 
to  this  occupation.  When  of  age  he  learned  the 
stone-cutter's  trade,  which  he  followed  afterward, 
being  for  many  years  foreman  in  the  large  stone 
quarries  owned  by  Charles  Werner,  of  Joliet, 
from  which  position  he  resigned  in  188S  and  re- 
tired from  active  work.  Politically  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, was  collector  of  Joliet  Township  in  18S5 
and  again  elected  in  18S6.  Under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Mayor  E.  C.  Akin,  1S95-1897,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  superintendent  of  streets 
of  the  city  of  Joliet.  That  he  was  the  "right 
man  in  the  right  place"  was  best  proven  by  the 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


565 


following  administration  of  Mayor  Lagger,  1897- 
1899,  again  appointing  him  to  this  important  po- 
sition; as  a  Democrat,  serving  under  two  Repub- 
lican mayors,  he  received  indeed  a  well  earned 
compliment.  He  is  also  one  of  the  few  charter 
members  left  of  the  Joliet  Sharpshooters  Asso- 
ciation, which   was  organized  in  1866. 

In  i860  he  married  Magdalene,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Klein,  of  Strassburg,  Cook  County,  111. 
Mrs.  Magdalene  (Klein)  Wagner  was  also  born 
in  Alsace,  and  came  to  this  country  with  her 
parents  in  1846.  By  their  union  five  children 
were  born,  namely:  Joseph;  Mary,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Downey;  Louise,  wife  of  John  Giblin;  Rose 
and  Emma. 


.  RWIN  GOODWIN.  In  the  pioneer  history 
t}  of  this  county  the  Goodwin  family  bore  an 
_  honorable  part.  Of  New  England  ancestry, 
inheriting  the  hardihood  and  powers  of  endur- 
ance characteristic  of  that  race,  later  generations 
also  exhibited  these  qualities  and  assisted  in 
the  development  of  the  great  west.  From  New 
Hampshire  Joseph  Goodwin  removed  to  Law- 
rence County,  N.  Y.,  in  a  very  early  day,  and  his 
subsequent  years  were  devoted  to  farm  pursuits 
there.  His  son,  William,  who  was  born  in  that 
county  in  18 14,  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  settling 
in  Will  County.  All  around  him  were  evidences 
of  frontier  life.  Houses  were  few  and  poorly  con- 
structed, affording  but  little  protection  from  wind 
and  weather.  His  trade  was  that  of  a  carpenter 
and,  seeing  the  need  of  more  substantial  dwel- 
lings, he  was  careful  in  the  construction  of  the 
houses  that  he  built,  endeavoring  to  make  them 
comfortable  abodes.  In  those  days  land  was 
owned  by  the  government  and  was  offered  for  sale 
at  prices  within  the  reach  of  the  poorest  man. 
He  bought  land  in  Wesley  Township,  receiving 
a  patent  from  the  government  for  the  same.  The 
remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  in  this  township, 
where  he  owned  about  five  hundred  acres.  His 
beginnings  were  small,  but  industry  gave  him 
returns,  and  as  he  was  a  hardworking  man,  he 


became  very  successful  in  age.  His  excellent 
judgment  and  common  sense  did  much  for  him, 
and  he  was  honored  and  respected  as  a  man  of 
worth. 

In  his  youth  he  had  received  no  educational 
advantages,  yet,  in  spite  of  this,  he  became  well- 
to-do.  The  primitive  log  schoolhouse  was  the 
university  that  he  attended  when  a  boy;  its  slab 
benches  and  puncheon  floor  were  in  marked  con- 
trast to  the  modern  appurtenances  with  which 
we  are  familiar;  and  its  teachers  were  of  a  grade 
far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present  age.  How- 
ever, in  the  great  school  of  experience  he  gained 
a  good  education,  and  who  shall  say  that  it  was 
less  valuable  to  him  than  one  acquired  from  text- 
books. He  believed  that  every  citizen  should  take 
an  interest  in  local  affairs,  and  what  he  expected 
of  others  he  was  foremost  in  doing  himself.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a  pronounced  Republican.  Frater- 
nally he  was  connected  with  the  Masons.  After 
forty  years  of  intimate  connection  with  the  farm 
interests  of  Wesley  Township,  in  1877  he  was 
called  from  earth.  His  sixty-three  years  of  life 
had  been  filled  with  deeds  of  generosity  and 
kindness,  and  his  record  was  that  of  a  good  man. 
He  married  Margaret  Rebecca  Althouse,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  who  died  at  the  homestead  in  1868, 
at  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Hiram,  a  resident  of  Wilmington  Town- 
ship; Dollie,  wife  of  William  H.  Cramer;  Erwin; 
John,  who  cultivates  the  old  home  place;  William, 
a  farmer  near  by;  and  Philip,  whose  home  is  in 
Oregon. 

On  the  homestead  opposite  his  present  faim 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  February  24, 
1854.  His  father  having  been  successful  as  a 
farmer  was  able  to  give  him  good  advantages, 
and  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  Chicago 
and  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  College. 
On  the  completion  of  his  education  he  settled 
down  to  a  farmer's  life;  but  soon,  with  a  desire 
for  travel  and  contact  with  the  world,  he  deter- 
mined to  travel  in  the  far  west.  He  was  twenty-one 
when  he  went  to  Colorado  and  from  there  to  the 
Pacific  Coast.  After  four  years  he  returned  to 
Will  County,  where  he  has  since  remained,     He 


S66 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


now  owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  fine 
land  and  is  engaged  in  farming  and  cattle-raising. 
In  1S9S  he  caused  to  be  built  on  his  place  one  of 
the  most  substantial  farm  houses  in  the  township, 
and  here,  with  his  wife,  he  has  a  comfortable  and 
happy  home.  He  has  never  cared  for  political 
prominence,  and,  aside  from  voting  the  Republi- 
can ticket,  takes  no  part  in  local  affairs.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  Wilmington  Lodge 
No.  208,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  His  marriage  took  place 
May  24,  1899,  and  united  him  with  Clara  E.  Han- 
ford,  daughter  of  Stephen  Hanford,  of  Kankakee 
Count v. 


30HN  LAMBERT.  The  name  of  Mr.  Lam- 
bert is  indissolubly  associated  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  wire  in- 
dustry, with  which  he  has  been  connected  since 
it  was  in  its  infancy.  He  is  therefore  justly 
recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  Joliet 
and  it  may  be  doubted  if  the  city  has  any  citizen 
more  remarkable,  in  many  respects,  than  he. 

The  Lambert  family  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  and  the 
now  thriving  city  of  Lambertville  was  named  in 
their  honor.  Mr.  Lambert  was  born  in  that  place 
January  12,  1847.  He  was  a  mere  lad  when  the 
Civil  war  opened,  but,  fired  with  a  love  of  ad- 
venture and  a  patriotic  zeal  in  behalf  of  the  na- 
tion, he  determined  to  enlist  in  the  Union  army. 
In  January,  1862,  his  name  was  enrolled  as  a 
private  in  Company  D,  First  New  Jersey 
Cavalry.  He  was  sent  with  his  regiment  to 
Virginia,  but  after  a  year,  owing  to  ill  health, 
was  honorably  discharged.  Later  he  again  vol- 
unteered in  the  service,  becoming  sergeant  of 
Company  A,  Third  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  in 
which  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Under  General  Custer  he  participated  in  the 
Shenandoah  campaign  of  1864,  including  the 
battles  around  Winchester  and  terminating  in 
the  splendid  victory  at  Cedar  Creek,  the  occasion 
of  General  Sheridan's  famous  ride  "  From  Win- 
chester Twenty  Miles  Away.''      In  1865  he  took 


part  in  the  battles  of  Waynesboro,  Ashland,  Din- 
widdie  Courthouse  and  Five  Forks.  In  the  lat- 
ter engagement  he  was  wounded  by  a  fragment 
of  a  shell,  causing  the  loss  of  a  part  of  his  left 
hand.  He  also  had  his  horse  shot  from  under 
him.  After  this  he  bore  a  part  in  all  the  battles 
under  General  Grant  until  the  surrender  of  Gen- 
eral Lee.  He  was  present  at  the  grand  review 
in  Washington,  D.  C. ,  and  was  one  of  four  men 
of  his  company  who  at  the  time  were  able  to  per- 
form duty,  out  of  the  original  number  of  one 
hundred  and  one.  He  received  an  honorable 
discharge  from  the  army  August  9,  1865. 

Two  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Lam- 
bert came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Grundy  Coun- 
ty. The  year  1870  found  him  a  resident  of 
Joliet,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
was  for  six  years  an  officer  in  the  Illinois  state 
penitentiary.  In  April,  1S76,  he  married  Miss 
M.  E.  Bishop,  of  Joliet.  They  have  one  child, 
Anna  E. 

A  few  years  after  coming  to  Joliet,  Mr.  Lam- 
bert had  his  attention  drawn  to  the  wire  business, 
a  careful  study  of  which  convinced  him  of  its 
wonderful  possibilities  of  growth  and  develop- 
ment. In  1879  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Lambert  &  Bishop  Wire  Fence  Company,  which 
from  the  first  enjoyed  steady  growth  and  soon  be- 
came well  known  among  similar  organizations. 
In  1S92  this  was  merged  with  the  St.  Louis 
Wire  Mill  Company,  the  Braddock  Wire  Com- 
pany and  the  Iowa  Barb  Wire  Company,  form- 
ing the  Consolidated  Steel  and  Wire  Company. 
On  the  election  of  officers  for  the  company  he 
was  chosen  vice-president  and  later  was  also 
made  general  manager.  When  the  American 
Steel  &  Wire  Company  began  its  corporate  exist- 
ence, January  1,  1899,  he  was  elected  president, 
a  position  of  great  responsibility  and  influence, 
and  one  for  which  his  talents  amply  qualified 
him.  It  was  due  to  his  business  foresight  and 
capacity,  coupled  with  fine  executive  ability, 
that  he  attained  a  place  among  the  controlling 
spirits  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most  successful 
manufacturing  industries  in  the  country.  He 
has  given  his  attention  very  closely  to  business, 
refusing  all   invitations  to  participate  in   public 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


567 


affairs  and  all  appointments  to  office,  the  sole 
exception  being  in  one  instance,  when  he  ac- 
cepted an  appointment  as  colonel  on  the  staff  of 
Governor  Tanner. 

His  notable  achievements  in  the  field  of  com- 
mercial endeavor  have  made  his  name  a  synonym 
of  success.  He  is  an  accurate  judge  of  men,  his 
naturally  keen  insight  having  been  deepened  by 
his  varied  experiences  in  life,  which  have  brought 
him  in  contact  with  men  of  all  classes.  His  busi- 
ness career  has  been  marked  by  the  exercise  of 
unusually  keen  discrimination.  Perhaps  the  two 
traits  most  noticeable  in  his  business  dealings  are 
his  excellent  judgment  and  his  energy.  In  fact, 
his  enterprise  and  ability  are  of  such  a  character 
that  death  alone  can  terminate  his  activities.  His 
ready  wit  and  command  of  language  fit  him  for 
a  public  speaker,  and  had  he  chosen  to  enter  the 
political  arena  he  would  have  been  a  power  in 
his  party,  but  his  addresses  have  always  been 
limited  to  industrial  topics,  along  which  line  he 
has  been  most  deeply  interested;  and  these 
speeches  are  especially  valuable,  as  representing 
the  thoughts  and  ideas  of  a  man  whose  brain  is 
stored  with  practical  information,  accumulated 
during  a  long  and  active  business  career. 


V/lESHACK  DANDO,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
y  insurance,  real  estate  and  conveyance  busi- 
0)  uess  at  Braidwood,  was  born  in  Bristol, 
England,  in  1847,  a  son  of  Jeremiah  Dando,  a 
native  of  the  same  city.  Under  the  instruction 
of  his  father,  who  was  a  practical  coal  miner,  he 
gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  mining,  when 
he  was  only  fifteen  years  old.  He  then  left  home 
and  went  to  the  coal  mines  in  Monmouthshire, 
Wales,  where  he  was  employed  for  two  years. 
In  1865  he  set  sail  for  America,  crossing  from 
Liverpool  to  New  York,  and  thence  going  to 
Pittston,  Pa.,  where  he  secured  work  in  the 
mines.  In  December,  1866,  he  went  to  New- 
buryport,  Mass.  Three  months  later  he  came 
west.      He  dates  his  residence   in  Will    County 


from  February,  1867.  At  that  time  he  began  to 
work  in  the  old  Cady  mine  near  Wilmington, 
remaining  there  during  the  summer.  In  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Braidwood,  then  a 
new  mining  camp.  His  first  work  here  was  in 
"B"  shaft.  From  that  time  until  1874  he  was 
engaged  principally  in  mining.  In  1874  he  was 
elected  city  clerk  of  Braidwood,  being  the  second 
incumbent  of  that  office,  and  serving  for  two 
years.  To  fill  an  unexpired  term,  caused  by  the 
election  of  Justice  William  Mooney  to  the  legis- 
lature, he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
spring  of  1875,  and  this  commission  he  held  un- 
til 1877.  From  that  time  until  1885  he  served 
as  police  magistrate.  Later  he  was  again  elected 
to  that  office  and  was  again  chosen  to  serve  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  which  he  filled  for  a  period, 
altogether,  of  more  than  twenty  years.  It  was 
partly  due  to  his  efforts  that  the  city  library  was 
started  and  the  cataloguing  of  the  books  was 
conducted  under  his  personal  supervision;  he  has 
since  acted  as  a  director  of  the  Library  Associa- 
tion and  was  for  years  clerk  of  the  board.  In 
every  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  his  home  town 
he  has  taken  a  warm  interest.  The  growth  of 
Braidwood  interests  all  of  its  citizens  and  none 
more  so  than  those  who  have  been  identified 
with  its  history  ever  since  its  pioneer  days  as  a 
mining  camp.  To  this  class  Mr.  Dando  belongs. 
A  respected  citizen,  a  stanch  Populist,  and  a 
man  of  firm  convictions  upon  matters  pertaining 
to  our  national  welfare,  he  is  a  fine  represen- 
tative of  our  foreign-born  citizens,  who  are  true 
and  loyal  to  their  adopted  country.  In  1877  he 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Greenback  party  in 
this  county,  but  when  the  People's  party  sprang 
up  he  transferred  his  allegiance  to  it,  for  its 
principles  accurately  represented  his  views.  He 
was  at  one  time  the  Populist  candidate  for  the 
legislature,  but  was  defeated. 

In  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations  Mr. 
Dando  has  been  active.  He  was  among  the 
charter  members  of  the  Lodge  of  Foresters  in 
Braidwood  and  several  times  was  elected  chief 
ranger;  also  served  as  delegate  to  the  subsidiary 
high  court  at  St.  Louis,  Boston  and  Providence, 
R.    I.      He  was  the  first   vice-commander  of  the 


568 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Knights  of  Sherwood  Forest,  which  was  organ- 
ized at  Providence.  As  a  charter  member  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  the 
Sons  of  St.  G5orge  at  Braid  wood,  which  he  served 
as  president  a  number  of  terms.  For  several 
years  he  held  office  as  secretary  of  the  Miners' 
Union.  In  other  labor  organizations  he  has  also 
been  quite  active.  In  1868  he  married  Miss 
Martha  Swansboro,  a  native  of  South  Wales. 
She  died  in  1883,  leaving  five  children,  viz.: 
William  J. ;  Hattie,  wife  of  George  Milner;  Ada, 
Thomas  and  Albert.  The  oldest  and  youngest 
sons  are  both  employed  in  Joliet. 


G|  NTON  SCHAGER  was  born  in  Chicago, 
LA  August  22,  1S58,  a  son  of  Anton  and  Eliza- 
/  I  beth  (Hagemann)  Schager.  He  was  the 
eldest  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  five  beside 
himself  are  now  living.  Rose  M.  resides  with 
her  mother  at  Ravenswood,  Chicago.  Julia  F. , 
who  also  makes  her  home  in  Ravenswood,  is 
the  widow  of  George  L.  Schintz,  who  was  the 
youngest  man  ever  elected  to  the  office  of  district 
attorney  in  Langlade  County,  Wis.,  and  was  also 
prominent  in  the  public  life  of  his  home  town 
(Appleton,  Wis).  Hattie  M.  is  the  wife  of  M. 
S.  Sanders,  who  is  chief  clerk  and  financial  man- 
ager for  Crerar,  Clinch  &  Co.,  with  office  in  the 
Rookery  building,  Chicago,  and  who  previously 
held  the  position  of  chief  clerk  with  the  Illinois 
Steel  Company  in  Joliet.  Lillie  F.  married 
George  E.  Stevens,  a  commercial  salesman  for  the 
McLaughlin  Coffee  Company  of  Chicago;  they 
reside  in  Janesville,  Wis.  Edward  J.,  who  was 
for  some  time  a  collector  for  the  Joliet  National 
Bank,  is  now  with  the  Kirk  Soap  Company  in 
Chicago,  and  resides  with  his  mother. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Austria 
in  1S32,  and  came  to  America  in  1850.  It  was 
customary  for  youths  who  preferred  business  en- 
terprise to  army  service  to  secure  permission  to 
do  a  traveling  mercantile  business,  and  thus,  by 
traveling  from  one  country  to  another,  to  finally 


reach  their  destination  without  the  use  of  a  pass- 
port. In  this  way  he  reached  the  United  States. 
Here  he  resumed  his  work  as  a  traveling  mer- 
chant, and  sold  in  the  states  of  Michigan,  Wis- 
consin, Indiana  and  Illinois,  finally  settling  in 
Chicago.  October  15,  1857,  he  married  Miss 
Hagemann.  Soon  afterward  he  opened  a  dry- 
goods  store  in  partnership  with  his  father-in-law 
on  South  Canal  street,  where  he  remained  until 
the  year  before  the  great  Chicago  fire.  By  pre- 
vious experience  as  a  clerk  with  leading  mercan- 
tile firms  he  had  gained  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  business  and  a  wide  acquaintance  with 
merchants.  In  1870  he  built  a  business  house 
on  the  corner  of  Halsted  and  Forquer  streets, 
and  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  dry-  goods  also 
operated  a  large  knitting  factory.  After  the 
fire  his  was  the  largest  dry-goods  house,  whole- 
sale or  retail,  in  the  city.  The  close  attention 
given  to  his  knitting  factory  interests  under- 
mined his  health  through  the  inhaling  of  dust 
that  constantly  filled  the  knitting  rooms.  A 
change  of  business  was  thus  rendered  necessary. 
He  associated  himself  with  the  Kraker  Stone 
Company  of  Joliet,  and  in  this  way  he  was  in- 
duced to  establish  his  home  here.  He  also  en- 
gaged in  the  dry-goods  business,  though  on  a 
smaller  scale  than  when  in  Chicago.  However, 
his  health  continued  to  fail  and  he  died  in  Janu- 
ary, 1S94.  In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Demo- 
crat. While  in  Chicago  he  was  a  very  prominent 
member  of  St.  Francis'  Catholic  Church  on  West 
Twelfth  street,  in  which  he  served  as  president 
of  various  societies.  For  some  years  he  was  a 
director  of  the  German  Catholic  orphans'  home, 
the  property  of  which  he  assisted  in  purchasing. 
He  was  a  director  of  the  Home  Insurance  Com- 
pany, the  Germania  Bank,  and  the  Teutonia 
Life  Insurance  Company  of  Chicago. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  one  of 
the  ancient  fortresses  near  Koblentz  on  the  Rhine, 
February  2,  1839.  She  was  a  daughter  of  An- 
ton and  Gertrude  Hagemann,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1846  and  settled  in  Chicago,  where  for 
years  Mr.  Hagemann  was  a  mill  watchman.  One 
of  the  sons  of  the  family,  Hubert  A.  Hagemann, 
recently  deceased,  was  treasurer  of  the  seventh 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


569 


ward  Democratic  club,  and  a  leading  Democrat 
of  that  part  of  Chicago.  Another  son,  Joseph 
A.  Hagemann,  volunteered  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  served  under  Hecker,  Siegel  and  Rosecrans. 
At  Gettysburg  he  was  wounded  and  taken  pris- 
oner, but  afterward  exchanged.  He  now  lives  at 
Hanceville,  Ala.,  on  a  farm,  but  has  never  re- 
covered from  the  effects  of  his  wounds,  and  is  in 
very  poor  health.  Mrs.  Schager  survives  her 
husband  and  now  makes  her  home  in  Ravens- 
wood. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject  was  ob- 
tained in  St.  Francis  German  Catholic  school. 
At  the  age  of  twelve  he  entered  St.  Ignatius 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1876.  One 
of  his  classmates  and  particular  friends  was  the 
well-known  Judge  Prendergast,  now  deceased. 
After  his  graduation  he  devoted  his  time  to  his 
father's  business  until  18S7,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed store  keeper  of  the  Illinois  state  peni- 
tentiary at  Joliet,  taking  charge  of  the  office 
January  1,  1888.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
he  was  Democratic  in  politics,  and  was  the  only 
representative  of  that  party  holding  office  in  this 
institution,  he  retained  the  position  for  three 
years  and  seven  months.  Shortly  before  he  re- 
signed he  was  married,  October  22,  1890,  to 
Miss  Celia  M.  Stanton,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Stanton,  a  well-known  business  man  of  Joliet. 
They  have  three  clnldren,  Leo  A.,  Anton  J.  and 
Cecilia  M.  Mrs.  Schager  has  been  prominent  in 
musical  societies.  She  is  leading  soprano  and 
assistant  organist  in  St.  Mary's  Church,  and  at 
one  time  was  organist  in  the  old  church.  She 
was  the  first  organist  at  Sacred  Heart  Church  of 
Joliet,  and  filled  the  position  for  six  years,  Mr. 
Schager,  our  subject,  being  director  of  her  choir 
the  greater  part  of  the  time. 

In  1891  Mr.  Schager  embarked  in  the  insurance 
business.  He  also  gave  considerable  attention 
to  expert  accounting,  in  which  he  gained  a  repu- 
tation. May  19,  1894,  he  was  appointed  assistant 
postmaster,  which  position  he  held  until  Septem- 
ber, 1898,  and  then  resumed  his  insurance  busi- 
ness, being  general  agent  for  the  Fidelity  Mutual 
Life  Insurance  Company  of  Philadelphia,  and  the 
health    department   of  the    Security   Trust  and 


Life  Insurance  Company  of  the  same  city.  He 
also  settled  up  the  affairs  of  the  Rauft  soda  fac- 
tory and  bottling  works  after  the  death  of  the 
proprietor,  putting  the  business  in  a  profitable 
condition. 

When  twelve  years  of  age  Mr.  Schager  became 
a  member  of  St.  Aloysius  Young  Men's  Society 
of  St.  Francis  Church,  Chicago.  Later  he  was 
secretary  of  the  Acolythical  Society  of  the  Holy 
Family  Church,  better  known  as  the  Jesuit 
Church.  At  college  he  was  secretary  of  the 
Chrysostomian  debating  society  and  college  ath- 
letic club,  also  assistant  prefect  of  the  college 
sodality.  He  was  a  charter  member  and  one  of 
the  first  trustees  of  St.  Stanislaus  Young  Men's 
Benevolent  Society,  organized  in  St.  Francis' 
parish  in  1873,  and  which  is  now  the  largest,  old- 
est and  most  influential  young  men's  benevolent 
society  in  the  United  States.  During  eight  of  the 
twelve  years  he  was  connected  with  this  organi- 
zation he  served  as  its  president,  and  for  a  short 
time  also  held  the  secretary's  office.  He  was 
for  five  years  director  of  the  dramatic  section  in 
connection  with  the  association,  and  was  for  fif- 
teen years  a  prominent  member  of  the  Catholic 
Casino  of  Chicago,  through  which  he  obtained 
his  well-earned  reputation  as  one  of  the  best  and 
most  prominent  tenors  of  Chicago.  He  made 
his  debut  as  choir  director  at  the  church  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  in  Chicago,  having  been  appointed 
to  that  position  by  the  great  Jesuit  missioner, 
Father  Damen,  and  his  worthy  successor,  Rev. 
Bronsgeest,  S.  J.  On  his  removal  to  Joliet  in 
1885  he  resigned  the  presidency  of  the  society. 

When  he  came  to  Joliet  Mr.  Schager  joined  the 
Joliet  Saengerbund  and  the  St.  Alois  branch  of 
the  Western  Catholic  Union.  A  year  later  he  was 
elected  vice-president  of  the  Saengerbund,  and 
in  December,  1889,  was  made  president,  which 
office  he  held  until  September,  1892.  He  is  now 
secretary,  and  for  three  years  has  been  the  musi- 
cal director  of  the  society.  At  a  local  gathering 
of  singing  associations  in  Lincoln,  111.,  in  1890, 
he  offered  a  resolution  that  a  state  society  be 
formed.  It  was  acted  upon,  and  the  Central  Illi- 
nois Saengerbund  sprang  into  existence,  with 
him  as  its  president.     He  continued  to  hold  the 


57° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


office  during  the  existence  of  the  society,  but 
was  obliged  by  official  duties  to  withdraw  from 
active  management  when  he  entered  the  post- 
office,  to  the  detriment  of  the  society,  its  mem- 
bers refusing  to  elect  another  man  to  the  presi- 
dency. He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Or- 
pheus Glee  Club,  organized  July  i,  1886,  by  our 
subject,  Charles  H.  Talcott,  Gallus  Mueller, 
William  Dingley,  Joseph  B.  Hudson,  Edward 
Demond,  W.  J.  Carter  and  Louis  H.  Hyde.  A 
permanent  organization  was  effected  six  days 
later,  with  the  additional  names  of  John  B.  Rich- 
mond, George  F.  Knapp,  Dr.  O.  H.  Staehle  and 
R.  \V.  Grinton.  From  1SS7  to  1890  Mr.  Scha- 
ger  was  secretary  of  the  club.  In  1897  the 
Joliet  Glee  Club  was  organized,  which  later  was 
consolidated  with  the  Joliet  Banjo  Club,  and  is 
now  known  as  the  Joliet  Glee  and  Banjo  Club. 
At  the  organization  he  was  made  director,  a  po- 
sition he  has  since  held.  For  one  year  he  was 
musical  director  of  St.  Patrick's  Church  choir. 
In  August,  1898,  he  accepted  the  charge  of  St. 
Mary's  Church  choir.  November  21,  1899,  he 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Steel  Works  Choral 
Society,  at  the  request  of  the  superintendent,  F. 
M.  Savage,  and  was  made  its  director.  For  ten 
sucee  sive  years  he  has  been  a  Joliet  representa- 
tive in  the  conventions  of  the  Western  Catholic 
Onion.  In  1S93  he  was  elected  supreme  vice- 
president  at  Mount  Sterling,  111.,  and  the  next 
yeir  was  re-elected  at  Aurora,  also  at  Springfield 
in  1895.  In  1896,  at  Quincy,  111.,  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  acclamation  for  a  fourth  term  in  the 
same  office,  but  declined  in  favor  of  Joseph  Braun, 
Jr.,  of  Joliet.  At  the  Aurora  convention  in  1894 
he  proposed  the  reserve  fund  plan,  submitted  by 
the  Joliet  delegation,  which  has  since  proved  the 
strongest  feature  of  the  lie stem  Catholic  Union. 
For  three  years  he  was  president  of  St.  Alois  So- 
ciety, and  immediately  afterwards  was  made 
chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  said  society, 
an  office  which  he  has  since  held.  As  a  mu- 
sical director  it  is  the  testimony  of  the  men  in 
Joliet  who  are  most  familiar  with  his  work  that 
he  has  few  equals.  He  throws  his  whole  soul 
into  his  work,  and  has  the  faculty  of  arousing 
the  enthusiasm  of  those  whom  he  leads,  while  at 


the  same  time  he  develops  to  the  fullest  extent 
their  native  powers  of  song.  He  tolerates  no 
half-hearted  efforts,  but  is  satisfied  only  with  the 
best,  either  in  himself  or  in  others;  and  it  is  this 
very  quality  of  his, — the  demanding  of  the  high- 
est and  best  from  every  one — that  has  made  him 
so  prominent  and  successful  a  figure  in  the  musi- 
cal and  social  circles  of  northeastern  and  central 
Illinois.  In  politics  he  is  a  quiet,  conservative 
Democrat,  and  always  in  favor  of  the  best  obtain- 
able form  of  government,  being  a  firm  believer  in 
the  almost  vanished  maxim  that  the  office  shall 
seek  the  man,  rather  than  the  contrar}'. 


3 ESSE  BARRETT  BROWN,  alderman  from 
the  seventh  ward  of  Joliet,  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Brown  &  Bell,  boiler- makers,  at 
No.  107  Ottawa  street.  In  its  special  line  the 
firm  is  one  of  the  best-known  in  this  section  of 
the  state.  Among  the  boilers  for  which  it  has 
held  contracts  are  those  made  for  the  Joliet 
Manufacturing  and  Joliet  Limestone  Companies. 
Western  Stone  Company,  American  Steel  and 
Wire  Company,  Baker,  Eriksson,  Globe,  Porter, 
Pioneer  and  Rowell  Brothers  Stone  Companies; 
Selz,  Schwab  &  Co.,  at  the  state  penitentiary: 
Union  Steam  Laundry  and  C.  Hacker  Company; 
besides  which,  the  firm  has  received  contracts  for 
boilers  at  Coal  City,  Braidwood,  Nevada,  Chi- 
cago Heights,  Wilmington,  Lockport,  and  many 
other  Illinois  towns,  as  well  as  some  in  Indiana 
and  other  states. 

The  family  of  which  Mr.  Brown  is  a  member 
was  earl}-  represented  in  New  England.  His 
great-grandfather,  a  native  of  Vermont,  removed 
to  Ontario,  where  the  grandfather  engaged  in 
farming.  The  father,  Calvin,  was  born  in  On- 
tario and  there  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  but 
after  his  marriage,  in  1852.  he  and  his  wife's 
relatives  moved  to  Illinois,  settling  near  Elwood, 
in  Jackson  Township,  this  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  sawmilling.  Returning  to  Canada  he 
soon  became  homesick  for  Illinois  and   in  a  year 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


571 


came  back  to  Will  County.  He  settled  in  Joliet, 
where  he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  until  his 
death  in  1S93.  His  wife,  Nancy  Ann  Barrett, 
was  born  in  Ontario  and  lives  in  Joliet.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter, 
the  latter  deceased.  One  son,  William  R.,  re- 
sides at  Marley,  this  county,  and  another,  Frank- 
lin K.,  is  a  carpenter  for  Humphrey  &  Sons,  of 
Joliet.  Mrs.  Brown  was  a  daughter  of  Jesse 
Barrett,  a  native  of  Ontario,  who  settled  in  Jack- 
son Township  in  1852  and  from  here  removed  to 
Howard  County,  Iowa.  He  worked  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  there  until  he  was  accidentally 
killed  by  the  running  away  of  a  team.  His  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  old  Canadian  family  of 
Boyce,  that  traced  its  ancestry  to   Great  Britain. 

Born  in  this  county,  May  31,  1854,  Mr.  Brown 
was  an  infant  of  six  months  when  his  parents  re- 
turned to  Canada,  but  one  year  later  they  came 
back  to  Illinois  and  he  was  reared  in  Joliet,  al- 
though he  has  made  frequent  visits  to  Canada. 
He  learned  the  brickmaker's  trade  at  the  Joliet 
Mound,  where  he  was  employed  for  six  years. 
In  187S  he  entered  the  boiler  department  of  what 
is  now  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  and  under 
James  G.  Heggie  learned  boiler  making,  con- 
tinuing with  the  company  for  ten  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  resigned  in  order  to 
embark  in  business  for  himself,  organizing  the 
firm  of  Brown  &  Heggie,  which  for  two  years 
carried  on  business  at  the  old  Murphy  boiler 
works  on  Michigan  street.  From  there  they 
removed  to  a  new  shop  on  North  Joliet  street, 
where  they  continued  for  two  years.  Mr.  Brown 
then  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and  organ- 
ized the  present  firm  of  Brown  «S:  Bell,  starting  in 
business  at  the  location  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Brown  was  Bertha  E. 
Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Schleswig-Holstein 
and  died  in  Joliet,  leaving  three  children :  Charles, 
who  is  a  boiler-maker  with  the  Elgin,  Joliet  & 
Eastern  Railroad;  Jennie,  who  clerks  for  the 
Joliet  Novelty  Company;  and  Miles.  The  pres- 
ent wife  of  Mr.  Brown  was  Sarah  Kirkham,  a 
native  of  England,  and  a  daughter  of  Harry 
Kirkham,  who  was  formerly   head   foundryman 


for  the  Illinois  Steel  Company.  The  family  are 
identified  with  the  Richards  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

In  politics  Mr.  Brown  favors  Republican  prin-' 
ciples.  In  the  spring  of  1S99,  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket,  he  was  elected  alderman  by  the  high- 
est majority  ever  received  in  the  seventh  ward. 
As  councilman  he  has  been  active  in  measures 
for  the  benefit  of  the  city,  and  has  served  ef- 
ficiently as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  streets 
and  alleys  of  the  east  side  and  as  a  member  of 
the  fire  committee. 


HOMAS  STEVENSON.  While  his  posi- 
tion as  chief  grain  inspector  for  the  Joliet 
district  has  given  Mr.  Stevenson  a  promi- 
nent position  in  Joliet,  he  is  perhaps  even  better 
known  through  his  connection  with  fraternal 
organizations,  and  his  name  is  inseparably  associa- 
ted with  certain  well-known  orders.  He  is  a 
native  of  Scotland,  born  in  Glasgow,  March  7, 
1S57.  The  number  7, which  occurs  both  in  thedav 
and  the  year  of  his  birth,  has  been  the  mystic  num- 
ber in  many  of  the  important  events  of  his  life. 
His  given  name  was  also  borne  by  his  ancestors 
for  several  generations  back.  His  father,  who  was 
a  contractor,  for  years  belonged  to  the  Forty-sec- 
ond Highlanders,  with  which  he  served  through 
the  entire  period  of  the  Crimean  war  and  also  dur- 
ing the  Sepoy  rebellion  in  India.  He  married  Isa- 
belle  Barr,  whose  father,  Allen  Barr,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Scots  Grays  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Waterloo.  Mr.  Stevenson  died  in  1867,  at  the 
age  of  forty  five  years,  and  afterward  his  widow 
brought  the  children  to  America,  arriving  in  this 
country  in  September,  1869.  She  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1S97,  when  seventy-one  years  of  age.  Of 
her  family  one  daughter  died  in  infancy  and  John 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-one  years;  Isabella,  Mrs. 
Cherry,  lives  in  Grundy  County,  111.;  and  Allen 
resides  in  Kansas. 

It  may  be  said  truthfully  of  Mr.  Stevenson 
that  he  is  a  self-made  man.  He  has  supported 
himself  since  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  the 
education  he  acquired  was  gained  solely  through 


5/2 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  own  efforts.  He  is  very  fond  of  reading,  and 
this  has  greatly  aided  him  in  the  acquisition  of 
knowledge.  From  time  to  time  he  has  purchased 
books  of  value  bearing  upon  general  topics  of 
interest,  and  he  now  has  a  good  library,  which  is 
a  source  of  much  satisfaction  to  him.  Upon  com- 
ing to  this  county  he  was  engaged  in  the  Braid- 
wood  coal  mines.  He  continued  there  until  after 
his  marriage,  when  he  opened  a  book  and  sta- 
tionery store  in  that  town.  On  being  appointed 
first  deputy  sheriff,  in  1SS7,  he  removed  to  Joliet, 
and  has  since  made  this  city  his  home.  While 
living  in  Braidwood  he  was  nominated  for  town 
clerk  without  his  knowledge  or  seeking,  he  hav- 
ing never,  up  to  that  time,  attended  a  political 
meeting.  He  was  elected  and  filled  the  office  for 
three  years.  For  two  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  education  and  for  three  years  served 
as  assessor  of  Reed  Township.  After  coining  to 
Joliet  he  was  in  the  sheriff's  office  for  four  years. 
He  was  appointed  to  his  present  office  of  state 
grain  inspector  April  7,  1S97,  and  was  re-ap- 
pointed two  years  later. 

As  above  intimated,  Mr.  Stevenson  is  deeply 
interested  in  fraternal  organizations.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  since 
July  3,  187S,  and  on  that  night  was  elected 
keeper  of  records  and  seals.  At  that  time  there 
were  but  about  two  thousand  members  in  the 
state.  During  his  connection  with  the  order  it 
has  increased  from  that  small  number  to  its  pres- 
ent membership  of  about  forty-five  thousand. 
Since  1880  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  grand 
lodge,  in  which  he  has  filled  the  more  important 
offices.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  general 
traveling  organizer  in  several  states.  In  1S79  he 
joined  the  local  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a 
member  of  Stevenson  Camp  No.  2892,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  which  was  named  in  his 
honor.  For  some  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  head  camp,  and  attended  the  meeting  of  the 
same  in  Dubuque  in  June,  1897.  At  that  time 
he  was  promoted  from  a  membership  to  the  chair- 
manship of  the  committee  on  offices  and  salaries, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  committee  on  griev- 
ances. In  Masonry  he  is  connected  with  Mount 
Joliet  Lodge  No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Joliet  Chap 


ter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Joliet  Council  No.  82, 
R.  &  S.  M.  In  1899  he  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  the  originator  of  the  new  order  for  fra- 
ternal insurance,  the  Order  of  the  White  Cross. 
The  plan  is  a  progressive  one  in  fraternal  insur- 
ance, providing  a  reserve  fund,  and  making  it 
much  more  reliable  in  the  end  than  the  generality 
of  mutual  insurance  projects.  With  the  assistance 
of  Coll  McNaughton  and  John  Garnsey  he  pre- 
pared the  charter  and  ritual  of  the  order,  in  which 
he  now  holds  the  office  of  Supreme  Recorder. 
From  early  manhood  he  has  been  an  adherent  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  been  a  delegate 
to  county  and  state  conventions. 

Mr.  Stevenson  erected  the  house  which  he  occu- 
pies, at  No.  116  Linden  avenue.  March  27, 
1880,  he  married  Emma  Oliver,  who  was  born 
near  Mineral  Point,  Wis.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren: Thomas  B.,  Emma  L.,  Evan  Charles, 
Evelvn  and  May. 


E  OSCAR  SVENSON,  who  is  one  of  the 
well-known  Swedish-American  citizens  of 
,  Joliet,  came  to  the  United  States  in 
May,  1887,  and  at  once  settled  in  the  city  where 
he  still  resides.  For  a  year  he  was  employed  at 
carpentering,  after  which  he  was  a  wood  turner 
for  F.  W.  Plant,  with  whom  he  continued  until 
December,  1S94.  He  then  accepted  an  appoint- 
ment as  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk,  un- 
der W.  F.  Hutchinson,  and  this  position  he  has 
since  filled  satisfactorily,  having  for  his  principal 
duties  the  recording  and  keeping  of  accounts  for 
the  county  supervisors.  In  1891  he  built  a  house 
at  No.  1001  South  Desplaines  street  and  in  1S99 
erected  a  residence  on  the  adjoining  lot,  both  of 
which  properties  he  still  owns. 

Carl  Johan  Alfred  Svenson,  our  subject's 
father,  was  a  wood  turner  by  trade,  but  after 
some  years  at  the  occupation  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  merchandising,  and  this  business  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  death  at  Oskarshamn,  Smaland, 
Sweden,  when  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  He  mar- 
ried Christine  Danielsou,  whose  father  owned  the 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


573 


farm,  "Grimholt,"  in  Fliserudsaken,  and  whose 
death  occurred  at  seventy-three  years.  Both 
were  strict  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
They  had  two  children:  Carl  Oscar  and  Emily 
Olivia,  the  latter  still  living  in  Sweden.  Samuel 
Svenson,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  an 
architect  and  builder  and  superintended  the  erec- 
tion of  many  of  the  principal  buildings  in  his  lo- 
cality. 

In  Oskarshamn,  Sweden,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  April  3,  1857,  and  there  he  re- 
ceived a  grammar  and  high-school  education. 
Upon  the  completion  of  his  studies  he  learned 
the  trade  of  block  making  and  turning  under  his 
father,  for  whom  he  afterward  clerked  in  the 
store  for  four  years.  His  next  work  was  with  a 
bus  and  stage  line.  He  was  successful  in  his  en- 
terprises and  accumulated  a  neat  property.  He 
built  a  handsome  residence  in  Oskarshamn,  which 
he  and  his  sister  still  own.  About  the  same  time 
he  erected  the  King  Oscar  hotel,  which  is  the 
leading  hotel  in  Oskarshamn,  and  this  he  first 
rented,  but  later  sold.  While  his  interests  are 
now  mostly  in  America,  he  has  never  ceased  to 
hold  his  native  land  in  fond  recollection,  and  often, 
in  thought  and  in  conversation  with  his  country- 
men, recurs  to  incidents  of  his  youth  in  his  home 
beyond  the  seas.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Republican  Club  and  the  Swedish  Free  Congre- 
gational Church,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  has 
served  as  trustee. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Svenson  took  place  in 
Joliet  December  1,  1888,  and  united  him  with 
Mrs.  Ida  Charlotte  (Jacobson)  Hedlund,  who  was 
born  in  Skaraborglaen,  Westerjutland,  Sweden, 
and  was  one  of  six  children,  three  still  living: 
August  V.,  of  Joliet;  Ludvig,  of  South  Center, 
Kans. ;  and  Mrs.  Ida  Svenson.  Their  father, 
Anders  Jacobson,  owned  the  farm,  "Valby." 
During  the  Civil  war  he  came  to  America  and 
enlisted  in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  which  saw 
much  active  service  at  the  front.  After  his 
enlistment  nothing  was  ever  heard  of  him,  but 
without  doubt  he  fell  in  one  of  the  early  battles 
of  the  war.  His  wife,  who  is  now  living  in  Joliet, 
was  Britta  Marie,  daughter  of  Andres  Anderson, 
a  farmer  who  owned  "Oja."   In  1884  Mrs.  Sven- 


son came  to  America,  settling  in  Joliet,  where 
her  first  husband,  Carl  Hedlund,  died,  leaving 
two  children,  Aaron  and  Arthur  Hedlund.  By 
her  second  marriage  four  children  have  been  born, 
viz.:  C.  Oscar,  Jr.,  Emily  Olivia,  Knut  Ahlvin 
and  Esther  Victoria. 


HENRY  LESER,  brewmaster  and  superinten- 
dent of  E.  Porter  Brewing  Co.  's  Eagle  brew- 
ery in  Joliet,  was  born  in  Lahr,  Baden,  Ger- 
many, February  28,  1854,  a  son  of  Jacob  L.  and 
Charlotte  (Zuker)  Leser,  and  grandson  of  John 
Leser  (a  manufacturer  of  fire  hose)  and  Christian 
Zuker  (a  gardener).  He  was  one  of  two  sons 
and  two  daughters  comprising  the  family,  his 
brother  being  Jacob  Leser,  a  lithographer  in  Chi- 
cago. His  education  was  received  in  the  gym- 
nasium in  his  native  town.  When  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  entered  the  army  and  served  in  the  ar- 
tillery as  corporal  for  three  years.  After  re- 
ceiving an  honorable  discharge  he  learned  the 
brewer's  trade  at  OfFenburg,  Baden,  and  later 
traveled  as  a  journeyman  in  Switzerland  as  well 
as  in  Baden  and  Wurtemberg.  For  some  years  he 
was  employed  as  brewmaster  with  a  large  brewing 
firm  in  Baden. 

Coming  to  America  in  1885,  Mr.  Leser  worked 
at  his  trade  in  New  York,  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis, 
Sedalia  and  Kansas  City,  being  brewmaster  in 
Hines'  brewery  in  the  last-named  city.  In 
March,  18S8,  he  came  to  Joliet  as  a  brewmaster 
of  the  Eagle  brewery,  which  position  he  has 
since  filled  with  great  success.  At  the  time  he 
accepted  the  position  the  company  sold  only 
about  eight  thousand  barrels,  but  their  sales  now 
reach  more  than  thirty-two  thousand  barrels  a 
year,  this  large  increase  being  almost  wholly  due 
to  his  energetic  management.  At  the  time  of 
the  incorporation  of  the  E.  Porter  Brewing  Co., 
in  1893,  he  became  a  stockholder,  and  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  brewery,  which  now  ranks 
as  among  the  largest  in  the  state.  The  products 
manufactured  include  a  good  quality  of  Winer, 


574 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lager,  ale  and  porter.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Brewmasters'  Verein  of  the  United  States,  also 
belongs  to  the  Saengerbund  and  the  Sharp- 
shooters Association  of  Joliet.  Politically  he  is 
a  Democrat. 

While  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mr.  Leser  married 
Miss  Maria  Schleret,  who  was  born  in  Wurtz- 
burg,  Bavaria,  Germans-,  and  by  whom  he  has 
four  children,  Henry,  William,  Lottie  and  Bertha. 


gEORGE  A.  BUCK.  After  years  of  industrious 
application  to  agricultural  pursuits,  Mr.  Buck 
retired  from  his  farm  and  established  his  home 
in  Joliet,  where  he  has  resided  since  1883.  When 
he  came  to  this  county,  in  June,  1857,  ne  bought 
a  tract  of  unimproved  land  in  section  17,  Man- 
hattan Township.  Building  a  home,  he  began 
the  task  of  clearing  and  cultivating  his  property. 
He  became  the  owner  of  many  hundred  acres, 
and  at  one  time  fenced  and  controlled  more  than 
three  thousand  acres,  of  which  he  personally 
owned  over  eighteen  hundred  acres.  At  first  he 
made  a  specialty  of  wheat,  but  later  turned  his 
attention  to  corn,  and  often  raised  large  crops  of 
this  product.  For  years  he  was  extensively  en- 
gaged in  raising  sheep  and  cattle,  and  on  his 
place  he  had  a  number  of  high-grade  Durhams. 
The  improvements  on  his  homestead  were  first- 
class,  and  included  a  splendid  residence  erected  at 
a  cost  of  $7,000,  which  has  since  been  destroyed 
by  fire.  In  1880  the  Wabash  Railroad  was  built 
through  his  farm,  and  cut  off  forty  acres  of  the 
same.  A  portion  of  the  village  of  Manhattan 
lies  on  the  property  he  once  owned.  He  sold  his 
farm  in  1890. 

Mr.  Buck  was  born  in  Lanesborough,  Berk- 
shire County,  Mass.,  September  10,  1829,  a  son 
of  Hon.  Asahel  and  Sophia  (Mason)  Buck,  na- 
tives of  Cheshire,  Mass.  The  family  of  which  he 
was  a  member  comprised  four  daughters  and  two 
sons,  namely:  Achsah  G.  and  Sarah  H.,  who 
died  at  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  twenty  two  years; 
George  A.;  Mrs.  Harriet  Linn,  of  Joliet;  Truman 


T.,  of  Omaha;  and  Laura  M.,  Mrs.  Cole,  who 
died  in  Poultuey,  Vt.,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine. 
The  father  was  a  son  of  Asahel  Buck,  Sr. ,  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812  and  a  farmer  in  Massa- 
chusetts. Hon.  Asahel  Buck  was  a  man  of  local 
prominence  and  active  in  the  Democratic  party. 
Both  in  the  house  of  representatives  and  the  sen- 
ate of  Massachusetts  he  rendered  efficient  service 
to  his  fellow-citizens,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
constitutional  convention  of  that  state.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  Baptist.  He  died  in  Poultney, 
Yt.,  August  19,  1 S80,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Silas 
Mason,  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  Berkshire 
County,  died  in  Poultney,  Vt.,  April  30,  1891,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 

Until  twenty-three  years  of  age  our  subject 
remained  in  his  native  town,  and  afterward  for  a 
time  clerked  in  Cheshire.  Iii  October,  1856,  he 
settled  in  Waukegan,  111.,  where  he  clerked  a  few 
months,  coming  from  there  to  Will  County  the 
following  year  and  buying  section  17,  near  Man- 
hattan village.  In  the  years  that  followed  he  be- 
came recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
and  enterprising  farmers  of  the  county.  He 
held  a  number  of  public  offices,  including  those 
of  township  clerk,  township  treasurer  and  town- 
ship supervisor,  holding  the  last-named  office  for  . 
six  years.  During  almost  the  entire  period  of 
his  residence  in  the  township  he  served  as  school 
director.      Politically  he  is  a  gold  Democrat. 

Prior  to  his  removal  from  Massachusetts  Mr. 
Buck  married  Miss  Helen  Wolcott,  who  was  born 
in  Cheshire,  Mass.,  and  died  in  Waukegan,  111., 
April  1 6,  1857.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Russell 
B.  Wolcott,  member  of  an  old  family  of  Cheshire 
and  by  occupation  a  farmer.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Buck  took  place  in  Joliet  March  22, 
1859,  and  united  him  with  Miss  Sarah  H.  Baker, 
who  was  born  in  Hoosick,  Rensselaer  County, 
N.  Y.,  October  20,  1836.  She  was  one  of  eight 
children,  the  others  being  Julia  E.,  of  Evauston; 
Norman  J.,  who  died  in  California;  Mrs.  Mary  S. 
Barnes,  of  Joliet;  Gibson  S.,  who  died  at  two 
months;  Clark  M.,  who  resides  in  Manhattan; 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Fisk,  of  Evauston;  and  Gideon, 
who  is  in  Kansas. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


575 


The  father  of  Mrs.  Buck,  Jirah  E.  Baker,  a  na- 
tive of  Hoosick,  was  a  son  of  Jirah,  Sr. ,  who  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island  and  spent  his  last  years  on 
a  farm  near  Hoosick.  His  father,  Benjamin,  a 
native  of  England,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  died  before  its  close,  of  disease 
contracted  in  the  army.  With  him  in  the  service 
were  his  two  oldest  sons.  Jirah  E.  Baker  re- 
moved west  in  1856,  joining  his  brother,  Clark, 
who  had  settled  in  Manhattan,  111.,  in  1848. 
Soon  afterward  he  removed  to  Arkansas  and  died 
there.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Buck  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Almira  Gifford  and  was  born  near  Hoo- 
sick, N.  Y.,  her  father,  Gideon  Gifford,  having 
removed  there  from  Connecticut.  She  died  in 
Chicago  at  an  advanced  age. 

Of  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs  Buck  we  note  the 
following:  Helen  C.  is  the  wife  of  John  Cockle,  of 
York  County,  Neb.;  Josephine,  who  was  born 
May  8,  1861,  died  at  five  years;  Sophia  M.  was 
born  November  2S,  1862,  and  died  in  October, 
1865;  Laura  C,  Mrs.  Tenny,  lives  in  Milwaukee, 
Wis.;  George  A.,  Jr.,  was  born  June  22,  1867, 
and  died  June  3,  1870;  Werden  is  engaged  in  the 
grocen'  business  in  Joliet;  Jennie  T.  is  the  wife  of 
Arthur  Baldwin,  of  Joliet;  Kate  F.  married  Prof. 
O.  L.  Manchester,  of  Normal,  111.,  and  died  April 
11,  1892,  when  less  than  twenty  years  of  age; 
Paul  Revere  was  born  November  12,  1875,  and 
died  March  22,  1877;  Fred  A.  was  born  May  7, 
1877,  a,1d  died  December  16,  1889;  and  Lucy 
Mason,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1882. 


(lAMES  E.  NEWKIRK.  The  genealogy  of 
I  the  Newkirk  family  is  traced  to  a  very  early 
Q)  period  in  the  settlement  of  Virginia,  and  its 
representatives  were  associated  with  many  events 
of  importance  in  colonial  history,  holding  a  high 
position  among  the  F.  F.  V.  s  and  contributing  to 
the  prosperity  which  the  Old  Dominion  long  en- 
joyed. The  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  Jacob  Newkirk,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, born  about  the  year  175S.      He  served 


during  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  an  early  day 
he  moved  to  Kentucky,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Jef- 
ferson County.  There  he  died,  of  pneumonia, 
February  16,  1815.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Margaret  Stumpf,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1760  and  died  in  Jefferson 
County,  Ky.,  in  1853. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Jacob  New- 
kirk, Jr.,  was  born  in  Little  York,  Pa.,  in  1787, 
and  became  a  successful  farmer  of  Jefferson 
County,  Ky.  When  the  second  war  with  Eng- 
land was  declared  he  received  a  commission  as 
colonel  in  the  American  army  and  served  with 
distinction,  assisting  in  securing  the  freedom  of 
the  sea  for  our  country.  After  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  his  plantation  nine  miles  south  of 
Louisville,  and  there  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  death,  February  14,  1878.  He  was  one  of  a 
family  of  eight,  the  others  being  Elias,  Samuel, 
Elizabeth,  Daniel,  Annie,  Margaret  and  Cath- 
erine. His  marriage  united  him  with  Miss  Mary 
W.  Young,  of  Jefferson  County. 

Richard  Newkirk,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  on  the  Kentucky  homestead  and  spent 
his  boyhood  there.  Before  he  had  attained  his 
majority  he  started  out  for  himself,  going  to  Chi- 
cago in  1833  and  remaining  there,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  short  sojourn  in  Indianapolis,  for 
some  years.  In  company  with  Stephen  Clevley 
he  came  to  Lockport  and  located  on  a  farm  in  the 
Yankee  settlement  (now  Homer  Township),  but 
after  a  time  went  to  M.  H.  Detnmond's  farm  in 
Joliet  Township.  Next  he  assisted  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  canal  and  later  bought  a  farm 
adjoining  Joliet.  In  1870  he  settled  in  Houston, 
Tex.,  and  from  there  moved  to  Columbus,  Col- 
orado County,  the  same  state,  where  he  carried 
on  a  meat  business  for  seventeen  years.  Return- 
ing to  Joliet,  he  spent  a  short  time  with  his  son, 
James  E. ,  but  finally,  in  1897,  went  back  to  the 
Kentucky  homestead  where  he  was  born.  There 
he  died  in  March,  1899,  when  seventy-nine  years 
of  age. 

The  wife  of  Richard  Newkirk  was  Charlotte 
Nokes,  a  native  of  Essex,  England,  whence  she 
came  to  America  with  her  father,  Thomas  Nokes, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lockport.     With  Mr. 


576 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Newkirk,  Mr.  Nokes  hauled  material  from  Chi- 
cago to  Morris,  Ottawa,  LaSalle  and  Marseilles 
before  the  canal  was  operated,  using  ox-teams  for 
that  purpose.  In  later  years,  while  engaged  in 
threshing,  his  arm  was  accidentally  taken  off  and 
blood-poisoning  set  in,  which  proved  fatal.  Mrs. 
Newkirk  died  at  Joliet  Township  in  1S79.  Of 
her  ten  children  all  but  one  attained  mature  years 
and  seven  are  living.  The  sons  and  daughters 
were  named  as  follows:  Henry,  who  died  in  Jo- 
liet in  1897;  Jacob,  who  was  accidentally  killed 
at  nine  years  of  age;  Fred,  who  was  twenty- 
eight  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  Joliet;  Frank  E., 
whose  sketch  is  presented  in  this  work;  James  E. ; 
Angeline,  wife  of  Richard  Greenwood;  and  Mrs. 
Louisa  Hibner,  both  of  Joliet  Township;  Mrs. 
Estella  Cole,  of  Storm  Lake,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Sarah 
A.  Donaldson  and  Mrs.  Mary  Engleman,  both  of 
Joliet  Township. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Joliet  Township  the  birth 
of  our  subject  occurred  September  7,  1S61.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  public  schools.  When 
seventeen  years  of  age  he  secured  work  as  a  team- 
ster with  the  Joliet  Stone  Company.  A  year  later 
he  was  made  foreman,  which  position  he  held  for 
some  time,  and  later  for  nine  years  he  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Joliet  &  Chicago  Stone  Company. 
Meantime,  in  partnership  with  H.  T.  Keltie,  he 
started  the  Keltie  Stone  Company  in  1890,  and 
in  1892,  resigning  his  other  position,  he  became 
superintendent  of  this  company,  which  opened 
the  quarries  between  Jackson  and  Cass  streets, 
on  the  Elgin,  Joliet  &  Eastern  Railroad.  In  1898 
they  opened  a  quarry  on  the  same  road  at  Bridge 
Junction,  in  Lockport  Township.  Besides  the 
management  of  the  quarries  he  has  had  consid- 
erable work  as  a  general  contractor.  He  owns 
the  old  homestead  of  ten  and  one-half  acres,  be- 
sides ninety-two  acres  adjoining  Joliet.  He  re- 
sided there  until  1897,  when  he  bought  property 
on  Poplar  street. 

A  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Newkirk  has 
been  an  efficient  worker  on  the  county  central 
committee.  In  the  spring  of  1893  he  was  elected 
highway  commissioner  of  Joliet  Township  and 
served  until  1899,  a  period  of  two  terms.  Mat- 
ters affecting  the  welfare  of  the  people  receive  his 


thoughtful  attention,  and  he  is  classed  among  the 
public-spirited  men  who  wish  in  every  way  pos- 
sible to  advance  the  city's  prosperity.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  Mount  Joliet  Lodge 
No.  42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Joliet  Chapter  No.  27, 
R.  A.  M.;  and  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T. 
He  was  married  in  Joliet,  to  Miss  Mary  Engle- 
raami,  who  was  born  in  Switzerland  and  came  to 
this  county  with  her  father,  Jacob  Englemann. 
The  four  children  born  of  their  union  are  George, 
Ralph,  Florence  and  Freda.  Mrs.  Newkirk  was 
reared  from  childhood  in  the  Lutheran  faith  and 
is  a  member  of  that  denomination,  while  Mr. 
Newkirk  inclines  toward  the  doctrines  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


3 AMES  C.  BEATTIE,  who  is  a  leading  busi- 
ness man  of  El  wood,  was  born  in  Winfield, 
111.,  April  9,  1856,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Mar- 
garet (Mcllrath)  Beattie,  natives  of  County  An- 
trim, Ireland.  He  was  one  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  two  besides  himself  are  now  living,  viz.: 
Jennie,  who  married  Z.  T.  Blaine,  of  Kansas; 
and  Robert,  a  carpenter  in  Joliet.  His  father, 
who  was  born  in  18 15,  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
home  farm  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  em- 
ployed as  deliveryman  for  a  bakery,  in  addition 
to  his  work  as  a  farmer.  About  1850  he  brought 
his  family  to  America  and  settled  in  Illinois, 
where  he  was  a  sub  contractor  in  railroad  con- 
struction. In  1858  he  purchased  a  farm  on  the 
Rock  Run  in  Troy  Township,  Will  County,  and 
there  resided  until  1880,  when  he  retired  from 
active  labors  and  removed  to  Joliet.  His  death 
occurred  in  this  city  in  1896.  In  politics  he  was 
a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican  principles,  and 
in  religion  a  Presbyterian. 

Besides  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools, 
our  subject  took  the  regular  commercial  course 
in  the  Metropolitan  Business  College  in  Chicago, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1875.  Afterward  he 
became  connected  with  Henry  T.  Truby  in  the 
grain  business,  the  two  erecting  an  elevator  in 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


577 


Wilmington  Township,  where  the  canal  then  had 
a  feeder.  He  had  full  charge  of  the  business. 
In  1881  the  elevator  was  built  at  Elwood  and  the 
business  transferred  to  this  point,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  having  full  charge  of  the  business 
at  this  place.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
served  as  township  central  committeeman,  and 
he  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  village  board. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  Jackson  Camp  No.  3318, 
M.  W.  A.,  and  Elwood  Camp  of  Royal  Brothers. 
In  religion  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 

September  15,  1881,  Mr.  Beattie  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.  Truby,  a  sister  of  Henry  T.  Truby, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children,  Alice  Marie, 
Florence  H.  and  James  Truby.  Mr.  Beattie  has 
been  a  successful  business  man  and  as  such  has 
gained  the  good  will  of  all  who  know  him. 


(ILLIAM  PENN  CATON  was  for  years 
one  of  Will  County's  most  honored  resi- 
dents. He  was  born  in  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  March  28,  1815.  His  father,  Robert 
Caton,  was  born  May  22,  1761,  and  was  three 
times  married,  his  third  wife  being  Hannah 
Dean,  who  died  April  16,  1836;  his  death  oc- 
curred April  6,  18 15,  when  his  son  was  only 
nine  days  old.  When  our  subject  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  left  New  York  state  and  went  to 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  where  he  was  employed  as 
clerk  in  a  store.  The  year  1836  found  him  in 
Chicago,  111.,  where  he  clerked.  He  also  spent 
a  short  time  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.  Afterward  he 
took  up  two  thousand  acres  of  government  land 
in  Cook  County,  sixteen  miles  northwest  of  the 
present  site  of  Chicago.  On  this  property  he 
made  his  home  until  1848.  Meantime  he  was 
married,  November  28,  1844,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Steele,  whose  home  was  on  the  north  branch  of 
the  Chicago  River  in  Cook  County. 

Returning  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Caton  secured  a 
position  as  inspector  of  canal  boats,  which  he 
held  until  1856.     He  then  settled  in  the  vicinity 


of  Plainfield,  Will  County,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1 87 1,  when  he  retired  from  active 
labors,  settling  in  Joliet.  After  coming  to  this 
city  he  became  connected  with  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  he  was  deacon  for  years. 
During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  suffered  much 
from  ill-health.     He  died  March  22,  1886. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Steele)  Caton,  was  born  in 
Elizabethtown,  Essex  County,  N.  Y.,  May  30, 
18 19,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Theodosia 
(Nichols)  Steele.  Her  father  was  born  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  in  1777.  He  moved  from  his  na- 
tive place  to  Elizabethtown,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1812 
had  charge  of  the  arsenal  there,  fitting  out  the 
troops  for  the  campaign  on  Lake  Champlain. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Vermont,  October  16,  1780, 
and  died  in  Elizabethtown  when  her  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  was  only  three  months  old.  Subse- 
quently Mr.  Steele  moved  to  New  York  City, 
and  thence  to  Chicago  in  1837,  sailing  from 
Buffalo  on  one  of  the  first  lake  steamers  that  ever 
plied  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Caton  became  the  parents  of  nine  children. 
One  of  the  daughters  is  the  wife  of  T.  A.  Mason, 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  others 
now  living  are  scattered  through  different  parts 
of  this  and  other  states. 


Gfl  DAM  GROTH.  In  no  occupation  has  a 
LI  greater  advance  been  made  during  the  past 
/  I  fifty  years  than  in  contracting  and  architec- 
tural work.  The  contractors  of  Joliet  are  of  a 
class  fully  equal  to  those  of  any  other  large  city, 
and  among  them  Mr.  Groth  occupies  a  prominent 
position.  In  1895  he  embarked  in  business  as  a 
cut-stone  and  general  contractor  at  No.  131 1  Cass 
street,  where  he  has  a  fine  plant  operated  by 
steam-power,  and  equipped  with  planers,  saws, 
lathes,  etc.  Employment  is  furnished  to  one 
hundred  men,  and  all  kinds  of  stone  are  handled 
and  shipped  to  every  part  of  thecountry.  Among 
the  contracts  which  he  has  had  are  many  for  im- 
portant buildings,  including  theschoolhousesand 
other  public  buildings  in  Joliet.  At  this  writ- 
ing he  has  under  process  of  construction  the 


578 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


United  States  post-offices  at  Paterson,  N.  J.,  and 
Brockton,  Mass.,  the  asylum  for  incurable  insane 
at  Peoria,  111.,  and  Otto  Young's  summer  resi- 
dence at  Lake  Geneva,  Wis. 

Mr.  Groth  was  born  in  Marbourg,  Germany, 
in  1847,  the  youngest  of  three  children,  of  whom 
the  oldest  died  in  Germany,  and  the  second,  Carl, 
is  engaged  in  the  cut-stone  business  in  Germany. 
His  father,  Frederick,  sou  of  a  German  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812-15,  was  born  and  reared  in  Mar- 
bourg, where  he  engaged  in  cut-stone  contract- 
ing, and  built  many  of  the  university  buildings 
in  that  place.  He  survived  his  wife  for  many 
years,  and  died  in  his  native  town.  When  fifteen 
years  of  age  our  subject  began  to  work  at  cutting 
stone  in  the  summer,  while  in  the  winter  he  took 
a  complete  course  in  drafting  and  architecture.  In 
1 S66  he  left  Bremen  on  the  sailing  vessel  '  'Anna, ' ' 
which,  after  a  stormy  voyage  of  fifty-three  days, 
landed  in  Baltimore,  Md.  Three  days  after  land- 
ing he  began  to  work  at  his  trade  in  the  employ 
of  Geddes  Bros.,  with  whom  he  continued  for 
seven  months.  He  was  then  employed  by  Mr. 
Maxwell  for  two  years.  From  Baltimore  he 
went  to  York,  Pa.,  thence  to  Philadelphia, 
and  finally  returned  to  Baltimore,  where  he 
worked  with  Taylor  Bros,  until  187 1.  In  May 
of  the  latter  year  he  came  west  to  Chicago,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade.  He  witnessed  the  burn- 
ing of  Chicago  and  assisted  in  building  it  up 
again.  In  1872  he  became  foreman  for  W.  C. 
Dickman.with  whom  he  remained  for  three  years. 
In  those  days  a  five-story  building  was  consid- 
ered very  tall.  After  a  time  stone  was  used  in 
the  construction,  and  seven- story  buildings  began 
to  be  built,  but  they  were  no  higher  until  the  steel 
construction  was  introduced.  He  was  foreman 
in  the  building  of  the  Sherman  house,  a  seven- 
story  building;  also  in  the  building  of  the  county 
jail  and  court-house. 


Going  to  Wausau,  Wis.,  in  1876,  Mr.  Groth 
started  a  small  stone  and  contracting  business, 
and  later  opened  a  granite  quarry  which  he  dis- 
covered north  of  the  town  about  nine  miles.  He 
quarried  the  first  granite  in  that  section,  and 
shipped  large  quantities  to  Chicago  to  be  used  for 
paving  blocks.  In  1882  he  returned  to  Chicago, 
where  he  embarked  in  the  stone  and  contracting 
business.  From  there,  in  18S4,  he  settled  in 
Joliet,  where  he  was  foreman  for  E.  R.  Brainard, 
the  contractor  for  the  Joliet  penitentiary.  He 
continued  with  the  same  employer  until  1895, 
when  he  resigned  in  order  to  engage  in  business 
for  himself.  He  is  a  man  of  energy,  and  has 
proved  himself  an  efficient  man  of  business, 
possessing  the  qualities  that  almost  invariably 
bring  their  possessor  success.  In  religion  he  is 
of  the  Lutheran  faith.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Royal  Arcanum;  also  Matteson 
Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &A.  M.;  the  Royal  Arch 
Chapter  Council,  and  Joliet  Commandery  No.  4. 
He  was  married  in  Chicago  to  Miss  Minnie 
Fallscheer,  daughter  of  John  Fallscheer,  an  earl}- 
settler  and  business  man  of  that  city,  where  she 
was  born.  Their  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  four  children,  namely:  Lucy, who  is  in  charge 
of  the  office;  Carl,  who  is  architect,  draftsman 
and  superintendent  of  construction  for  his  father;' 
Emma  and  Alma. 

Formerly  a  Democrat,  at  the  time  of  the  conven- 
tion of  that  party  in  Chicago  iu  iS96,and  the  adop- 
tion by  it  of  a  platform  endorsing  free  silver,  he 
withdrew  his  allegiance  and  joined  the  Republican 
party-  In  the  spring  of  1895  he  was  nominated 
for  city  treasurer  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and, 
being  elected,  took  the  oath  of  office,  May  1 ,  1895, 
for  a  term  of  two  years.  The  office  he  filled  with 
credit  to  himself.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Germania  Club,  of  which  he  served  as  vice-presi- 
dent for  two  terms. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


-^^^^fe^_ 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


581 


CALEB   E.  ANTRAM. 


EALEB  E.  ANTRAM,  attorney-at-law,  with 
office  in  the  Barber  building,  Joliet,  was  born 
near  Salem,  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  February 
12,  1865,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  (Woodward) 
Antram.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Joseph 
Woodward,  was  an  influential  farmer  of  Fayette 
County;  and  the  paternal  grandfather,  Caleb,  also 
spent  his  entire  life  upon  a  Pennsylvania  farm. 
Wherever  found  the  family  has  been  prominent 
and  its  members  have  held  positions  of  trust  and 
honor. 

When  twenty-three  years  of  age  Robert  An- 
tram began -in  business  for  himself  by  opening  a 
grist  and  flour  mill.  In  1869  he  settled  in  La- 
Salle  County,  111.,  where  he  bought  land  and  em- 
barked in  fanning.  During  subsequent  years  he 
became  a  large  land  holder;  for,  having  been 
reared  on  a  farm,  he  was  familiar  with  the  occu- 
pation and  knew  how  to  operate  the  farm  suc- 
cessfully. He  was  active  in  the  local  ranks  of  the 
Democratic  party,  held  numerous  local  offices, 
and  was  a  leader  in  affairs  among  his  fellow- 
citizens.  For  many  years  he  officiated  as  an 
elder  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  which  he  was  a  strict  member  from  childhood 
and  to  which  he  still  belongs.  He  is  now  prac- 
tically retired  from  active  labors,  but  is  still  hale 
and  robust,  and  takes  a  warm  interest  in  what  is 
going  on  in  the  world.  Of  his  eight  children 
Caleb  is  the  oldest  now  living  and  the  only  one 
in  Will  County.  He  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  LaSalle 
County,  where  he  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
broad  information  he  has  since  acquired.  His 
father  was  deeply   interested  in  Lincoln  Univer- 


sity, a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  institution  at 
Lincoln,  111.,  and  so  sent  his  son  there,  where  he 
studied  for  some  time.  Later  he  spent  one  year 
at  Valparaiso  (Ind.)  Normal  School,  and  later 
taught  school  for  one  year.  He  then  entered  the 
junior  class  of  Knox  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1889  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  matriculated  in 
the  law  department  of  Northwestern  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  June,  1891,  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  Coming  to  Joliet  in 
September,  1891,  Mr.  Antram  opened  an  office 
for  the  practice  of  law.  He  was  a  total  stranger 
here,  but  he  soon,  by  his  ability,  won  the  atten- 
tion of  other  attorneys.  His  practice  is  general 
and  he  has  done  some  successful  work  as  a 
criminal  lawyer.  The  probate  and  real-estate 
departments  of  the  law  occupy  most  of  his  atten- 
tion, and  he  has  been  particularly  successful  in 
them.  In  1896  he  was  commissioned  by  the 
family  to  go  to  the  old  country  and  attend  to 
business  matters  in  connection  with  the  estate. 
While  abroad  he  visited  various  points  of  inter- 
est on  the  British  Isles.  He  had  with  him  a  per- 
sonal letter  from  Secretary  of  State  Olney  to  the 
foreign  officials,  which  caused  him  to  receive 
considerable  attention  in  the  various  cities 
visited.  In  politics  he  is  independent,  with  Dem- 
ocratic proclivities,  and,  although  not  a  politician 
in  the  usual  acceptance  of  the  term,  he  takes  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs.  For  four  years 
he  efficiently  filled  a  position  as  commissioner  of 
special  assessments.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Joliet  Lodge  No.  856,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  a 
charter  member  of   the   Knights  of  the  White 


30 


532 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Cross.  He  is  an  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Joliet  and  a  contributor  to  religious 
and  benevolent  movements.  June  30,  1897,  ne 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Lillian  B.,  daughter 
of  Rev.  A.  J.  Van  Wormer,  of  Albion,  Mich. 


30HN  C.  FLVNN,  who  is  traveling  salesman 
for  the  wholesale  shoe  house  of  Drur,  Selbie 
&  Co.,  of  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  has  made  Joliet 
his  home  since  1892.  He  was  born  in  Mooers, 
Clinton  County,  N.  Y.,  February  25,  1857,  a 
son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Cassaday)  Flynn, 
natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and  Canada.  His 
father,  who  was  born  near  Dublin,  remained  in 
his  native  place  until  he  was  about  twenty,  and 
then  crossed  the  ocean  to  New  York,  where  he 
spent  two  years.  Returning  to  Ireland  he  re- 
mained there  for  two  years.  On  coming  to 
America  for  the  second  time  he  settled  in  Mooers, 
N.  Y.,  and  secured  employment  there  as  a  rail- 
road contractor.  During  the  last  five  years  of 
his  life  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Mooers.  At  the  opening  of  the  Civil 
war  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  the  Ninety-sixth  New  York 
Infantry,  which  he  accompanied  to  the  front  and 
in  which  he  continued  until  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service. .  His  only  wound  was  received 
in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  was  not  of  a 
serious  nature.  In  religion  he  was  a  Roman 
Catholic.  He  died  in  Mooers  when  fifty-four 
years  of  age,  and  his  widow  has  since  continued 
to  make  that  place  her  home.  Of  their  seven 
children  we  note  the  following:  Margaret  is  de- 
ceased; Mary  A.  lives  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.; 
Stephen  is  a  farmer  near  Mooers;  Frank  died  in 
Iowa;  Thomas  is  deceased;  John  C.  was  sixth  in 
order  of  birth;  and  the  youngest  is  James  M. ,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 

When  he  was  only  nine  years  of  age  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  began  to  do  for  himself.  As 
a  newsboy  on  passenger  trains  he  gained  his  first 
knowledge  of  busiuess.  Meantime,  however,  he 
did  not  neglect  his  studies,  but  attended  school 


when  it  was  possible.  In  1876  he  entered  the 
express  office  at  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  where  he  re- 
mained for  three  years.  From  there  in  1880  he 
went  to  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  as  local  agent  for  the 
Singer  Sewing  Machine  Company,  but  resigned 
that  position  in  June,  1881,  and  became  traveling 
salesman  for  Drur,  Selbie  &  Co.  The  house  at 
that  time  was  a  small  one  and  had  only  one  com- 
mercial traveler  besides  himself;  but  such  has 
been  its  growth  that  it  now  keeps  fourteen  men 
constantly  on  the  road.  At  first  the  territory  as- 
signed to  him  was  very  large,  including  Illinois, 
Kentucky,  Ohio,  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and 
Iowa,  but  now  he  travels  only  in  northern  Illi- 
nois, eastern  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin.  As  the 
house  manufactures  only  shoes  of  a  fine  quality, 
only  the  best  trade  is  desired;  hence  only  large 
towns  are  visited.  For  years  he  made  his  head- 
quarters in  various  places,  as  seemed  most  con- 
venient for  his  business,  but  since  1892  he  has 
resided  in  Joliet.  During  that  year  he  married 
Miss  Nellie  Sullivan,  of  this  city.  They  lost  one 
child  in  infancy  and  have  two  sons  living,  John 
C.  and  James  S.  Politically  Mr.  Flynn  is  an 
independent  Democrat,  supporting  the  party  in 
national  issues,  but  voting  for  the  best  man  in 
local  elections.  In  fraternal  matters  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Roval  Arcanum. 


HOWARD  S.  BARKER,  cashier  of  the  Ex- 
change Bank  at  Frankfort  Station,  was  born 
in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1850,  a  son  of 
Asahel  B.  and  Elizabeth  Barker,  the  latter  a 
native  of  England.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Miles  Barker,  was  a  descendant  of  early  settlers 
of  Connecticut.  The  father,  a  native  of  Oneida 
County,  born  in  1823,  came  to  Chicago  in  1846, 
working  at  his  trade,  but  returned  to  New  York 
after  two  years,  and  in  1855  came  to  Frankfort 
Station,  where  he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade 
for  a  time.  In  1862  he  embarked  in  the  lumber 
busiuess  and  in  the  handling  of  agricultural  im- 
plements and  building  material.  This  he  con- 
tinued until   1897,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  sou 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


583 


Howard  and  retired  from  business  life.  He  and 
his  wife  had  eight  children,  of  whom  two  sons 
and  a  daughter  are  living. 

At  the  time  the  family  settled  at  Frankfort 
Station  our  subject  was  about  five  years  of  age. 
His  education  was  begun  in  local  public  schools 
and  continued  in  Chicago  University.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy, 
studying  for  a  year  under  Dr.  Jameson  of  Chicago. 
On  returning  to  Frankfort  he  added  a  stock  of 
drugs  to  his  father's  store  and  became  a  partner 
in  the  entire  business,  father  and  son  remaining 
together  until  the  former's  retirement  in  1897. 
Since  then  our  subject  has  been  sole  proprietor. 
In  1894,  with  his  father,  he  started  the  Exchange 
Bank,  of  which  he  was  cashier  from  the  first. 
He  now  devotes  his  entire  attention  to  the  bank- 
ing business.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  in 
Frankfort  Township,  which  he  rents.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  now  township 
treasurer,  also  member  of  the  county  central 
committee.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  county 
and  district  conventions.  Fraternally  he  is  an 
official  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen.  He  is 
a  trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
for  some  time  has  held  office  as  Sunday-school 
superintendent.  In  1880  he  married  Sarah 
Winne,  by  whom  he  has  four  children,  namely: 
Wilfred  W. ,  Elizabeth  G. ,  Paul  F.  and  Stantial  H. 


EEORGE  M.  ARNOLD,  deceased,  formerly  a 
merchant  of  Lockport,  was  born  and  reared 
in  New  York  state,  and  came  to  Will  Coun- 
ty with  his  brother,  John  W.  Atnold.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  connected  with  the  dry-goods 
house  of  George  Fish  &  Co.,  Lockport,  but 
severed  his  connection  with  that  firm  on  being 
elected  sheriff,  and  for  two  terms  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  the  duties  of  that  office.  He  was  a  well- 
known  public  man  and  had  acquaintances  and 
friends  in  every  part  of  the  county.  His  death 
was  mourned  by  many  as  a  personal  bereave- 
ment. 

Mr.  Arnold  married  Miss  Mary  Mess,  a  native 
of  Scotland,  and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Cath- 


erine Mess.  Her  father  was  born  near  Aber- 
deen, Scotland,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1840,  settling  at  first  in  Chicago,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  several  years.  He  then  came 
to  Yankee  Settlement,  Will  County,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  successfully  carried  on  farm  pursuits 
and  stock-raising.  In  later  years  he  bought  a 
farm  near  Lockport  and  there  he  continued  to 
reside  until  his  death  at  about  seventy  years. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  in  religion 
an  Episcopalian.  He  was  a  member  of  a  very 
aristocratic  and  cultured  family  of  Scotland.  His 
wife  died  one  year  after  his  demise.  They  were 
the  parents  of  four  children,  namely:  George, 
who  died  at  twenty  years  of  age;  Louisa  and 
Mrs.  Arnold,  who  live  in  Lockport;  and  William 
T.,  who  resides  in  Tennessee.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arnold  had  two  children,  of  whom  the  son, 
George  M.,  is  an  engineer  in  Chicago,  and  the 
daughter,  Minnie  L.,  is  at  home. 


(JACOB  BROSSMAN,  a  farmer,  stock-raiser 
I  and  dairyman  of  Dupage  Township,  has 
Q)  made  his  home  in  Will  Count}'  since  1854. 
He  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  July  16, 
1837,  a  son  of  Jacob  Brossman,  Sr. ,  and  grand- 
son of  John  Brossman,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  farmers  by  occupation.  In  1854  his  father 
removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Iowa,  but,  not 
liking  the  surroundings,  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  the  northern  part  of  Dupage  Township, 
Will  Count}',  where  he  bought  two  hundred 
acres  at  $35  per  acre.  The  land  was  partly  in 
good  timber  and  partly  under  cultivation,  and 
was  therefore  more  valuable  than  much  of  the 
surrounding  property.  As  he  prospered  he  added 
to  his  pjssessions  until  he  acquired  four  hundred 
acres.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  re- 
ligion a  Lutheran.  He  died  at  theage  of  ninety- 
four  years.  During  his  residence  in  Pennsyl- 
vania he  was  married.  In  his  family  there  were 
twelve  children,  Jacob  being  the  oldest  of  those 
now  living.  He  was  educated  in  Pennsylvania, 
first  acquiring  an  excellent  knowledge  of  the 
German  language  and  afterward  studying   Eng- 


584 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lish.  At  the  time  of  settling  in  Illinois  lie  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  He  remained  with  his 
father  until  he  was  twenty-one,  when  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account.  When  he  was 
about  thirty-one  years  old  he  bought  one  hundred 
acres  where  he  now  lives.  To  this  he  added 
until  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and  seventy-five 
acres,  all  in  one  body.  His  house  burned,  and 
afterward  he  built  the  residence  he  now  occupies. 
He  also  erected  other  needed  buildings.  In  1892 
he  built  a  substantial  barn,  36x86  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, and  22  feet  high,  with  a  stone  basement. 
At  one  time  he  was  a  very  extensive  raiser  of 
and  dealer  in  cattle  and  hogs,  and  he  still  makes 
a  specialty  of  Durham  cattle,  also  raises  Norman 
horses.  In  national  politics  he  supports  Demo- 
cratic principles;  in  local  matters  he  is  independ- 
ent. He  has  served  as  road  commissioner.  In 
1S50  he  married  Lydia  Setzer,  by  whom  he  has 
seven  children:  James,  a  farmer  at  East  Wheat- 
land, Will  County;  Jeremiah,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  coal  business  in  Englewood,  Cook  County; 
John,  who  assists  on  the  home  farm;  William, 
also  on  the  home  farm:  Jacob,  a  farmer  in  Du- 
page Township;  Hannah,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Wheatland  Township;  and  Mary. 


3ACOB  A.  HENRY,  president  of  the  Will 
County  National  Bank  at  Joliet,  was  born  in 
Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  April  25,  1825. 
In  1842  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Hartford  & 
New  Haven  Railroad  Company,  and  assisted  in 
laying  the  first  track  on  the  canal  road  through 
New  Haven.  In  1846  he  settled  inElyria,  Ohio, 
and  took  his  first  contract  in  connection  with  a 
railroad  in  Ohio  and  Indiana.  He  superin- 
tended the  construction  of  the  northern  division 
of  the  Sandusky  road.  In  1856  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  in  1859  to  Joliet.  For  several  years  he 
was  roadmaster  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad. 
In  1870  he  began  a  contract  for  the  building  of 
the  Houston  &  Great  Northern  Railroad  in 
Texas,  which  he  completed  in  1873.  Meantime 
he  also  built  a  portion  of  the  Southern  Pacific, 
which  involved  a  large  amount  of  heavy  work. 


In  1888  he  filled  a  contract  in  Arkansas.  Few 
men  in  the  central  states  have  had  larger  con- 
tracts, and  certainly  no  one  has  been  more  suc- 
cessful in  filling  them  satisfactorily. 

In  1873  Mr.  Henry  erected  a  residence  in  Joliet, 
and  here  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has 
been  very  active  in  matters  pertaining  to  the 
progress  of  the  city,  aided  in  securing  the  electric 
railways  and  in  other  movements  of  great  value. 
Justly,  therefore,  he  holds  a  high  position  in  the 
regard  of  his  fellow-townsmen.  He  has  been  a 
Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  party. 
He  has  been  twice  married,  having  by  the  first 
marriage  a  daughter,  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  W. 
Folk,  of  Joliet.  His  first  wife  died  in  1878,  and 
in  1885  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Rachel  (Hulsizer)  Apgar. 


Gfl  LBERT  M.  STRONG,  a  retired  farmer  of 
LI  Dupage  Township,  was  born  July  18,  1848, 
/  I  on  the  place  where  he  still  lives.  His  father, 
Robert,  a  native  of  Vermont,  came  to  Illinois  in 
July,  1831 ,  and  settled  on  an  unimproved  tract  of 
prairie  in  Will  County.  He  at  once  began  to 
cultivate  and  improve  the  land.  For  a  time  he 
lived  in  a  log  house,  and  this  was  the  usual 
stopping  place  of  all  the  people  who  traveled 
through  the  country  in  search  of  a  location. 
During  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  occurred 
the  year  after  he  came  here,  the  family  went  to 
Chicago,  returning  when  the  danger  was  past. 
Through  energy  he  became  one  of  the  large  land 
owners  of  his  township.  He  was  honored  as  a 
citizen,  and  was  chosen  to  serve  in  local  offices, 
such  as  supervisor  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
helped  to  organize  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
his  neighborhood,  served  as  its  elder  for  years 
and  was  its  main  supporter.  While  in  New 
York  he  married  Caroline  Willey,  and  their 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  sole  representative  in 
this  county. 

In  public  schools,  the  academy  at  Naperville 
and  the  Western  Reserve  College,  Ohio,  our  sub- 
ject received  a  good  education.     On  leaving  col- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


585 


lege  he  farmed  with  his  father  until  he  was 
twenty -one,  when  he  rented  a  part  of  the  home- 
stead. After  the  death  of  his  father,  which 
occurred  December  28,  1885,  he  succeeded  to  the 
management  of  the  estate.  He  has  given 
especial  attention  to  raising  Shropshire  sheep. 
In  1891  he  rented  the  farm  and  went  tojoliet, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  insur- 
ance business  for  four  years.  Afterward  he 
visited  in  Arkansas  and  other  southern  states, 
and  then  spent  a  winter  in  Colorado.  Since  his 
return  he  has  resided  on  the  homestead,  which 
he  rents  to  his  son-in-law.  He  is  a  Republican 
and  has  served  as  delegate  to  county  and  state 
conventions.  October  21,  1869,  he  married  Ida, 
daughter  of  George  Wheeler,  of  Ohio.  They 
have  two  daughters:  Grace  C. ,  Mrs.  Dawson, 
of  New  Mexico;  and  Hattie,  whose  husband 
operates  the  Strong  homestead. 


ship.  Here  his  wife  died  in  1865.  Later  he 
again  married,  his  second  wife  being  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  (Mitchell)  Hoskins,  a  native  of  England, 
who  died  December  12,  1878.  Mr.  Cook  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  on  his  farm  during  his 
remaining  years,  but  his  activity  toward  the 
close  of  his  life  was  lessened  by  the  lameness  re- 
sulting from  a  fall.  He  died  at  his  home  July 
14,  1890. 


P<»)ILLIAM  COOK  arrived  in  Will  County 
\  A  /  May  10,  1850,  and  for  forty  years  was  one 
V  V  of  the  well-known  farmers  of  Crete  Town- 
ship, where  he  owned  a  good  farm  on  section  16, 
besides  some  land  on  section  17,  aggregating  alto- 
gether one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres.  He 
was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  February 
25,  1 8 10,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Holmes) 
Cook,  and  the  only  one  of  their  nine  children  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  United  States.  At  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  left  school  and  began  to  learn  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  serving  until  he  was  twenty, 
after  which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman.  Later 
he  set  up  a  shop  in  Winterton,  and  there  mar 
ried  Miss  Elizabeth  Adkinson,  who  was  born  in 
England  in  1803. 

February  25,  1831,  our  subject  and  his  wife 
took  passage  at  Hull  on  an  American  bound  ship 
and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  landed  in  New 
York  City,  whence  they  journeyed  to  Monroe- 
ville,  Ohio.  After  working  as  a  shoemaker  for  a 
year  Mr.  Cook  bought  a  small  farm.  Fifteen 
years  later  he  moved  to  Lake  County,  Ind.,  and 
from  there  two  years  afterward  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  Clinton,  coming  thence  to  Crete  Town- 


NENRY  BEHRENS  came  to  Will  County  in 
1850  and  in  early  manhood  secured  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in 
Crete  Township.  By  subsequent  purchase  he 
became  the  owner  of  three  hundred  acres,  which 
at  his  death,,  February  6,  1889,  became  the  prop- 
erty of  his  heirs.  He  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  January  9,  1836,  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Mary  Behrens,  whom  he  accompanied  to 
America  about  1850.  Shortly  afterward  he  set- 
tled with  them  in  Crete  Township.  July  22, 
1859,  he  married  Sophia  Ohlendorf,  who  was 
born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  in  1839,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Sophia  (Sene)  Ohlendorf. 
She  accompanied  her  parents  to  America  when 
thirteen  years  of  age  and  settled  with  them  in 
Crete  Township.  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band she  assumed  the  management  of  the  estate, 
which  included,  not  only  the  property  in  Will 
County,  but  two  farms  in  Woodford  Township, 
Iroquois  County.  The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Behrens  comprised  twelve  children. 


I~}HINEAS  K.  ROWLEY  was  born  in  New 
Ly  York  state  and  came  to  Will  County  when 
\3  eighteen  years  of  age.  Here  he  continued 
to  make  his  home  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred, at  seventy-two  years  of  age,  February 
22,  1889.  He  was  married,  November  1,  1843, 
to  Miss  Jane  A.  Sanford,  who  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  in  1824.  After  his  marriage  he 
settled  on  section  19,  Homer  Township,  and 
there  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  busily  passed 
in  farm  pursuits.     He  owned  one  hundred  and 


586 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


eighty  acres  comprising  a  valuable  farm.  With 
his  wife,  he  held  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  had  a  family  of  seven 
children.  The  eldest,  Adelbert  C,  married 
Sarah  B.  Phillips,  and  settled  in  Kane  County; 
Mary  E.  married  John  Mitchell;  George  died 
when  fourteen  months  old;  Fred  E.  settled  in 
Livingston  County;  Alice  S.  married  Jerome 
Paddock,  of  Homer  Township;  Jane  S.  died  at 
nineteen  years  of  age;  and  Frank  A.  married 
Helen  E.  Savage  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Homer 
Township. 


(1  AMES  BIGGINS  resided  in  Will  County  for 
I  almost  a  half  century  and  was  well  known 
Q)  among  the  farmers  of  Dupage  Township. 
He  was  born  in  County  Monaghan,  Ireland,  May 
ii,  1S22,  and  spent  the  first  eighteen  years  of 
life  in  his  native  land.  On  emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica he  at  once  settled  in  this  county  and  after- 
ward, by  energy  and  industry,  accumulated  a 
valuable  property.  February  9,  1861,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Prior,  who  was  born  in  Ire- 
land and,  like  himself,  was  reared  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  faith.  They  became  the  parents  of  six 
children,  namely:  Eugene,  James,  Edward,  Will- 
iam, George  and  Mary. 

Mr.  Biggins  died  in  Dupage  Township  June 
15,  1884.  His  brother,  Owen,  who  accompanied 
him  to  America  and  also  settled  in  Dupage 
Township,  died  April  19,  1885.  Both  were  law- 
abiding  citizens  of  their  adopted  country,  and 
were  worth}'  of  the  esteem  in  which  they  were 
held. 


"LIAS  MYERS,  a  pioneer  farmer  of  Wheat- 
's land  Township,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
_ _  County,  Pa.,  May  25,  1828,  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Anion)  Myers.  His  father,  who 
was  bjrn  and  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  engaged  in 
teaming  and  also  cultivated  a  small  farm  of  eight 
acres.  In  the  spring  of  1844,  accompanied  by 
his  family  and  fourteen  other  families,  he  came 
via  the  canal  and  great  lakes   to  Chicago,  thence 


direct  to  Wheatland  Township,  where  he  bought 
ninety  acres  of  partly  improved  land.  Two  years 
later  he  died,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
He  was  active  in  local  politics  and  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. In  religion  he  was  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Church.  He  was  of  direct  German 
descent.  The  lady  whom  he  married  was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  and  when  eleven  years  of  age  ac- 
companied her  parents  to  Lancaster  County,  Pa., 
where  her  father  died  at  ninety-nine  years  of  age 
and  her  mother  at  the  same  age.  Mrs.  Myers 
died  in  Wheatland  Township  when  eighty-four 
years  old.  In  her  family  there  were  eight  chil- 
dren, Elias  being  the  third  of  these. 

When  the  family  settled  in  this  county  our 
subject  was  a  boy  of  sixteen.  He  remained  with 
his  mother  on  the  home  farm  until  the  spring  of 
1852,  when  he  went  to  California  by  water.  On 
his  arrival  in  the  far  west  he  engaged  in  mining 
and  also  followed  other  occupations  at  different 
times.  However,  none  of  his  enterprises  proved 
very  successful,  and  he  finally  decided  that  he 
stood  a  better  chance  back  at  his  old  home.  Re- 
turning, he  settled  on  an  eighty  acre  farm  in 
Wheatland  Township,  a  place  that  represented 
his  earnings  while  in  California.  A  few  years 
later  he  sold  the  place  and  bought  his  present 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  At  one 
time  he  owned  six  hundred  acres  in  Iowa,  but 
this  he  sold  at  $30  an  acre.  He  owns  property  in 
Aurora,  where  for  eight  years  he  made  his  home. 
When  he  was  young  he  teamed  from  Chicago  to 
Aurora  for  fourteen  years,  and  he  also  engaged 
in  threshing  during  the  season.  Some  years  ago 
he  lost  his  left  hand  through  an  accident  with  a 
corn  husker,  and  since  then  he  has  done  very 
little  manual  labor.  In  1883  he  turned  his  farm 
over  to  his  third  son,  since  which  time  he  has 
lived  retired  from  active  cares. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Myers,  in  1856,  united 
him  with  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Johnson,  of 
Wheatland  Township.  She  died  in  1883.  Five 
children  were  born  of  their  marriage.  The  two 
eldest,  Burton  and  Wallace,  are  engaged  in  the 
livery,  feed,  hay  and  grain  business  at  Naper- 
ville,  where  their  father  built  a  large  barn  for 
them.     The  youngest  son,  William,  managesthe 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


587 


home  farm.  Edith  is  the  wife  of  John  Graves, 
of  Aurora,  who  was  captain  of  a  company  in  the 
Spanish-American  war;  and  Pearl,  who  resides 
with  her  father  on  the  home  farm.  While  he 
takes  a  warm  interest  in  public  affairs  and  in 
questions  affecting  the  welfare  of  our  nation,  Mr. 
Myers  has  never  been  a  politician  and  has  never 
desired  office.  The  only  positions  he  has  ever 
held  were  of  an  educational  nature.  In  political 
views  he  favors  the  Republican  party. 


"£JEN.    PHILIP    CORNELIUS    HAYES,    of 

□  Joliet,  was  born  in  Granby,  Conn.,  Febru- 
ary 3,  1833,  a  son  of  Gaylord  Hayes.  The 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin.  The  first  of  the  name 
in  America  was  George  Hayes,  who  settled  in 
Windsor,  Conn.,  in  1680.  His  oldest  son,  Dan- 
iel, was  the  father  of  Ezekiel,  among  whose  de- 
scendants was  President  Rutherford  B.  Hayes, 
who  was  a  third  cousin  of  the  subject  of  this  ar- 
ticle. The  family  has  been  noted  for  patriotism 
and  valor.  Andrew  Hayes,  of  Connecticut,  served 
from  June  4,  1777,  to  January  8,  1778,  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  In  the  war  of  18 12  our  subject's 
father,  Gaylord,  and  uncle  Ezekiel  bore  a  part, 
while  the  general  and  two  brothers  were  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  Civil  war.  Gaylord  Hayes 
came  to  Illinois  in  1833  and  settled  near  Ottawa, 
where  he  purchased  one  and  one-half  sections  of 
farm  land,  remaining  there  until  he  died  in  1839. 
By  his  marriage  to  Mary  Goodrich  Humphrey 
he  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 
His  wife  died  in  1845. 

Our  subject  was  a  child  when  his  parents  died. 
When  he  was  fifteen  he  began  to  work  on  a  farm 
for  $8  per  month.  During  winters  he  worked  for 
his  board  with  the  privilege  of  attending  school. 
At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  teach  school, 
which  occupation  he  followed  for  several  years, 
meantime  pursuing  his  studies.  September  1, 
1855,  he  entered  the  preparatory  school  at  Ober- 
lin,  Ohio,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  i860. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  theology  in  the 
seminary  connected  with  his  alma  mater.  On 
President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops  he  enlisted  as 


a  private,  and  when  a  company  was  formed  he 
was  chosen  captain.  However,  the  state  having 
more  than  its  quota,  his  company  was  not  ac- 
cepted. July  16,  1862,  he  was  again  mustered 
into  the  service  and  was  made  captain  of  his  com- 
pany, which  was  assigned  to  the  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Ohio  Infantry.  The  history  of  this 
gallant  regiment  is  written  in  the  annals  of  our 
country.  Its  record  was  most  creditable  to  its 
officers  and  men.  It  was  mustered  out  at  Cleve- 
land June  22,  1865.  Meantime  the  captain  had 
been  promoted,  December  5,  1864,  to  lieutenant- 
colonel,  later  was  made  colonel,  and  March  13, 
1865,  was  brevetted  brigadier-general.  As  a  sol- 
dier he  won  highest  praise  from  his  superiors. 
Col.  Daniel  Cameron,  commanding  the  brigade, 
alluded  to  him  as  "one  of  the  best  officers  of  the 
army." 

After  the  war  General  Hayes  was  superinten- 
dent of  the  public  schools  of  Mount  Vernon, 
Ohio.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  purchased  the  Cir- 
cleville  (Ohio)  Union,  at  which  time  he  entered 
upon  his  successful  journalistic  career.  In  1869 
he  sold  his  paper  and  bought  another  one.  In 
1874  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  bought  the 
Morris  Herald,  publishing  it  until  1892,  when 
he  bought  a  controlling  interest  in  the  Republican 
of  Joliet.  In  1895  he  retired  from  active  business 
pursuits,  although  his  ability  as  a  writer  is  so 
widely  recognized  that  his  services  are  frequently 
in  demand  in  the  journalistic  field.  From  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  has  been 
an  active  member.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to 
congress  from  the  seventh  district,  comprising 
Grundy,  LaSalle,  Kendall  and  Will  Counties. 
He  entered  upon  his  official  duties  March  4,  1877, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  his  four  years'  term  was 
re-elected.  He  was  a  wise  legislator,  a  close 
student  of  the  questions  of  the  day,  and  a  firm 
supporter  of  measures  calculated  to  advance  the 
general  welfare.  His  career  in  congress  reflected 
credit  upon  him  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  ability. 
He  is  a  member  of  Bartleson  Post  No.  6,  G.  A.  R. , 
of  Joliet,  and  the  Loyal  Legion  of  Chicago. 

At  Oberlin,  Ohio,  January  25,  1865,  General 
Hayes  married  Amelia  Estelle  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Homer  Johnson,  and  descended  from  old 


588 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


New  England  families.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  six  children:  Carl  J.,  deceased;  Jessie, 
who  is  married  and  resides  in  Joliet;  Ralph  \V., 
who  is  a  newspaper  man  by  occupation;  Georgie, 
deceased;  M.  C;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Everett  C. 
Piatt,  of  Eagle  Grove,  Iowa. 


(JOHN  W.  DIERSEN,  deceased,  was  born  in 
I  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  September  2,  183S, 
0)  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Sophia  (Hue)  Diersen. 
The  family  set  sail  from  Bremen  in  May,  1846, 
and  landed  in  New  York  July  5,  thence  proceeded, 
via  river,  canal  and  lakes,  to  Chicago.  In  1852 
they  came  from  Chicago  to  Will  County,  where 
the  father  secured  forty  acres  of  government  land. 
His  wife  died  in  Crete  in  1S85  and  he  passed  away 
two  years  afterward.  Their  sou,  John  W.,  mar- 
ried Eugel  Desenisz,  who  was  born  in  Hesse-Cas- 
sel, August  28,  1842,  and  came  with  her  brother 
Philip  to  this  county  when  he  was  sixteen. 

As  a  farmer  John  \V.  Diersen  was  efficient,  and 
he  became  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  Crete  Township.  In  addition  he  was 
secretary  of  the  Crete  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  and  for  years  served  as  highway  com- 
missioner.    In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Diersen  consists  of 
twelve  children:  John,  William,  Louisa,  Henry, 
August,  Herman,  Gotleib,  Amelia,  Emma,  Wal- 
ter, Anna  and  Otto.  Mr.  Diersen  died  Novem- 
ber 12,  1898. 


(ILLIAM  F.  STAFFORD.  A  study  of  the 
lives  of  prosperous  men  shows  that  their 
success  is  in  every  instance  due  to  their 
energy  and  good  judgment.  It  is  to  these  quali- 
ties that  Mr.  Stafford  owes  the  success  which  has 
rewarded  his  efforts  in  business.  When  he  came 
to  Joliet,  in  1891,  he  secured  employment  with 
Mr.  Hess,  whose  interest  he  bought  in  the  fall  of 
1892  and  afterward  continued  with  Mr.  Godfrey 
for  two  years,  meantime  holding  his  own  finan- 
cially in  spite  of  the  panic  of  1893.     Since  1894 


he  has  been  alone,  continuing  at  the  same  site  as 
before,  No.  707  Van  Buren  street.  He  is  the 
largest  wholesale  and  retail  milk  dealer  in  the 
city,  and  furnishes  milk  and  cream  for  the  state 
penitentiary  as  well  as  for  many  private  parties. 
In  butter  and  eggs  he  also  carries  on  a  wholesale 
and  retail  business.  He  has  a  plant  with  twelve- 
horse  electric  power,  which  he  uses  in  the  manu- 
facture of  ice  cream  for  the  wholesale  and  retail 
trade,  and  in  this  line,  as  in  others,  he  has  built 
up  a  valuable  business. 

Mr.  Stafford  was  born  in  Dupage  Township, 
Will  County,  February  13,  1856,  a  son  of  Enoch 
and  Sarah  (Wheat)  Stafford.  His  father,  who 
was  a  son  of  William  and  Ann  Stafford,  was  born 
in  Nottinghamshire,  England,  February  23,  1830, 
and  came  to  America  in  1851,  arriving  in  New 
York  May  29.  Proceeding  west,  he  secured  work 
as  a  farm  hand  in  this  county  and  afterward  cul- 
tivated a  rented  farm.  After  ten  years  he  in- 
vested his  savings  in  farm  property,  and  he  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  ninety  well-improved 
acres  in  the  township  where  he  first  settled.  His 
first  wife  died  in  1S58,  leaving  two  children,  Wil- 
liam and  Sarah,  the  latter  now  deceased.  After- 
ward he  married  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  Miss 
Jane  Wheat,  who  came  to  America  from  England 
at  twelve  years  of  age,  settling  in  Dupage  Town- 
ship with  her  parents,  Benjamin  and  Hannah 
(Hinsliff)  Wheat.  Eight  children  were  born  of 
this  marriage,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

Remaining  with  his  father  in  youth,  our  sub- 
ject gained  a  good  knowledge  of  farm  work,  and 
until  1890  he  was  interested  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. November  25,  1880,  he  married  Miss  Ab- 
bie  L.  Kilmer,  who  was  born  in  Dupage  Town- 
ship, her  father,  Reuben  Kilmer,  having  come 
here  at  an  early  age  from  the  vicinity  of  the 
Hudson  River  in  New  York.  To  their  marriage 
have  been  born  two  sons,  Reuben  E.  and  James 
K.,  the  older  of  whom  assists  his  father  in  busi- 
ness. In  September,  1890,  Mr.  Stafford  became 
connected  with  the  Dupage  creamery,  but  a  year 
later  he  removed  to  Joliet  and  has  since  been 
identified,  as  employe  and  later  as  owner,  with 
the  business  of  which  he  is  now  head.  He  is  a 
Republican  in   politics  and  prior  to  his  removal 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


589 


from  Dupage  Township  served  as  tax  collector 
for  two  years.  Fraternally  he  is  associated 
with  Matteson  Lodge  No.  175,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
While  he  is  not  a  member  of  any  religious  organ- 
ization, he  contributes  to  the  support  of  the 
Eastern  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  of  which  his 
wife  is  a  member. 


£J  G.  THORP,  M.  E.  In  the  life  of  this  gen- 
I—  tleman  is  afforded  an  illustration  of  the 
\Ji ,  recognition  which  talent  and  merit  almost 
invariably  win  in  the  business  world.  From 
early  boyhood  he  showed  a  talent  for  mechanical 
engineering  and,  his  tastes  lying  so  strongly  in 
this  direction,  he  secured  the  necessary  education 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  work  directly  con- 
nected with  this  occupation.  The  remarkable 
success  with  which  he  has  met  proves  that  his 
choice  of  an  occupation  was  wise.  As  general 
superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  he 
holds  a  very  responsible  position,  but  it  is  one 
whose  duties  he  discharges  faithfully  and  well, 
thereby  winning  the  commendation  of  his  su- 
perior officers  and  the  respect  of  those  under  him. 
The  Thorp  family  is  of  English  ancestry. 
J.  M.  Thorp,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  and  was  the  son  of  an  Englishman, 
born  in  Manchester,  and  who  became  a  cotton 
manufacturer  in  his  native  city  and  later  in 
Philadelphia.  From  that  city  J.  M.  Thorp  re- 
moved to  Pittsburg,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  oils.  In  1882  he  removed  to 
Madison,  Wis.,  where  he  is  now  living  retired. 
He  married  Jane  H.  Veeder,  who  was  born  in 
Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  of  remote  Holland  Dutch 
descent,  her  ancestors,  however,  having  long  re- 
sided in  New  York.  In  her  family  there  were 
five  daughters  and  one  son,  the  latter  being  the 
subject  of  this  article.  He  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  June  29,  1868.  In  1887  he  graduated  from 
the  high  school  of  Madison,  Wis.,  after  which 
he  entered  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  and  con- 
tinued there  until  his  graduation  in  1891,  with 
the  degree  of  M.  E.  The  following  year  he  spent 
as  a  fellow  in  the  department  of  mechanical  en- 
gineering.    In  1892  he  went  to  Chicago,  where 


he  was  employed  in  the  old  North  Chicago  rolling 
mill  operated  by  the  Illinois  Steel  Company,  his 
special  work  being  as  engineer  of  tests.  In  1895 
he  was  appointed  assistant  master  mechanic  of 
the  Joliet  plant.  The  next  year  he  was  promoted 
to  the  position  of  master  mechanic  in  the  Pueblo 
plant  of  the  Colorado  Fuel  and  Iron  Company. 
He  proved  himself  so  efficient  and  capable  that 
he  was  soon  made  chief  engineer  of  the  works. 
After  having  been  connected  with  that  plant  for 
some  years,  in  May,  1899,  he  resigned  to  accept 
his  present  position  with  the  Illinois  Steel  Com- 
pany. He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Society 
of  Mechanical  Engineers  and  the  Chi  Psi  of  the 
University  of  Wisconsin.  So  deeply  has  he  been 
interested  in  his  profession  and  so  engrossed  by 
its  duties  that  he  has  never  identified  himself 
with  public  affairs  in  any  way  and,  aside  from 
voting  the  Republican  ticket,  takes  no  part  in 
politics.  From  the  success  that  has  already,  at 
so  early  a  period  of  his  life,  rewarded  his  earnest 
and  intelligent  efforts,  it  may  be  safely  predicted 
that  the  future  years  hold  for  him  ever  increasing 
successes  and  honors  in  the  business  world. 


HENRY  DOUGLAS  SNAPP.  There  is  per- 
haps no  occupation  carrying  with  it  a  greater 
weight  of  responsibility  than  that  of  railroad 
engineer.  He  who  fills  such  a  position  must 
necessarily  be  a  man  of  steady  nerve,  great  cour- 
age and  possessing  a  mind  over  which  a  sudden 
danger  has  no  power  to  throw  dismay  or  terror. 
Such  a  man  is  the  subject  of  this  article,  who  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  engineers  running  out  of 
Joliet.  He  is  above  all  an  unostentatious  man, 
doing  his  duty  faithfully,  but  quietly,  and  never 
showing  in  his  character  any  indications  of  pride 
or  boastfulness.  Those  who  once  meet  him  are 
his  friends  ever  afterward,  and  those  who  know 
him  best  most  highly  appreciate  his  fine  qualities 
of  manhood. 

A  son  of  Hon.  Henry  Snapp,  whose  sketch 
appears  on  another  page,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Joliet  February  28,  1853. 
His  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools. 


59° 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  railroading,  for 
his  tastes  ran  in  that  direction,  and  he  had  no  de- 
sire to  take  the  college  course  planned  for  him  by 
his  parents  He  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  Railroad  Company  as  a  fireman. 
After  two  years  with  that  company  he  took  a 
similar  position  on  the  Rock  Island  road.  After 
some  five  years  as  fireman  he  was  given  an 
engine  on  the  Chicago  &  Indianapolis  Air  Line, 
now  the  Motion  route,  and  since  then  has  been 
on  different  roads.  Strict  attention  to  his  work 
has  been  his  watchword  and  his  high  standing  as 
an  engineer  testifies  to  his  fidelity  to  duty. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Snapp  took  place  October 
10,  1877,  and  united  him  with  Miss  Frances  Hill, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  state,  but  at  two 
years  of  age  was  brought  to  Joliet  by  her  parents, 
Alva  and  Margaret  (Banta)  Hill.  Her  father, 
who  followed  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  Joliet, 
continued  to  reside  in  this  city  until  his  death, 
which  resulted  in  an  accident  on  a  railroad  ex- 
cursion on  the  4th  of  July,  1874.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Snapp  are  the  parents  of  two  sons,  Henry  Alvin, 
who  was  born  June  5,  18S6;  and  Robert  Douglas, 
born  September  12,  1888. 


Ohio  and  came  to  this  county  in  1837.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Julia,  wife  of  J.  E.  Davis, 
who  now  has  charge  of  Mr.  Goudy's  farm. 


ROBERT  GOUDY,  a  farmer  of  Dupage  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  lower  Canada  January  2, 
1822,  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Jane  (Wal- 
lace) Goudy,  natives  respectively  of  Scotland  and 
Ireland.  When  he  was  small  his  parents  moved 
to  Burlington,  Vt.,  and  a  year  later  went  to  Es- 
sex County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  passed  the  years  of 
boyhood.  When  he  was  twenty- two  he  came  to 
Will  Count}-,  111.,  and  for  three  years  worked  by 
the  month  on  a  farm.  He  then  bought  fifty  acres 
of  wild  prairie  land.  Next  he  worked  on  the 
canal  for  ten  years.  On  selling  his  original  farm 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
28,  which  place  he  improved  and  on  which  he 
resided  until  removing  to  his  present  farm.  He 
has  served  as  school  director  and  for  ten  years  was 
highway  commissioner.  October  15,  1848,  he 
married   Miss  Ophelia  Welch,  who  was  born   in 


30HN  COMISKEY,  superintendent  of  the 
Joliet  chemical  works  and  part  owner  of  the 
plant,  was  born  at  Newcastle  011-the-Tyne, 
England,  in  1858.  His  father,  Dennis,  who  was 
in  the  chemical  business,  remained  during  most 
of  his  life  in  the  vicinity  of  his  birth.  By  his 
marriage  to  Jane  Skill  he  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  John  is  next  to  the  eldest.  In  18S2,  two 
years  after  his  son  had  settled  in  this, country,  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  but,  not  liking  the 
climate,  he  returned  to  England.  He  died  in 
Liverpool  in  1S94. 

As  he  attended  school  only  fourteen  years  in 
his  boyhood,  our  subject  is  practically  self-edu- 
cated, and  his  present  position  and  standing  may 
be  attributed  wholly  to  his  unaided  efforts.  When 
eleven  years  of  age  he  began  to  be  self-support- 
ing. He  was  employed  in  chemical  works  near 
his  home  and  thus  acquired  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  iu  which  he  is  still  engaged. 
In  1880  he  left  England  to  seek  a  home  in  Amer- 
ica. For  six  years  he  was  employed  in  chemical 
works  in  New  Jersey,  and,  being  economical,  he 
saved  a  considerable  part  of  his  salary.  With 
this  motiey  he  came  to  Joliet  and  started  in  busi- 
ness, beginning  the  manufacture  of  muriatic  acid. 
While  he  had  much  to  contend  with  he  turned 
out  such  a  superior  article  that  he  was  assured  of 
success  from  the  start.  In  order  to  secure  suffi- 
cient capital  to  conduct  the  business  he  admitted 
a  partner  and  has  since  continued  steadily  at 
work  in  the  same  line.  In  1888  the  firm  bought 
their  present  location  and  since  then  they  have 
erected  buildings  as  needed.  In  addition  to  the 
manufacture  of  muriatic  acid  they  now  make  sul- 
phate of  soda  and  sell  direct  to  manufacturers, 
having  a  contract  to  dispose  of  all  they  cati  turn 
out.  Being  a  practical  man,  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  machinery,  he  superintends  it 
personally,  and  has  met  with  a  success  that  he 
well  merits.      After  the  product  is  manufactured 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


59i 


be  has  the  refuse  ground  up  and  shipped  to  Chi- 
cago, where  it  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
glass. 

Mr.  Comiskey  is  a  Republican  and  has  served 
his  party  as  a  delegate  to  conventions,  but  is  not 
active  in  politics  and  does  not  care  for  office.  In 
1897  he  built  a  neat  residence  at  No.  304  South 
Water  street,  and  here  he  and  his  wife  (formerly 
Miss  Mary  Jane  McGowan)  and  their  children, 
Mary,  J.  Vinson  and  Dorothy,  have  a  pleasant 
and  comfortable  home. 


EM  NORTHAM, proprietor  of  Hotel  Munroe, 
It  is  one  of  the  best  known  hotel  men  not  only 
|_J  of  Joliet,  but  also  of  northeastern  Illinois. 
He  is  a  member  of  a  family  that  has  been  repre- 
sented in  New  England  ever  since  about  the  time 
of  the  "Mayflower. ' '  The  first  to  leave  Massachu- 
setts for  the  west  was  his  grandfather,  Deacon  Eli 
Northam,  who  settled  in  Dupage  County,  111.,  at 
an  early  day  and  remained  there  until  his  death. 
By  his  marriage  to  Jerusha  Robbins  he  had  a 
son,  Robert  R.,  who  was  born  in  North  Adams, 
Mass.,  in  1818,  and  came  west  to  Chicago  in  early 
manhood,  entering  the  employ  of  the  pioneer 
hardware  firm  of  Hooker  &  Jones,  in  that  city. 
Early  in  the  '40s  he  settled  in  Wilmington,  Will 
Count)',  where  he  carried  on  a  grain  business 
with  his  brother  Henry  until  the  latter  went  to 
California  in  1849.  He  came  to  Joliet  in  1853  and 
opened  a  dry-goods  store  on  Bluff  street.  About 
1857  he  removed  to  Wheaton,  111.,  but  the  follow- 
ing year  settled  in  Aurora,  where  he  first  conduc- 
ted a  meat  market,  then  engaged  in  the  restaurant 
business  and  later  was  interested  in  the  wholesale 
fruit  and  provision  business  for  many  years.  In 
1885  he  turned  the  business  over  to  his  son  Lem 
and  retired  from  active  labors.  Through  all  his 
busy  life  he  took  an  interest  in  politics  and  kept 
posted  on  the  issues  before  the  people.  Among 
the  offices  he  held  were  those  of  deputy  sheriff 
and  justice  of  the  peace.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  January,  1893,  he  was  seventy-five  years  of  age. 
Robert  R.  Northam  was  twice  married.  By 
his  first  wife  he    had   three   sons.     The   oldest 


Richard  M.,  now  of  Joliet,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  enlisting  when  a  lad  of  sixteen."  The 
second  son,  Edward  D.,  lives  in  Chicago,  and 
the  youngest,  William,  was  accidentally  killed  in 
that  city.  Of  the  second  marriage  there  were 
born  two  sons,  Lemual  Robbins,  of  this  sketch; 
and  Robert,  who  was  accidentally  killed  in  Aurora 
in  1873.  The  second  wife  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Louisa  A.  Hentze  and  was  born  in  Browns- 
ville, N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Charity 
(Gould)  Hentze,  natives  of  New  England.  Henry 
Hentze,  who  was  of  Hessian  descent,  was  born  in 
Rutland,  Vt. ,  and  removed  from  there  to  New 
York.  He  brought  his  family  to  Chicago  via  the 
lakes,  and  was  met  in  Chicago  by  his  son-in-law, 
George  Munroe,  Sr.,  who  brought  them  to  Wil- 
mington in  a  wagon.  In  1852  he  and  Mr.  Mun- 
roe went  overland  to  California,  making  the  trip 
with  an  ox  team,  and  mining  there  with  fair 
success.  He  remained  in  the  west  until  his  death, 
but  Mr.  Munroe  finally  returned  to  Will  County. 
In  the  family  of  Mr.  Hentze  were  seven  daughters 
and  two  sons,  of  whom  four  daughters  are  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Northam  is  still  living  and  makes 
her  home  with  her  only  surviving  son. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Aurora, 
111.,  September  9,  i860.  When  a  boy  he  became  in- 
terested in  the  produce  business.  He  succeeded  to 
the  management  of  the  business  established  by 
his  father  and  continued  it  until  1891,  when  he 
sold  out.  Afterward  he  and  his  brother,  Edward 
D.,  built  the  Evans  grand  opera  house  in  Aurora 
and  this  they  conducted  until  1893,  when  they 
disposed  of  it  to  a  syndicate.  November  1,  1893, 
he  came  to  Joliet  as  manager  of  Hotel  Munroe, 
which  he  remodeled  and  improved,  and  to  which 
he  built  an  annex.  The  building  stands  on  Chi- 
cago street,  occupying  the  finest  location  in  the 
city.  It  is  acknowledged  by  all  to  be  the  most 
elegant  as  well  as  the  leading  hotel  of  the  city. 
It  contains  one  hundred  and  twelve  rooms,  of 
which  eighty-six  are  guests'  rooms.  The  build- 
ing is  heated  by  steam  and  lighted  by  electricity. 
Connected  with  the  hotel  are  a  first-class  sample 
room  and  Turkish  baths.  The  success  of  the 
business  is  due  unquestionably  to  the  foresight, 
energy    and    judgment    of  the  manager,  whose 


592 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


genial  manner  makes  a  guest  his  friend,  while  the 
excellent  management  of  the  hotel  at  the  same 
time  wins  the  admiration  of  the  most  critical. 

In  1898  Mr.  Northam  received  from  the  mayor 
an  appointment  as  member  of  the  board  of  park 
commissioners,  and  on  this  board  he  has  since 
served,  being  now  interested  in  the  improvement 
of  the  sixty  acres  comprising  Highland  park.  As 
a  Republican  he  is  actively  connected  with  local 
politics,  and  his  aid  is  always  to  be  relied  upon 
by  his  party  during  important  campaigns.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Foresters  and 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  In  religion 
he  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  his  ancestors,  the 
Congregational  denomination,  and  has  always 
adhered  to  the  doctrines  of  this  church.  During 
his  residence  in  Aurora  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Bertha  L.  Graves,  who  was  born  in 
Warrenville,  Dupage  County,  111.,  and  gradua- 
ted from  the  West  Aurora  high  school.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Dupage 
County,  Capt.  A.  C.  Graves,  who  won  his  title 
by  his  official  service  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  war. 


SOL.  FRED  BEXXITT.  The  Beunitt  fam- 
ily is  of  English  descent  and  was  established 
in  Massachusetts  in  1634.  Ephraim  Beu- 
nitt, a  native  of  Connecticut,  made  his  home  in 
Orange  County,  N.  Y. ,  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  took  part  in  that  historic  struggle. 
After  peace  was  restored  he  settled  in  the  Wyom- 
ing Valley  in  Pennsylvania.  His  son,  Daniel, 
who  was  born  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  was  the 
father  of  twenty-three  children,  among  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  Col.  Benjamin  Bennitt; 
the  latter  was  born  March  23,  1S27,  three  miles 
north  of  Hammondsport,  Steuben  County,  X.  Y. 
When  he  was  seven  years  old  he  accompanied  his 
father  and  ten  of  the  other  children  to  Steuben 
County,  Ind.,  but  three  years  later  his  father 
died,  the  family  became  scattered  and  he  made 
his  home  with  a  sister.     He   studied   law  in  an 


office  in  Hammondsport  and  later  with  Judge 
Comstock  in  Canandaigua,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  March  6,  1850.  With  the  exception  of 
four  years  in  the  army  his  subsequent  life  was 
given  to  professional  work  in  Hammondsport. 
For  nearly  thirty  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  for  several  terms  he  was  justice  of  the 
sessions.  As  a  lawyer  he  was  thorough  and 
conscientious  in  his  work  and  showed  a  superior 
mind  and  strong  will  in  his  many  contests  in  the 
courts.  As  a  soldier  he  was  enthusiastic  and 
faithful  to  every  duty.  When  Fort  Sumter  was 
fired  upon,  April  12,  1S61,  and  the  call  for  troops 
made  on  the  15th,  he  went  to  Bath  and  enlisted 
in  Company  A,  Twenty-third  New  York  In- 
fantry, as  a  private.  May  16  he  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  orderly  sergeant  and  November 
28  was  made  first  lieutenant  by  Governor  Mor- 
gan of  New  York.  Among  his  engagements 
were  those  of  Gowesville,  Groveton,  Rappahan- 
nock Crossing,  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  South 
Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville.  Returning  home  he  was  commis- 
sioned to  organize  a  company  of  cavalry,  and 
this  company,  with  him  as  its  captain,  was  mus- 
tered in  at  Rochester  February  2,  1864,  and  in- 
corporated with  the  Twenty-second  New  York 
Cavalry,  joining  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
taking  part  in  the  various  engagements  under 
Grant.  The  year  that  followed  was  one  of  great 
hardship  for  the  company  and  its  gallant  captain; 
but,  in  spite  of  his  sufferings  Cor,  perhaps,  on  ac- 
count of  them)  he  could  never  be  persuaded  after- 
ward to  recount  or,  indeed,  scarcely  mention 
them.  He  took  part  in  the  twenty-seven  days' 
battle  in  the  Wilderness  and  assisted  in  General 
Wilson's  dashing  raid  to  Richmond.  During 
that  raid  a  part  of  Captain  Bennitt's  company 
was  captured  by  Fitzhugh  Lee,  and  of  these 
thirty-one  men,  only  twelve  lived  to  return  to 
their  homes.  For  eight  months  he  was  confined 
in  southern  prisons  and  during  that  time  his 
relatives  did  not  know  whether  he  was  living  or 
dead.  Four  times  he  escaped,  but  each  time  was 
recaptured.  He  was  finally  exchanged  in  1865, 
and  allowed  to  return  home.  He  was  commis- 
sioned major  of  the  Twenty-second    Xew  York 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


593 


Cavalry  by  the  governor  of  New  York  and  Presi- 
dent Johnson  brevetted  him  lieutenant  colonel  for 
meritorious  service.  February  15,  1865,  he  was 
appointed  inspector-general  of  the  Twentieth 
Brigade  of  the  National  Guard  of  New  York. 
After  the  war  ended  he  resumed  the  pursuits  of 
private  life.  He  became  active  in  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  was  commander  of  the 
post  in  his  home  town.  After  a  busy  and  useful 
life,  he  died  August  24,  1889. 

By  the  marriage  of  Ben  Bennitt  to  Melinda 
Wheeler,  which  occurred  February  8,  1854,  two 
sons  were  born,  Fred  and  Mark.  The  former 
was  born  in  Hammondsport  August  5,  1855. 
His  education  was  begun  in  public  schools  and 
completed  in  Cornell  University.  In  1875  he 
came  to  Jolietand  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge 
Goodspeed.  At  the  same  time  he  followed  the 
printer's  trade  in  the  officeof  the  Weekly  Republi- 
can. In  September,  1876,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  practice  of  law  in  this  state.  Since  that  time 
he  has  built  up  a  large  practice  in  all  of  the 
courts.  Much  of  his  practice  is  in  the  nature  of 
counsel  for  corporations.  He  is  attorney  for  the 
Joliet  Gas  Company,  in  which  he  holds  the  of- 
fices of  secretary  and  director.  He  is  also  con- 
nected with  other  prominent  enterprises  in  the 
city.  In  fact,  every  worthy  movement  for  the 
advancement  of  the  place  has  received  his  en- 
couragement and  aid.  The  cause  of  religion  has 
in  him  a  warm  and  steadfast  friend,  and  the 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  is  an  official 
member,  has  been  especially  fortunate  in  receiv- 
ing numerous  evidences  of  his  interest.  He  was 
married,  April  19,  1883,  to  Miss  Anne  E., 
daughter  of  Samuel  B.  Reed.  They  have  two 
children,  Alice  and  Samuel  B. 

In  1877  Colonel  Bennitt  became  a  member  of 
the  State  Militia.  From  that  time  to  the  present 
he  has  been  more  or  less  intimately  connected 
with  military  affairs.  His  services  during  the 
Spanish-American  war  are  fresh  in  the  minds  of 
all.  It  is  but  natural  that  a  man  of  his  character 
and  mental  attributes  should  be  interested  in 
public  affairs.  We  find  him  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  though  not  a  partisan.  Prior  to  1896  he 
supported  Democratic  principles.      During  that 


year,  when  the  Democratic  party  was  divided 
over  the  silver  question,  he  assisted  in  organizing 
the  National  Democratic  part}-,  which  nominated 
Palmer  and  Bucker  for  president  and  vice-presi- 
dent. In  the  campaign  that  followed  he  took  a 
leading  part.  He  has  often  been  selected  to  act 
as  delegate  to  county  and  state  conventions  and 
has  also  held  numerous  local  offices,  including 
those  of  alderman  and  city  attorney. 


MAMUEL  BENEDICT  REED  was  born  in 
/\  Arlington,  Vt.,  November  18,  1818,  a  son 
\z)  of  Thomas  B.  and  Esther  (Benedict)  Reed, 
natives  of  New  Hampshire.  When  he  was  a 
small  child  his  parents  settled  near  what  is  now 
Ottawa,  Canada,  but,  not  liking  that  country, 
they  returned  to  the  States,  locating  in  western 
New  York.  In  1S42  he  was  present  at  acelebra- 
tion  in  honor  of  Lafayette.  His  education  was 
obtained  in  public  schools  and  an  academy. 
While  yet  a  boy  he  was  employed  as  a  rodman  on 
the  Erie  Canal.  In  1844  he  accompanied  the  fam- 
ily to  Joliet  and  soon  afterward  settled  on  a  farm 
west  of  the  city,  which  he  still  owns.  His  first 
railroad  experience  west  of  New  York  state  was 
on  the  Detroit  &  Pontiac  Railroad.  Afterward 
he  was  with  the  Michigan  Central  system,  later 
with  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern, 
which  road  he  constructed  into  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago, connecting  that  town  for  the  first  time  with 
the  east  by  rail.  He  was  chosen  civil  engineer 
of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  which  he  located 
out  of  Chicago  on  the  old  Oswego  &  Indiana 
and  plank  road  charter.  In  selecting  the  route 
through  Joliet  he  chose  aline  crossing  Eastern 
avenue  near  Osgood  street,  but  the  people 
clamored  for  a  railroad  in  the  center  of  the  vil- 
lage; consequently  the  line  was  changed  as  now 
located.  From  the  eastern  division  of  the  Rock 
Island  road  he  took  up  the  construction  of  the 
division  ending  at  the  Mississippi  River,  thus 
completing  the  first  railroad  from  the  east  to  that 
river,  and  he  also  built  the  first  bridge  across  the 


594 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


river,  it  being  at  Rock  Island.  He  engaged  in 
constructing  the  Washington  branch  of  the  Rock 
Island  and  the  Burlington  &  Missouri  River 
Railroad,  which  was  the  first  to  reach  the  Mis- 
souri River. 

In  1S64  Mr.  Reed  was  commissioned  to  go  to 
Salt  Lake  City  and  secure  the  aid  of  the  military 
commander  and  Brigham  Young  in  selecting  a 
feasible  route  for  a  railroad  through  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  After  two  years  of  hardship  and 
dangers  he  reported  the  route  along  which  the 
Union  Pacific  road  was  later  built.  In  1866  he 
was  made  superintendent  of  construction  of  the 
last-named  road.  Under  his  supervision  the 
work  of  building  was  pushed  with  remarkable 
energy  and  swiftness.  The  record  of  construc- 
tion was  eight  miles  and  three  thousand  feet  of 
railway  in  one  day,  a  feat  which  has  never  been 
surpassed.  Mr.  Reed  afterward  stated  that,  had 
he  been  permitted,  the  railroad  could  have  been 
completed  as  far  west  as  the  Humboldt  Moun- 
tains instead  of  Promontory  Point,  one  thousand 
and  one  hundred  miles  west  of  Omaha,  where 
the  two  roads  met  in  1869.  In  this  very  re- 
sponsible work,  Mr.  Reed  was  entrusted  with 
millions  of  dollars.  To  this  trust  he  proved  most 
faithful.  Only  one  man  ever  attempted  to  bribe 
him  (although  bribery  was  rampant  at  the  time) 
and  this  man  met  with  such  serious  consequences 
that  he  at  once  retired  from  business. 

After  the  completion  of  the  Union  Pacific  Rail- 
road, Mr.  Reed  had  charge  of  the  building  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  from  Memphis  to  New 
Orleans.  Afterward  he  was  receiver  of  the  old 
Chicago,  Pekin  &  Southwestern  Railroad.  In 
1883  he  took  charge  of  the  work  for  the  Canadian 
Pacific  Railroad  from  Winnipeg  west,  but  was 
compelled  to  give  up  the  contract  on  account  of 
illness.  However,  in  1884,  when  sixty  five  years 
of  age,  he  traversed  on  foot  three  hundred  miles 
of  almost  trackless  forest  in  British  Columbia  and 
reported  upon  what  he  regarded  as  the  best  route 
for  the  Canadian  Pacific  in  its  crossing  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  after  the  work  had  been  aban- 
doned by  the  British  engineer.  His  report,  when 
published  in  Canada,  was  the  target  of  the  most 
violent  newspaper  attacks  and  it  was  the  consen- 


sus of  public  opinion  that  his  route  was  imprac- 
ticable. In  spite  of  that,  the  road  was  built  as 
laid  out  by  him  and  has  been  in  successful  opera- 
tion ever  since. 

For  some  years  Mr.  Reed  has  spent  his  time 
in  Joliet,  where  he  is  a  most  honored  citizen.  In 
the  care  of  his  farm,  in  the  supervision  of  his 
financial  interests,  and  in  indulging  his  fondness 
for  the  study  of  plant  life  and  natural  history, 
the  afternoon  of  his  busy  life  is  being  happily 
passed.  He  was  married  at  Geneseo,  111.,  in 
1855,  his  wife  being  Miss  Jane  E.  Earl,  who  died 
in  August,  1896.  They  became  the  parents  of 
three  daughters,  one  of  whom  is  the  wife  of  Col. 
Fred  Bennitt,  of  Joliet;  another  married  L.  H. 
Hyde,  and  the  third  is  Mrs.  Jennie  Dwight,  of 
Denver,  Colo. 


r~ELIX  INGOLDSBY,  a  retired  farmer  of 
r3  Troy  Township,  is  one  of  the  oldest  surviving 
I  residents  of  Will  County,  having  settled  here 
in  1844.  He  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1817,  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  that  country,  remaining  on 
a  farm  there  until  his  emigration  to  America  in 
1842.  He  crossed  the  ocean  in  thirty  days  and 
anchored  in  New  York,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
From  there  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Joliet,  where  he  was  employed  for  five  years. 
Meantime  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  laud,  which 
he  rented.  In  1849  he  joined  the  great  throng 
of  gold-seekers  and  crossed  the  plains  to  Califor- 
nia as  a  member  of  a  party  of  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty.  For  almost  three  years  he  engaged 
in  mining,  in  which  he  met  with  fair  success.  On 
his  return  he  came  via  the  isthmus  of  Panama 
and  Cuba  and  Jamaica,  landing  in  New  York. 
There  he  married,  and  accompanied  by  his  wife, 
once  more  came  to  Will  County,  this  time  settling 
on  section  29,  Troy  Township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  began  with  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  and 
added  to  it  from  time  to  time  until  he  acquired 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  all  of  which  is  in 
one  body.  He  made  a  specialty  of  cattle- raising, 
and  also  bought  and  sold  horses,  in  which  lines 
of  work  he  made  considerable  money.     At  the 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


595 


time  of  his  settlement  in  Troy  Township  there 
were  no  improvements,  land  was  raw,  and  neither 
canal  nor  railroad  had  been  built.  All  of  the 
improvements  on  his  laud  were  made  by  him 
personally,  and  the  fine  farm  represents  the  re- 
sults of  his  industry.  Politically  a  Democrat,  he 
served  as  highway  commissioner  and  for  sixteen 
years  was  justice  of  the  peace.  For  fifty-five 
years  he  attended  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church 
in  Joliet,  but  is  now  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  in 
Minooka.  In  1852,  in  New  York,  he  married 
Cecilia  Kiernan.  They  have  three  children:  Anna 
Maria,  Bernard  and  Margaret. 


(TUDGE  FRANCIS  GOODSPEED,  deceased, 
I  a  pioneer  of  1847  in  Joliet,  was  born  in  Tioga 
G/  County,  Pa.,  January  25,  1821,  a  son  of  John 
Goodspeed,  a  merchant.  He  spent  two  years  in 
Genesee  Seminary  at  Lima,  N.  Y. ,  after  which 
he  came  to  Joliet.  He  entered  the  office  of  Hon. 
Hugh  Henderson  and  engaged  in  the  study  of 
law.  In  184S  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
Shortly  afterward  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
another  attorney,  upon  whose  death  he  became  a 
partner  of  Hon.  Josiah  McRoberts,  and  later  was 
with  Hon.  Henry  Suapp  and  Augustus  F.  Knox. 
In  1877,  on  the  formation  of  this  judicial  circuit, 
he  was  elected  to  fill  the  new  seat  on  the  bench. 
In  1S78  he  was  elected  for  a  term  of  six  years, 
and  remained  on  the  bench  until  June,  1884, 
when,  owing  to  poor  health,  he  resigned.  Dur- 
ing his  earlier  life  he  did  much  to  promote  the 
success  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  filled  many 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  within  the 
gift  of  the  same.  In  1S61  he  was  selected  as 
delegate  to  the  constitutional  committee  which 
met  in  Springfield,  and  he  took  an  important 
part  in  the  matters  before  that  body.  After  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  affiliated  with  the 
Republican  party.  His  service  as  mayor  of  Joliet 
was  most  satisfactory  and  the  city  advanced  under 
his  able  direction.  His  influence  was  widely  felt, 
both  as  attorney,  jurist  and  private  citizen. 

In  1866  Judge  Goodspeed  erected  a  fine  resi- 
dence  on   South    Chicago  street,   just   south   of 


Joliet.  This  was  at  the  time  one  of  the  finest 
houses  in  or  near  the  city,  and  was  provided 
with  modern  improvements,  including  hot  and 
cold  water  and  gas,  the  latter  being  furnished  by 
his  private  gas  plant.  Surrounding  the  house 
were  fifteen  acres  of  ground,  forming  an  ideal 
homestead.  On  the  place  Judge  Goodspeed  had 
a  herd  of  fine  Jersey  cattle.  He  invested  consid- 
erably in  farm  property,  and  his  widow  still  owns 
some  farm  land,  but  she  now  makes  her  home  on 
Union  street,  occupying  a  residence  which  the 
judge  purchased  in  1885  and  in  which  his  death 
occurred  April  10,  1889.  Mrs.  Goodspeed  was 
Frances  Henderson,  daughter  of  Dryden  and 
Maria  (Coe)  Henderson,  natives  of  Herkimer 
Count)-,  N.  Y.  She  was  born  in  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  and  became  the  wife  of  Judge  Good- 
speed  in  1864.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
sons:  John  C.  (who  died  in  October,  1883), 
Charles  F.  and  Frederick. 


EHARLES  B.  GARNSEY  was  born  in  Lima, 
Livingston  County,  N.  Y.,  October  25, 
1842,  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Emily  (Bene- 
dict) Garnsey,  natives  of  Saratoga  County, 
N.  Y.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Nathan, 
changed  the  spelling  of  the  family  name  from 
Garnesy  to  the  form  now  in  general  use.  The 
Garnesys  originally  came  from  England  to  Stam- 
ford, Conn.,  while  the  Benedicts  were  also  early 
English  settlers  of  Connecticut.  The  subject  of 
this  article  was  the  oldest  of  three  sons,  two  of 
whom  are  living.  He  was  educated  in  public 
schools  and  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  in 
Lima.  May  7,  1859,  was  the  date  of  his  arrival 
at  Wilmington,  Will  County,  111.  He  worked 
on  a  farm  and  later  clerked  in  a  store  there, 
thence  went  to  Manteno,  Kankakee  County.  In 
1861  he  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law  in 
Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated  the  next  year 
with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  In  July, 1862, heenlisted 
in  Company  A,  One  Hundredth  Infantry,  and 
went  to  the  front,  where  he  took  part  in  various 
engagements,  including  Stone  River  and  Chat- 
tanooga, and  participated  in  the  Atlanta   cam- 


596 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


paign  from  Dalton  to  Atlanta,  returning  under 
Thomas  to  Nashville.  In  April,  1863,  he  was 
made  commissary  sergeant.  In  June,  1865,  he 
was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  and  on  the  1st  of 
July  was  discharged  in  Chicago. 

August  7,  1865,  Mr.  Garnsey  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  Chicago.  He  began  to  practice  in 
Joliet,  having  Thomas  H.  Breckenridge  as  part- 
ner from  1 87 1  to  1875,  after  which  he  was  alone 
until  1877,  and  then  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Garnsey  &  Knox.  From  1867  to  1871 
he  was  master  in  chancer}'  for  Will  County.  In 
1877  he  was  elected  corporation  counsel  of  Joliet, 
which  office  he  held  for  two  years.  In  1882  he 
was  elected  county  judge,  and  four  years  later 
was  re-elected,  holding  the  office  from  December, 
1882,  to  December,  1890.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  State  Bar  Association.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  fraternally  a  Mason  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
was  married  in  Wilmington  to  Mary  A.  Hender- 
son, who  was  born  in  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y., 
and  by  whom  he  has  two  sons,  John  Henderson 
Garnsey,  a  partner  of  his  father;  and  Charles 
B.,Jr. 


GlLFRED  WENBERG.  During  the  period 
L_l  of  his  residence  in  Joliet  Mr.  Wenberg  has 
/  I  been  successfully  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building,  and  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  ex- 
perts in  his  chosen  occupation.  Among  the  con- 
tracts that  he  has  filled  may  be  mentioned  the 
following:  Beach  block  on  Chicago  street,  Munroe 
Hall  Annex,  Reichmann  and  Abbott  building  on 
the  corner  of  Chicago  and  Jefferson  streets,  Cal- 
mer building  on  Jefferson  street,  Farragut  school, 
county  sheriff's  residence,  the  Barnes  residence 
on  Richards  street,  and  considerable  bridge  work 
for  bridge  companies  and  the  Elgin,  Joliet  & 
Eastern  Railroad.  He  built  a  row  of  houses  on 
Cass  street,  also  the  entire  site  of  the  stone 
quarry,  and  has  engaged  in  building  not  only  in 
this  city  and  county,  but  also  throughout  north- 
ern Illinois. 

Near  Boros,  Sweden,   Mr.  Wenberg  was  born 
April  25,  1858.     He  was  one   of  five  sous  and 


three  daughters,  of  whom  all  the  sons  and  one 
daughter  came  to  America,  and  three  sons  are 
now  living.  John,  who  is  now  in  Sweden,  is  a 
farmer  and  grist-miller;  Frank,  who  was  with 
Alfred,  died  in  Joliet;  Peter,  who  was  also  con- 
nected with  Alfred  in  business,  was  the  first  of  the 
family  to  pass  from  earth;  Louis  is  a  contractor 
in  Indiana.  The  oldest  brother,  on  coming  to 
America,  adopted  the  name  of  Wenberg,  which 
the  others  later  assumed.  The  father,  Andrew 
Johnson,  owned  an  estate  in  Sweden,  where  he 
died.  The  mother,  Britta,  was  a  daughter  of 
Lars  Hessleholmer,  a  large  farmer;  she  is  now 
living  in  Joliet,  where  she  is  known  as  Mrs. 
Wenberg,  the  name  taken  by  her  sons.  In  re- 
ligion she  is  of  the  Lutheran  faith. 

At  fifteen  years  of  age  our  subject  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  trade  of  a  mason  and  bricklayer,  at 
which  he  worked  for  some  time.  In  1880  he 
came  to  America  and  began  to  work  at  his  trade 
in  Joliet.  His  brother,  John,  who  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1869,  returned  to  Sweden  in  1874,  and 
has  since  alternated  between  the  two  countries. 
About  1872  Peter  came  to  Joliet,  a  year  after  his 
sister,  Ida,  had  settled  here.  Frank,  Louis, 
Alfred,  with  their  mother,  came  in  1880.  After- 
ward Alfred  worked  at  his  trade  during  the  day 
and  of  evenings,  for  some  time,  attended  a  night 
school,  in  order  to  gain  a  knowledge  of  the  En- 
glish language  and  customs.  In  188 1  he  bought 
a  quarry  on  Cass  street  and  Maple  avenue,  and 
with  his  brother,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wen- 
berg Bros.,  began  in  the  quarry  business  and 
contracting.  In  1895  the  quarry  was  worked  out 
and  he  retired  from  the  business.  In  1883  he 
became  interested  in  contracting  in  Englewood, 
Chicago,  where  he  continued  for  four  years,  and 
then,  returning  to  Joliet,  continued  contracting 
in  this  city.  Since  1892  he  has  been  alone 
in  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet  Build- 
ers' Association. 

The  various  enterprises  with  which  the  Swedes 
of  Joliet  are  identified  find  a  warm  friend  in  Mr. 
Wenberg.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Scandi- 
navian Sick  Benefit  Association.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  and  served 
as  superintendent  of  the  building  committee  at 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


597 


the  time  of  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship. 
As  trustee  and  treasurer  he  has  been  active  in 
church  work.  He  is  one  of  the  two  survivors  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  congregation,  and 
from  the  time  of  the  starting  of  the  church  to  the 
present  day  he  has  never  weakened  in  his  friend- 
ship for  the  church  and  his  sympathy  with  its 
work.  In  the  Sunday-school  he  has  been  an  in- 
terested worker.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  fraternally  holds  membership  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 


r"RANCIS  WILLIAM  PLANT,  A.  M.,  was 
r^  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  September  13,  1843, 
I  f  a  son  of  James  and  Hannah  A.  (Mason) 
Plant.  His  father,  also  a  native  of  Utica,  born 
June  16,  1799,  was  a  farmer  in  the  suburbs  of 
Utica  until  the  growth  of  the  city  caused  him  to 
plat  his  land,  which  is  now  about  the  center  of 
the  town.  He  died  there  January  5,  i860.  His 
wife  was  born  May  19,  18 12,  and  died  August  1, 
1890.  They  had  two  children,  Helen,  wife  of 
Thomas  D.  Catlin,  of  Ottawa,  111.,  and  Francis 
William.  James  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Plant, 
who  removed  from  Connecticut  to  New  York;  he 
married  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Sarah 
(Lindsley)  Potter.  Mr.  Potter  held  a  commis- 
sion in  the  war  of  1812  as  captain. 

After  graduating  from  Utica  Academy  in  i860 
our  subject  entered  Hamilton  College  in  Clinton, 
N.  Y.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1864  with  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  He  was  a  classmate  of  the  pres- 
ent secretary  of  war,  Elihu  Root,  and  other  men 
now  well  known.  For  two  years  he  was  con- 
nected with  a  bank  in  Utica,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  the  book  and  stationery  business  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Davis,  Gilbert  &  Plant. 
In  1869  he  moved  from  Utica  to  Joliet,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  T.  A.  Mason 
and  H.  B.  Plant.  At  a  subsequent  date  the  firm 
became  F.  W.  &  H.  B.  Plant,  and  they  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors  and  blinds  and 
built  up  a  large  planing  mill  business.  Formally 
years  he  was  also  president  of  the  People's  Build- 
ing &  Loan  Association. 

3i 


In  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  October  16,  1866,  Mr. 
Plant  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Merle,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  City  November  17,  1845,  and 
died  in  Joliet  April  23,  1889.  They  had  five 
children,  Helen  Merle,  Laura,  Grace,  James 
Merle  and  Anna.  For  years  Mr.  Plant  was  a 
member  of  the  vestry  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  church  he 
aided  as  a  member  of  the  building  committee. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  In  1867  the  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  his 
alma  mater. 

Henry  B.  Plant,  who  was  our  subject's  partner 
in  business,  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah 
(Mason)  Plant,  and  was  born  January  11,  1831. 
His  first  work  was  under  his  uncle,  R.  B.  Mason, 
in  the  building  of  an  eastern  railroad.  After 
coining  west  he  was  employed  on  the  surveying 
corps  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  under  his 
uncle;  subsequently  he  was  an  officer  with  the 
Wabash  Railroad  Company.  For  some  time  he 
carried  on  a  bank  business  in  Hastings,  Minn. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  lieutenant  in  an 
Illinois  battery.  Afterward  he  was  in  business 
in  Cairo,  111.,  and  then  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
carried  on  a  lumber  business  with  our  subject. 
He  held  the  receivership  of  the  Taylor  coal  mine 
at  Lasalle  and  later  was  manager  of  coal  mines  at 
What  Cheer,  Iowa.  His  last  years  were  spent  on 
a  ranch  on  the  North  Platte  River  in  Nebraska. 
His  widow  now  makes  her  home  in  Champaign, 
111. 


[ALTER  H.  ROWLEY,  assessor  of  Homer 
Township,  was  born  in  i860  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  His  father,  Alfred 
G.,  a  native  of  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Will  County  at  nine  years 
of  age  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
Homer  Township.  From  the  time  he  became  of 
age  until  his  death  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace;  for  some  years  was  supervisor  and  as- 
sessor, also  held  other  local  offices.  He  was 
active  in  the  Baptist  Church.  He  died  in  1887, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  His  father,  Capt. 
Jairah  Rowley,  was  the  son  of  an  Englishman 


59S 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  was  born  in  New  York  in  1777.  During  the 
war  of  18 1 2  he  was  a  captain.  He  was  a  large 
contractor  in  the  building  of  the  Erie  canal.  In 
1833  he  came  to  Will  County  and  settled  near 
Lockport,  on  a  farm  now  occupied  by  Frank 
Rowley,  buying  land  from  the  government  at 
$1.25  an  acre.  Afterward  he  bought  a  large 
tract  in  Homer  Township.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  at  what  was  known  as  Big  Yankee 
settlement.  The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the 
name  of  Lydia  Hall  Laufear  and  was  born  in 
New  York;  she  is  now  living  at  the  old  home- 
stead with  our  subject.  Her  father,  AsaLanfear, 
was  born  in  New  York  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1835,  settling  in  Homer  Township  and  buying 
land  at  the  first  land  sale  in  Chicago. 

Calvin  Rowley,  the  eldest  son  of  Captain 
Rowley,  came  to  Will  County  about  1830  and 
engaged  in  trading  with  the  Indians,  having  a 
store  near  what  is  now  Lockport.  After  some 
years  he  went  to  Rockford,  111.,  where  he  died 
at  seventy-eight  years.  He  had  made  several 
trips  to  California,  the  first  being  in  1S49,  after 
which  he  returned  east  with  considerable  gold. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained  in 
the  Englewood  high  school  and  the  Metropolitan 
business  college  of  Chicago.  For  two  years  he 
was  employed  in  a  grocery  in  Joliet.  In  1880  he 
returned  to  the  homestead  and  has  since  carried 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising.  After  his 
father  died,  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  being 
thus  rendered  vacant,  he  was  commissioned  to 
the  office,  which  he  has  since  held.  For  five 
years  he  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Homer  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company.  In 
1S97  and  1899  he  was  elected  township  assessor. 


roundings.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  on  his 
father's  farm.  Like  many  of  the  country  boys, 
he  assisted  on  the  farm  during  summers  and  at- 
tended the  district  school  in  the  winter  months, 
acquiring  a  practical  education.  He  naturally 
grew  into  the  ways  of  farm  life  and,  arriving  at 
man's  estate,  chose  agriculture  for  his  occupation. 
In  his  farm  work  he  has  shown  evidence  of  good 
judgment,  and  by  his  industry  and  energy  has 
already  acquired  a  high  position  as  a  progressive 
agriculturist.  About  1 894  he  moved  to  his  father- 
in-law's  farm,  and  here  he  has  since  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  in  raising  a  fine  quality  of 
live  stock. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cole  is  a  stanch  Republican  and 
his  voice  has  often  been  heard  advocating  the 
principles  of  his  chosen  part\\  In  local  matters 
he  is  especially  active,  aiding  as  far  as  possible 
such  measures  as  have  for  their  object  the  pro- 
motion of  the  welfare  of  the  people.  He  married 
the  only  daughter  of  Aaron  Greenwood,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Manhattan,  and  whose  sketch  appears 
in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  have  two  chil- 
dren. 


"T  P.  COLE,  one  of  the  enterprising  farmers 
'p  of  Manhattan  Township,  was  born  on  a  farm 
__  ,  situated  a  few  miles  from  his  present  home. 
He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Cole,  who  came  to  this 
county  in  a  very  early  day  and  for  years  was  one 
of  the  prosperous  and  prominent  farmers  of  his 
locality.  From  his  earliest  recollections  our 
subject  has  been  familiar  with  his  present  sur- 


UJELS  BENSSON,  who  for  years  has  held  the 
r#  position  of  engineer  of  the  Joliet  city  water 
\fo  works,  is  the  oldest  engineer  in  this  place 
in  point  of  years  of  active  business  experience, 
and  he  is  also  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  ef- 
ficient as  well.  At  once  after  coming  to  America 
in  1878  he  settled  in  Joliet,  and  here  his  home 
has  since  been  made.  For  three  months  he 
worked  in  the  blast  furnace,  and  then,  the  water 
works  being  under  process  of  construction,  he 
was  given  employment  as  fireman,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  three  and  one-half  years.  Since 
then  he  has  been  engineer  and  superintendent  of 
machinery,  holding  the  position  through  all  the 
changes  in  the  political  administration  of  the 
city. 

Successive  generations  of  the  Bensson  family 
owned  the  estatecalled  "Boglaxehutt,"'  atSkane, 
Christianstad,  Sweden.  There  John  Bensson, 
Sr. ,  was  born  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
succeeded  by    his  son,   John,  Jr.,   who  married 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


599 


Karina  Munsoii,  daughter  of  a  farmer  in  Ronne- 
bode.  They  became  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, all  but  one  of  whom  are  still  living,  four  in 
Sweden,  and  a  son  and  two  daughters  in  Joliet. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  the  fam- 
ily homestead  August  n,  1853,  and  remained 
there  until  twenty  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
served  for  two  years  in  the  Swedish  army.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-three  he  hired  as  a  farm  hand, 
but  after  a  year  went  to  Stockholm  and  secured 
work  in  a  large  machine  shop,  where  he  learned 
the  machinist's  and  engineer's  trades.  For  two 
and  one-half  years  he  was  employed  as  engineer 
on  the  Swedish  Railroad  between  Stockholm  and 
Gottenburg.  On  resigning  his  position  he  came 
to  America  to  seek  a  livelihood  in  this  country. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
and  for  some  time  has  been  one  of  its  trustees; 
also  served  upon  the  building  committee  at  the 
time  of  the  erection  of  the  house  of  worship.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  North  Star  Association,  and 
politically  gives  his  support  to  the  Republican 
party. 

.  In  a  residence  which  he  built,  on  the  corner  of 
Clay  street  and  Youngs  avenue,  Mr.  Benssonhas 
for  some  years  made  his  home.  He  was  married 
in  this  city  to  Miss  Nellie  Nilson,  who  was  born 
in  Skaue,  Sweden,  being  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Nilson,  a  woodworker  in  that  town.  The  two 
children  born  of  their  marriage  are  Nels  Victor 
and  Clara  Mabel. 


[""■RANK  NEWKIRK.  There  are  compara- 
K)  tively  few  who  pause  to  consider  our  in- 
|  '  debtedness  to  railroad  engineers.  In  the 
darkness  of  the  night  and  in  the  midst  of  wind 
or  rain  or  snow,  they  carry  safely  the  human  be- 
ings committed  to  their  care;  and,  when  we  re- 
flect upon  the  small  number  of  accidents  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  trains,  we  are  constrained 
to  say  that,  as  a  class,  engineers  are  the  most 
trustworthy  men  in  the  world.  Certainly  such  a 
statement  may  be  made  with  truth  concerning 
Mr.  Newkirk,  who  is  an  engineer  between  Joliet 
and  Chicago,  and  whose  home  is  at  No.  308 
Richards  street,  Joliet. 


Concerning  the  genealogy  of  the  Newkirk  fam- 
ily, reference  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  James  E. 
Newkirk.  Our  subject  was  born  on  the  home 
farm  adjoining  Joliet  in  1858  and  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  same  place,  meantime  attending  dis- 
trict schools.  His  fiist  work  was  as  teamster  for 
the  Joliet  Stone  Company.  In  January,  1884, 
he  became  fireman  on  the  old  Chicago,  Pekin  & 
Southwestern  Railroad  between  Chicago  and  Pe- 
kin, being  first  on  the  freight  and  later  on  the 
passenger  train.  For  some  months,  during  1886, 
he  was  employed  in  the  Streator  shops,  and  after- 
ward was  an  engineer  on  a  switch  engine  in  the 
Streator  yards  for  six  weeks.  His  next  position 
was  that  of  engineer  on  the  freight  train  between 
Pekin  and  Chicago.  After  two  and  one-half 
years  he  was  made  passenger  engineer  and  ran 
between  Joliet  and  Chicago,  then  between  Chi- 
cago and  Pekin.  His  next  position  was  as  en- 
gineer on  the  passenger  train  between  Chicago 
and  Fort  Madison,  a  run  of  two  hundred  and  for- 
ty miles,  making  four  hundred  and  eighty  miles 
on  the  round  trip.  Since  June,  1899,  he  has  run 
between  Joliet  and  Chicago.  An  exceedingly 
careful  and  painstaking  man,  he  has  had  no  fatal 
accidents,  and  those  he  has  had  were  the  result 
of  the  negligence  of  others,  not  through  any 
fault  of  his  own.  At  Lorenzo,  in  1888,  his  car 
was  wrecked,  but  no  one  was  injured  but  himself, 
and  his  injuries  were  slight.  April  28,  1899,  a 
stock  car  was  blown  from  a  siding  to  the  main 
track,  and  his  train  ran  into  it,  but  no  one  was 
hurt. 

Besides  his  other  interests,  Mr.  Newkirk  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Keltie  Stone  Company.  He 
was  raised  a  Mason  in  Mount  Joliet  Lodge  No. 
42,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  also  connected  with 
Joliet  Chapter  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Joliet  Com- 
mandery  No.  4,  K.  T.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers.  In  poli- 
tics he  votes  the  Republican  ticket  in  both  local 
and  national  elections.  November  16,  1887,  in 
Lemont,  Illinois,  he  married  Miss  Alice  Neill, 
who  was  born  there,  and  by  whom  he  has  two 
children,  Fred  Hallock  and  Ruth.  Mrs.  New- 
kirk is  a  member  of  the  Eastern   Star  and  the 


6oo 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ladies'  Order  of  Maccabees,  and  in  religion  is 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Nevvkirk,  John  Neill, 
was  a  blacksmith  in  Perth,  Scotland,  but  after 
coining  to  America  engaged  in  farming  in  Cale- 
donia, Wis.,  where  he  died.  His  widow,  Mar- 
garet, is  still  living  in  Wisconsin.  Both  were 
Presbyterians  from  their  childhood  days.  James 
B.  Neill,  Mrs.  Newkirk's  father,  was  born  in 
Perthshire  and  settled  in  Wisconsin  when  twenty 
years  of  age,  but  afterward  went  back  east  and 
married  in  New  York.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
served  as  captain  of  Company  C,  New  York  In- 
fantry, from  1 86 1  to  1865,  and  was  wounded 
while  in  the  service.  After  the  war  he  settled  in 
Leuiont,  111.,  and  worked  as  a  blacksmith.  He 
is  now  living,  retired,  on  the  west  side  in  Joliet. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  He  had  five  children  by  his  marriage 
to  Hannah  Hallock,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
state;  her  father,  Josiah  Hallock,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont,  removed  thence  to  New  York 
and  later  carried  on  a  hotel  business  in  Lemont, 
after  which  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Auburn 
house  in  Joliet;  he  died  in  Lemont. 


"HOMAS  B.  STANNER  has  been  one  ot 
the  most  successful  farmers  of  Dupage 
Township.  While  he  was  not  obliged,  as 
are  many,  to  start  in  life  wholly  unaided,  yet  he 
none  the  less  deserves  credit  for  the  success  he 
has  gained.  When  he  began  for  himself  his 
father  gave  him  eighty  acres  of  land  in  this  town- 
ship. With  this  for  a  beginning,  he  steadily 
worked  his  way  forward,  by  industry  and  good 
judgment  adding  to  his  holdings,  until  his  prop- 
erty now  represents  thousands  of  dollars.  In 
his  home  farm  he  has  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  and  also  owns  an  eighty-acre  farm,  besides 
valuable  property  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  nine 
buildings  in  Romeoville,  Will  County.  He  has 
rented  his  farm  and  expects  to  remove  to  Chicago, 
with  the  intention  of  spending  his  declining  years 
in  retirement,  surrounded  by  the  comforts  his  in- 
dustry has  made  possible. 


Mr.  Stanner  was  born  in  Chicago  November 
n,  1837.  His  father,  Martin,  was  a  native  of 
England,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Ireland, 
where  he  was  also  a  collector  of  rents  and  taxes. 
About  1835  he  came  to  America,  accompanied  by 
his  wife.  He  settled  in  Chicago  and  secured 
work  in  a  brewery.  He  was  offered  the  lots 
where  the  McCormick  factory  now  stands  in 
payment  for  one  week's  work,  but  refused  to 
take  them.  From  Chicago  he  came  to  Dupage 
Township,  working  for  a  farmer  at  Barber's 
Corner.  Later  he  bought  a  claim  of  fifty  acres, 
which  he  brought  under  cultivation.  He  then 
bought  a  tract  just  east  of  the  Indiana  boundary. 
His  next  purchase  was  one  hundred  and  two 
acres,  which  he  improved,  and  on  which  he  made 
his  home  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war. 
After  a  short  visit  to  Ireland  he  enlisted  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  was  a  member  of  the  guard  at 
Booth's  grave.  While  with  General  Rosecrans 
in  Texas  he  was  three  times  taken  a  prisoner,  but 
each  time  was  exchanged.  His  service  was  prin- 
cipally in  the  west  and  southwest.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army,  and 
was  assigned  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  had 
charge  of  the  engines,  etc.,  at  the  barracks.  He 
stood  high  among  the  other  officers,  and  was 
given  many  privileges  not  usually  accorded 
soldiers.  While  on  duty  at  Columbus  he  died 
suddenly  of  heart-disease,  when  sixty -three  years 
of  age. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary  Cain,  a 
native  of  Ireland.  Like  her  husband,  she  was  a 
faithful  adherent  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Her 
death  occurred  on  the  home  farm  in  this  county 
when  she  was  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  Of  her 
six  children,  four  attained  mature  years.  The 
eldest  of  these  was  Thomas  B.,  of  this  sketch. 
He  took  charge  of  the  home  farm  when  his  father 
enlisted  in  the  army,  and  subsequently  maintained 
its  supervision,  having  resided  here  ever  since 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  in  Chicago. 
During  that  time  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Hatch 
house,  but  not  finding  the  occupation  congenial 
he  sold  the  place  and  returned  to  his  farm.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  Roman  Catholics.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  held  the  office  of  chief  ranger  in  the 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


60 1 


Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat  in  national  affairs,  but  liberal  in  local 
matters.  For  seventeen  years  he  held  office  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  a  position  that  he  filled  with 
excellent  judgment,  tact  and  impartiality. 

By  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Stanner  to  Annie  E., 
daughter  of  Martin  Dixon,  six  children  were 
born,  namely:  Fannie  and  Nellie,  both  of  whom 
are  married;  Martin  C,  who  died  at  twenty-one 
years  of  age;  Kittie,  who  was  four  years  old  at 
the  time  of  her  death;  Thomas,  who  operates  a 
farm  belonging  to  his  father  in  this  township; 
John  B.,  now  of  Chicago,  who  enlisted  in  the 
Seventh  Cavalry  during  the  Spanish- American 
war  and  served  until  he  was  honorably  discharged 
in  Cuba,  April  3,  1899;  James  E.  and  Louella, 
both  at  home. 


HON.  URI  OSGOOD  came  to  Joliet  in  June, 
1836,  when  this  now  large  and  flourishing 
city  was  an  insignificant  hamlet.  As  the 
town  increased  in  size  his  influence  as  a  citizen 
grew.  He  was  elected  to  various  offices,  and 
from  1854  to  i860  served  as  a  member  of  the  state 
senate.  In  i860  he  was  the  Democratic  candi- 
date for  congress  from  this  district,  but  was  de- 
feated by  Owen  Lovejoy.  Afterward  he  engaged 
in  the  general  practice  of  law  until  his  death, 
February  8,  1871.  During  the  entire  period  of 
his  residence  in  Joliet  he  resided  at  the  corner  of 
Jefferson  street  and  Eastern  avenue.  January  1, 
1839,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  V.  Aldrich.  They 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  were 
living  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Osgood's  death,  namely: 
Augustus  A.,  Algernon  S.,  and  Henry  R.,  of 
Chicago;  Virginia  A.,  wife  of  George  S.  House, 
of  Joliet;  and  Emma  A.,  who  married  Charles 
Seymour,  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  later  of  Oakland, 
Cal. 


Harper,  Susquehanna  County,  where  they  spent 
their  remaining  years.  Their  children  afterward 
removed  to  northern  Illinois,  and  one  son,  Levi, 
went  to  California  in  1852. 

In  October,  1834,  Fenner  Aldrich  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  Will  (then  a  part  of  Cook) 
County.  Before  the  separation  of  the  territory 
into  two  counties  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff.  He 
was  proprietor  of  two  hotels,  the  Juliet  house 
and  the  Exchange  house.  In  1836  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Will  County.  Three  years 
later  he  was  re-elected.  As  a  county  officer  and 
as  a  hotel  proprietor  he  became  widely  acquainted 
throughout  northern  Illinois,  and  his  friends 
were  as  numerous  as  his  acquaintances.  For  a 
time  he  conducted  the  St.  Nicholas  house  in 
Springfield,  but,  preferring  Joliet  as  a  place  of 
residence,  he  returned  and  conducted  the  Ex- 
change house  during  the  remainder  of  his  active 
life.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religion 
a  Universalist.  He  died  August  5,  18S4.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Sylvanus  Wade,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  passed  away  February  16, 
1872. 


|~~  ENNER  ALDRICH  was  born  in  Massachu- 
f3  setts  in  1803  and  was  a  member  of  a  pioneer 
I*  family  of  New  England.  His  parents,  David 
and  Mary  (Capron)  Aldrich,  removed  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  settled  on  a  large  tract  of  land  near 


3  STANLEY  BROWN,  for  seven  years  past 
the  principal  of  the  Joliet  high  school,  was 
,  born  near  Cumberland,  Ohio,  September 
13,  1863,  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Lorinda  A. 
(Robinson)  Brown.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  four  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Alma,  wife  of  James  Paisley,  a 
business  man  of  High  Hill,  Ohio;  J.  Stanley; 
Floyd,  who  lives  in  Peru,  Ind.,  and  is  engaged 
in  railroading;  and  Alice,  the  widow  of  Frederick 
Simms,  and  a  resident  of  Cumberland,  Ohio.  In 
tracing  the  history  of  the  Brown  family  back  to 
its  early  settlement  in  America  we  find  that  this 
branch  of  the  family  was  represented  in  Vir- 
ginia in  colonial  days.  William  Brown,  who 
was  the  son  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier  (a  mem- 
ber of  a  gallant  Virginia  brigade)  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County,  Va.,  in  1798,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood on  a  plantation.  While  he  was  still  a  boy 
the  war  of  18 12  occurred  and  he  went  to  the  front 
as  a  soldier  in  the  American  cause.     It  will  thus 


602 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


be  seen  that  patriotism  and  personal  courage  are 
family  characteristics.  On  his  return  home  he 
took  up  the  ordinary  routine  of  plantation  life, 
the  even  tenor  of  which  was  later  interrupted  by 
his  marriage  to  Miss  Maria  Graham.  Shortly 
afterward  he  and  his  wife  migrated  to  Ohio  and 
settled  near  Cumberland,  Muskingum  County, 
in  a  region  remote  from  civilization  and  bearing 
little  trace  of  its  subsequent  development.  En- 
tering a  section  of  land  he  began  the  pioneer  task 
of  grubbing,  clearing  and  cultivating  his  prop- 
erty. With  the  subsequent  increase  of  the  value 
of  the  laud  his  own  fortunes  were  enhanced,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  well-to-do.  A 
man  of  influence  he  held  many  local  offices  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  Republican  party  and 
its  work  in  his  county.  After  a  busy  and  useful 
existence,  the  latter  part  of  which  was  spent  in 
the  enjoyment  of  every  comfort,  he  died  in  1869. 

After  the  family  had  settled  in  Muskingum 
County,  George  W.  Brown  was  born  in  1830. 
There  he  grew  up,  studying  in  neighboring 
schools,  where  the  course  of  study  was  limited 
to  drills  in  the  "three  R's."  Subsequently, 
however,  by  self-culture  and  the  development  of 
his  vigorous  mind,  he  acquired  a  knowledge  that 
was  profound  and  varied.  No  startling  events 
have  marked  his  career.  He  still  lives  on  the 
spot  where  his  childhood  days  were  passed  and 
where  his  father  settled  on  moving  from  Vir- 
ginia. Like  all  the  members  of  the  family  con- 
cerning whom  anything  is  known,  he  is  a  pro- 
nounced Republican  and  has  never  swerved  from 
that  faith.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Republican  central  committee  of 
his  county.  Among  the  offices  he  has  held  are 
those  of  school  commissioner  and  overseer  of  the 
poor,  both  of  which  he  filled  efficiently  and  for 
some  years.  In  his  daily  life  he  has  exemplified 
the  sincerity  of  his  religious  belief.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  contributor 
to  its  works.  During  the  many  years  of  his  life 
as  an  agriculturist  he  has  been  prospered  finan- 
cially, and  has  also  gained  that  which  is  more  to 
ba  desired  than  riches — the  respect  of  his  asso- 
ciates and  the  warm  esteem  of  his  friends. 

The    first    marriage   of    George   \V.    Brown, 


occurring  in  1857,  united  him  with  Lorinda  A. 
Robinson,  who  was  born  near  High  Hill,  Ohio, 
in  1841  and  died  near  Cumberland  in  1869.  Her 
father,  Samuel  Robinson,  who  was  of  Pennsyl- 
vania-Dutch ancestry,  removed  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  about  1845,  and  in  later  years  became  a 
prominent  stock  dealer  of  his  locality,  buying 
stock  and  driving  them  to  Pittsburg  for  sale.  He 
died  in  1897,  when  in  his  seventy -seventh  year. 
After  the  death  of  our  subject's  mother  his  father 
married  a  second  time,  chosing  as  his  wife  Martha 
Alexander.  Three  children  were  born  of  their 
marriage,  two  of  whom  survive,  viz.:  Dwight, 
at  home;  and  Jennie,  wife  of  John  Hall,  a  mer- 
chant at  Renrock,  Ohio. 

Since  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  J.  Stanley 
Brown  has  been  a  teacher,  and  it  was  through 
his  early  efforts  as  an  instructor  in  country  and 
village  schools  that  he  earned  the  means  neces- 
sary for  the  completion  of  his  education.  It  was 
his  determination  to  acquire  a  thorough  educa- 
tion. Therefore  he  read  only  the  best  books  and 
studied  only  the  standard  authors.  For  six 
years  he  was  a  student  in  Dennison  University  at 
Granville,  Ohio,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1889  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  During  his 
course  he  gained  every  honor  that  was  offered 
and  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class.  Prior  to  his 
graduation  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  Latin 
and  Greek  in  Blandville  (Ky.)  College,  which  he 
accepted,  remaining  for  one  year,  and  then  re- 
signing in  order  to  accept  the  management  of  a 
similar  college  at  Arlington,  Ky.  The  latter 
position  he  filled  for  three  years.  From  it  he 
went  to  Oregon  as  president  of  the  State  Normal 
School  in  The  Dalles,  Oregon,  and  from  there 
came  to  Joliet  in  1S93.  Wherever  he  has  been 
located  there  has  been  a  noticeable  increase  in  the 
enrollment  of  students.  He  started  at  Arlington 
with  seventy-five,  and  when  he  left  there,  three 
years  later,  the  enrollment  was  three  hundred, 
this  remarkable  increase  being  almost  wholly 
due  to  his  skill  as  a  teacher.  When  he  came  to 
Joliet  there  were  less  than  two  hundred  in  the 
high  school  and  six  teachers  were  employed. 
Since  then  the  school  has  grown  wonderfully  in 
reputation  and  importance,  while  its  enrollment 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


603 


for  1899-1900  was  five  hundred  and  fifty  pupils, 
with  fourteen  teachers.  A  tribute  to  the  ability 
of  the  principal  is  the  success  of  the  work.  In- 
cidentally it  may  be  mentioned  that  every  year 
but  two  since  he  came  to  Joliet  he  has  received  an 
increase  of  salary.  The  high  school  is  the  largest 
township  high  school  in  the  United  States  and 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  as  well.  Recently  a 
contract  has  been  let  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
building  to  cost  $140,000  and  accommodate 
twelve  hundred  students.  Since  1893  the  gradu- 
ating classes  have  more  than  doubled  in  size. 
Graduates  are  admitted  without  examination  to 
any  college  that  will  admit  students  on  cer- 
tificates, and  graduates  are  accepted  into  Yale 
after  successful  examination.  The  majority  of 
recent  graduates  are  now  in  attendance  upon 
some  higher  institution  of  learning. 

In  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  December  26,  1891,  Mr. 
Brown  married  Miss  Lettie  May  Seitz,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Mary  (Shear)  Seitz,  of  Chicago. 
She  was  for  two  years  a  student  in  DePauw 
University  and  later  taught  in  Arlington  College. 
Her  maternal  ancestors  came  from  Holland  and 
settled  at  Coryman's  Hollow,  N.  Y. ,  later  gen- 
erations taking  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs 
in  that  locality.  Her  grandfather,  Israel  Shear, 
was  known  as  Colonel  Shear,  and  it  is  thought 
that  he  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution.  One  of 
his  sons,  John  Blodgett  .Shear,  was  chief  of  scouts 
connected  with  the  regular  army,  located  in  Col- 
orado for  a  number  of  years.  After  his  retire- 
ment from  the  army  he  became  interested  in 
mining  and  owned  a  number  of  valuable  silver 
mines. 

Three  children  were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brown,  Castle,  Virgil  and  Jean  (de- 
ceased.) 


3F.  WILSON.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Candia,  N.  H.,  and  at  the  age  of 
,  four  years  came  with  his  father's  family  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  Will 
County.  Subsequently  the  family  removed  to 
Joliet  Township  and  in  1862  he  came  to  Joliet. 


His  first  start  in  business  life  was  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  firm  of  G.  Munroe  &  Son,  general 
merchants,  with  whom  he  remained  for  four 
years.  Subsequently  was  engaged  for  three  years 
in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  agricultural  im- 
plements. 

Entering  the  office  of  the  Joliet  Iron  &  Steel 
Company,  he  was  made  acting  secretary  of  the 
company  in  1877,  and  upon  its  reorganization  as 
the  Joliet  Steel  Company  in  1879  became  office 
manager  and  assistant  to  the  general  superintend- 
ent. He  continued  in  this  capacity  until  ap- 
pointed auditor  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  in 
1891,  which  position  is  held  by  him  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  an  active,  progressive  business 
man,  and  has  added  many  important  improve- 
ments in  the  business  methods  of  his  company. 


(ILLIAM  W.  GREENWOOD,  who  has 
devoted  his  entire  active  life  to  farm  pur- 
suits in  New  Lenox  Township,  was  born 
in  1846  near  the  place  where  he  now  resides. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  Ann  (Brown) 
Greenwood,  and  a  grandson  of  John  Greenwood, 
Sr.,  whose  last  days  were  spent  in  America  in 
the  home  of  his  son.  His  father,  a  native  of 
Herefordshire,  England,  came  to  the  United 
States  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and  for  a  short 
time  was  employed  in  the  salt  works  in  New 
York.  About  1846  he  settled  in  what  is  now 
Will  County,  111.,  where  at  first  he  worked  for 
Judge  Davidson,  and  afterward  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  Joliet  Township.  The  last  few  years  of 
his  life  were  spent  in  the  city  of  Joliet,  where 
he  died  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight. 
Throughout  all  of  his  active  life  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  and  was  an  industrious, 
persevering  man.  His  wife  died  in  1874,  when 
fifty- five  years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children,  but  only  two  are  living, 
William  W.  and  George,  both  of  New  Lenox 
Township. 

Alternating  attendance  at  the  common  schools 
with  work  on  the  home  farm  our  subject  passed 


604 


GENEALOGICAL  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  years  of  youth.  As  there  was  an  immense 
amount  of  work  connected  with  the  clearing  and 
improving  of  the  home  farm  he  had  little  oppor- 
tunity to  engage  in  the  usual  sports  of  boyhood, 
and  his  attendance  at  school  was  limited  to  the 
three  winter  months.  When  he  was  twenty -one 
years  of  age  he  began  in  the  world  for  himself 
and  has  since  conducted  farm  pursuits,  in  which 
he  has  met  with  fair  success.  He  is  one  of  the 
oldest  native-born  citizens  of  his  township,  and 
is  among  the  most  industrious  as  well.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  for 
three  years  was  highway  commissioner  on  New 
Lenox  Township.  The  various  movements  for 
the  benefit  of  the  community  find  him  to  be  a 
loyal  friend  and  helper,  and  his  influence  may 
always  be  relied  upon  to  advance  worthy  enter- 
prises. In  February,  1869,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary,  daughter  of  Cyrus  A. 
Lewis.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Archie  W.,  Lewis  Leroy  (better  known  as  Roy), 
and  Grace  E. 


Gll'GrSTUS  B.  COTTON,  supervisor  of 
I  I  Wheatland  Township  and  a  resident  here 
/  I  since  1841,  was  bom  on  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
England,  September  14,  1828.  His  father,  Will- 
iam, brought  the  family  to  America  in  1841  and 
settled  in  Will  County,  where  the  next  year  he 
bought  forty  acres.  This  he  at  once  began  to 
improve.  Later  he  added  to  the  estate.  In  1S61 
he  returned  to  England,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  his  death  in  1870.  In  religion  he 
was  a  Baptist.  By  his  marriage  to  Jane  Britt  he 
had  eight  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
fourth.  When  he  came  to  this  locality  all  the 
surroundings  were  those  of  the  frontier.  On  this 
side  of  the  river  there  was  but  one  house  between 
the  Cotton  homestead  and  Plainfield.  All  was 
new.  After  his  father  returned  to  England  he 
succeeded  to  the  management  of  the  farm,  which 
he  operated  until  about  1890,  and  then  rented  the 
land,  since  which  time  he  has  been  retired  from 
active  cares.  He  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  tillable  land.  Politically  a  Re- 
publican, he  has  served  his  party  as  delegate  to 


county  conventions.  For  thirty-four  years  he 
held  office  as  justice  of  the  peace,  for  ten  years 
has  been  township  supervisor,  long  served  as 
school  trustee  and  has  also  been  town  clerk.  In 
December,  i860,  he  married  Georgiana  Robbins, 
whose  father  came  from  England  in  1843;  she 
was  born  in  England  and  died  in  this  county  in 
April,  1897. 


3OHN  M.  JONES,  general  manager  of  the 
Great  Western  works  of  the  American  Tin 
Plate  Company,  was  born  in  Averavon,  South 
Wales,  December  4,  1868.  His  father,  David 
Jones,  a  native  of  St.  Clairs,  Wales,  was  taken  in 
infancy  to  Cwm  Avon,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  He  was  only  nine  years  of  age  when 
he  started  to  work  at  the  tin  plate  business.  At 
the  same  time  he  continued  his  studies  unassisted, 
acquiring  through  his  own  efforts  a  broad  general 
knowledge.  Taking  up  the  tin  plate  business  as 
a  boy,  he  learned  it  thoroughly  in  all  its  details. 
He  steadily  worked  his  way  up  until  he  was  man- 
ager of  more  than  forty-five  hundred  men,  having 
the  supervision  of  two  of  the  largest  mills  there. 
He  did  much  for  the  support  and  benefit  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  his  town  and  served  it  as  a 
warden.  While  often  urged  to  accept  offices,  his 
work  demanded  his  entire  attention,  and  he  stead- 
ily refused  all  offers  of  political  preferment.  In 
Cwm  Avon  he  married  Sarah  Davis,  who  was 
then  only  sixteen  years  of  age.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  their  union.  The  eldest,  his  father's 
namesake,  was  manager  of  a  tin  plate  mill  in 
Wales,  but  is  now  in  America.  The  oldest  daugh- 
ter, Maggie  Jones- Morewood,  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  most  noted  soprano  soloists  in  the  United 
Kingdom  and  often  sang  with  such  prima  donnas 
as  Patti;  she  was  given  three  medals  (of  bronze, 
silver  and  gold  respectively)  by  the  Royal  Acad- 
emy of  London.  The  second  daughter,  Sarah, 
who  is  the  wife  of  I.  L.  Jones,  manager  of  Welden 
&  Co.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  also  possesses  a  beautiful 
voice,  but  sings  only  for  charity;  she  has  a  medal 
presented  to  her  by  the  Musical  College  of  Lon- 
don.    The  other  members  of  the  family  are  John 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


605 


M.;  Thomas,  who  is  engaged  in  the  tin  plate 
business  in  Pittsburg;  Gwennie  Violet;  andEben, 
also  a  tin  plate  manufacturer. 

At  twelve  years  of  age  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  went  to  Swansea  and  attended  Arnold 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  before  he  was 
fourteen.  Entering  the  mills,  he  learned  the 
business  in  all  its  details,  starting  in  the  humblest 
position  and  following  all  departments  of  the  work 
until  he  had  gained  a  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  same.  He  had  the  benefit  of  the  expe- 
rience and  knowledge  of  his  elder  brother  and 
his  father,  and  he  became  a  practical  and  skilled 
workman.  After  the  death  of  his  father  in  1891, 
he  went  to  Penclawdd.  Just  prior  to  the  twenty- 
third  anniversary  of  his  birth  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Grower  Iron  and  Tin  Plate 
Company,  in  which  capacity  he  remained  nine- 
teen months.  He  was  then  promoted  and  sent 
by  the  company  to  their  Manon  Tin  and  Sheet 
works  at  Wolverhampton,  Staffordshire,  Eng- 
land, as  a  manager  of  the  same.  He  continued 
the  position  until  he  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1895.  He  went  to  Pittsburg  expecting  to  take 
a  position  as  manager  of  a  large  plant,  but  the 
position  had  been  filled.  He  then  went  to  Mid- 
dletown,  Ind.,  to  take  charge  of  the  cold  roll 
department  of  the  Irondale  Steel  and  Iron  Com- 
pany. Four  months  later  he  was  made  night 
superintendent  and  after  another  four  months 
was  tendered  the  position  of  manager.  His  pro- 
motion was  due  solely  to  his  knowledge  of  the 
business  and  his  faithfulness  to  the  trust  reposed 
in  him,  for  he  was  a  stranger  and  had  no  friends 
to  assist  him  in  getting  a  start. 

In  July,  1897,  Mr.  Jones  came  to  Joliet  as 
superintendent  of  the  Great  Western  Tin  Plate 
Company,  having  practically  all  the  responsibili- 
ties of  manager.  Upon  the  consolidation  of  the 
company  with  the  American  Tin  Plate  Company, 
he  was  made  general  manager  in  name,  as  he  had 
previously  been  in  fact.  He  is  also  the  district 
manager,  subject  only  to  the  general  officers  in 
Pittsburg.  The  mill  in  Joliet  employs  three  hun- 
dred hands  and  its  output  is  large.  That  his 
management  is  entirely  satisfactory  is  evidenced 
by  the  fact  that  the  owners  of  the  plant  never 


come  to  Joliet,  but  rely  entirely  upon  him  for 
every  detail  and  the  entire  management.  He  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  mill,  as  well  as  its  manager. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Jones  is  connected  with  Mid- 
dletown  Lodge  No.  271,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Though 
not  active  in  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 
In  religion  he  is  of  the  Episcopal  faith.  He  mar- 
ried in  Swansea,  South  Wales,  in  August,  1894, 
to  Decima  Margaretta  Griffith,  daughter  of  a 
physician  of  that  place.  He  is  very  fond  of  ath- 
letics and  sports.  At  one  time  he  was  an  enthu- 
siastic bicyclist,  with  a  fine  record  for  speed, 
having  won  thirty-eight  medals  in  England,  Ire- 
land, Scotland  and  France.  In  1887  he  won  a 
record  for  the  fastest  time  that  had  up  to  that 
year  been  made  in  a  twenty-five  mile  race.  He 
also  won  twenty  first  prizes  in  swimming  contests 
and  several  prizes  in  tennis.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Swansea  Athletic  Club  and  the  Swansea 
Amateur  Cyclists'  Club,  in  which  he  served  both 
as  captain  and  secretary.  Many  of  his  leisure 
hours  were  passed  in  yachting  or  bicycling,  while 
he  also  was  fond  of  playing  tennis  and  cricket, 
but  since  coming  to  this  country  he  has  been  less 
active  in  sports,  though  his  fondness  for  them 
has  not  been  diminished  in  the  least. 


(JOHN  BEDFORD,  an  early  settler  of  Plain- 
I  field  Township,  was  born  in  Lincolnshire, 
Q)  England,  September  28,  1S28.  In  March, 
1852,  he  set  sail  from  Liverpool  for  New  York  on 
the  sailing  vessel,  "Lady  Ashburton,"  and  after 
landing  in  this  country  proceeded  to  Illinois, 
finding  work  on  a  farm  in  Will  County.  In  1855 
he  returned  to  England  and  married  Miss  Ann 
Foulston,  a  native  of  Lincolnshire.  With  his 
wife  he  crossed  the  ocean  in  March,  1856,  on  the 
"Neptune,"  and  settled  in  Lockport,  111.,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  stationary  engineer  for  a 
few  years.  Later  he  resumed  farming.  In  1876 
he  bought  a  farm  of  ninety-two  acres  four  miles 
from  Plainfield  and  eight  miles  from  Joliet. 
There  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred March  28,  18S0.  He  left,  besides  his 
wife,  a  family  of  four  children:    Albert  F. ,  Wal- 


6o6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ter  S.,  Lizzie  J.  and  Sarah  J.  He  was  a  man  of 
irreproachable  character  and  upright  life,  and 
was  highly  esteemed  by  the  people  of  his  town- 
ship. 


NIRAM  TWINING,  a  pioneer  of  Greengar- 
den  Township,  was  born  in  Essex  County, 
Mass.,  in  1 819,  and  was  reared  in  New 
Hampshire  and  Vermont.  He  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  Needham,  and  in  1S51,  with  his  wife 
and  two  children  came  west,  settling  on  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  government  land  in  Green- 
garden  Township.  At  once  he  began  to  break 
ground,  using  for  the  purpose  an  ox-team  and  a 
Lockport  steel  plow  made  by  "Jim"  Lane.  Later 
he  added  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  laud  to 
his  original  possessions,  and  built  a  set  of  farm 
buildings.  He  engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  had 
a  number  of  high  grade  and  full-blood  animals  on 
his  place.  He  was  a  man  who  stood  high  in  his 
community.  For  one  term  he  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace.  A  man  of  earnest  Christian  char- 
acter, he  endeavored  in  his  life  to  exemplify  the 
teachings  of  the  Scriptures.  The  sincere  and 
earnest  Christian  spirit  he  showed  throughout  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  life  was  his  by  inheritance,  for 
his  father,  Rev.  Jonathan  Twining,  was  a  faithful 
preacher  and  self-sacrificing  Christian. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Twining  took  place  Decem- 
ber 14,  1889.  He  was  survived  by  his  widow 
and  five  children:  Watson  F. .  Dana  E.,  Leonora 
L.,  Irene  E.  and  Jasper  E. 


RANK  STATES,  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
rd  prosperous  German-American  farmers  of 
I  Channahon  Township,  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  March  13,  1835,  the  only  child  of 
George  and  Josephine  (Wachter)  States,  also 
natives  of  Baden.  His  mother  died  in  1847  and 
the  following  year  his  father  was  called  out  to 
take  part  in  the  revolution  of  1S48,  where  he 
served  until  he  was  severely  wounded  and  forced 
to  resign.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  came 
to    America   and    settled    near  Flushing,    L.   I., 


where  he  died  from  the  effects  of  his  army 
wounds  some  six  months  afterward.  By  trade 
he  was  a  miller.  His  death  left  his  son  an  orphan, 
alone  in  a  strange  country,  and  but  thirteen  years 
of  age.  The  boy  started  up  the  Hudson  River 
and  went  as  far  as  Peekskill,  near  which  place  he 
secured  work  with  John  Croker,  a  brother  of 
Richard  Croker,  of  Tammany  Hall  fame  After 
remaining  there  for  some  five  years,  in  1853  he 
came  west  and  settled  in  Aurora,  111.,  where  he 
was  employed  in  burning  lime  and  as  a  stone  and 
brick  mason. 

In  1857  Mr.  States  married  Miss  Jane  Benedict, 
a  native  of  Milan,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  a 
daughter  of  Elijah  and  Sarah  (Branch)  Benedict. 
Her  father,  a  native  of  Essex  Count}-,  N.  V., 
born  in  1799,  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
county  and  married  Miss  Branch,  who  was  born 
in  East  Genoa,  N.  Y. ,  in  1802.  Afterward  he 
settled  in  Cayuga  County,  where  he  preached  in 
the  Baptist  Church  until  failing  health  obliged 
him  to  give  up  ministerial  work.  Later  he  was 
employed  as  a  bookkeeper.  In  1848  he  settled 
in  Oswego,  111.  Two  years  later  he  removed  to 
Aurora,  where  he  soon  died.  His  wife  passed 
away  in  1885.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Ruth  Branch;  the  former,  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  died  about  1S41:  the  latter 
survived  him  many  years,  living  to  be  about 
ninety.  By  the  marriage  of  Mr.  States  to  Miss 
Benedict  two  children  were  born,  but  Frank,  Jr., 
is  the  only  one  now  living.  Mrs.  States  died  in 
1S63  and  two  years  later  our  subject  married  her 
sister,  Mrs.  Sarah  Lowe,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children.  Four  are  now  living,  John,  a  farmer 
in  this  county;  Edwin,  William  and  Walter,  at 
home. 

In  1S59  our  subject  went  to  Kansas  and  settled 
in  Marysville,  Marshall  County.  Those  were 
troubled  days  in  the  history  of  Kansas,  and  his 
object  in  going  there  was  to  cast  his  influence  in 
with  the  free-state  party.  In  1861  he  returned 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  this  county.  After  a 
time  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Channahon 
Township,  where  he  now  lives.  Through  his 
farming  and  stock-raising  interests  he  has  pros- 
pered, and  he  also  gave  considerable  attention  to 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


607 


work  as  a  mason.  As  the  years  passed  he  ac- 
quired additional  property  and  now  owns  three 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres,  which  represents 
his  constant  labor  and  good  management.  It  has 
been  his  aim  to  help  his  sons  in  every  way  pos- 
sible, and  each  of  them,  when  fifteen  or  sixteen 
years  of  age,  was  given  a  tract  of  ground  to  cul- 
tivate and  allowed  to  keep  the  profits  accruing 
from  the  same. 

In  politics  Mr.  States  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
a  patriotic  citizen  of  his  adopted  country  and  sup- 
ports all  measures  in  the  interest  of  good  govern- 
ment. For  thirty-six  years  he  has  served  as  a 
school  director  and  for  six  years  he  held  the 
office  of  school  trustee.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Chanuahon  Lodge  No.  262,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  A  man  of  religious  convictions  and  a  be- 
liever in  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  he  has  con- 
tributed both  to  Methodist  and  Presbyterian 
churches  in  his  home  neighborhood  and  has 
aided  both  in  their  work. 


G]  UGUST  BELTZNER,  superintendent  of  the 
LI  Meeker  avenue  (or,  as  it  is  more  commonly 
/  I  known,  the  Spring  street)  mill  of  the  Amer- 
ican Steel  and  Wire  Company  of  Joliet,  was  born 
in  Baden,  Germany,  August  1,  1S44.  His  fa- 
ther, William,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  partici- 
pated in  the  revolution  of  1848,  for  which  reason 
he  left  Germany  and  came  to  America.  He 
opened  a  shop  in  Mauch  Chunk,  Pa.,  and  secured 
all  of  the  trade  of  the  Lehigh  Navigation  Com- 
pany, in  addition  to  his  custom  work.  He  con- 
tinued there  until  his  retirement  from  business. 
After  his  wife  died  he  made  his  home  with  his 
son,  August,  in  Johnstown,  Pa.,  where  he  died 
September  9,  1893,  aged  sixty-seven  years  and 
three  months.  His  body  was  taken  to  Mauch 
Chunk  and  buried  by  the  side  of  his  wife.  When 
he  first  came  to  America  he  allied  himself  with 
the  Democrats,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war 
and  during  Lincoln's  candidacy  for  president  he 
allied  himself  with  the  Republican  party  and 
afterward  adhered  to  its  principles.  In  religion 
he  was  of  the  Lutheran  faith.     By  his  marriage 


to  Elizabeth  Kuntzman  he  had  eight  children, 
all  still  living;  one  son,  Charles,  carries  on  busi- 
ness at  the  old  shop  in  Mauch  Chunk. 

At  the  time  the  family  came  to  the  United 
States  our  subject  was  little  more  than  six  years 
of  age  He  was  reared  in  Mauch  Chunk  and 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  with  his  father. 
At  the  same  time  he  learned  wire  drawing. 
When  the  war  opened  his  sympathies  were 
entirely  with  the  Union.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Pennsylva- 
nia Regiment,  and  served  in  that  regiment  for 
nine  months.  On  the  expiration  of  his  time  he 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-sixth 
Infantry  for  three  years,  or  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  Among  his  most  important  engagements 
were  those  at  Antietam,  Fredericksburg  and 
Chancellorsville,  in  the  last  of  which  he  was 
wounded.  At  the  close  of  the  rebellion  he  re- 
turned home,  where  he  served  four  years  at  the 
trade  of  boiler-making.  This  occupation  he  after- 
ward followed  in  Mauch  Chunk  and  at  Summit 
Hill  for  the  Lehigh  Navigation  Company,  having 
charge  of  the  boiler  shop  about  two  years.  On 
his  return  to  Mauch  Chunk  he  worked  in  a  wire 
mill  for  one  and  one-half  years.  For  thirteen  years 
he  was  with  the  Cambria  Iron  Company  of  Johns- 
town, and  during  the  last  eleven  of  these  years 
he  was  foreman  of  the  company's  wire  mill. 
When  the  great  flood  came  he  had  charge  of  the 
men  who  were  engaged  in  rebuilding  the  mill, 
but  as  the  catastrophe  changed  the  company's 
plans  and  the  mill  was  not  completed,  he  left  the 
town. 

Coming  to  Joliet  in  1892,  Mr.  Beltzner  took 
charge  of  the  Ashley  wire  mill.  He  has  since 
had  charge  of  the  mill,  which  is  now  the  property 
of  the  American  Steel  and  Wire  Company.  Un- 
der his  supervision  are  sixty-five  men,  whose 
work  he  oversees,  showing  good  judgment  and 
great  energy  in  the  exercise  of  his  duties.  In 
national  affairs  he  votes  with  the  Republicans, 
but  in  local  matters  he  votes  for  the  man  rather 
than  party.  For  years  he  was  active  in  local 
affairs,  serving  as  delegate  to  conventions,  mem- 
ber of  committees,  etc.  While  in  Johnstown  he 
joined  the  Masonic  order,  and  is  also  a  member 


6o8 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  Until  com- 
ing to  Illinois  he  was  identified  with  the  Lutheran 
Church,  but  since  then  he  has  had  his  member- 
ship in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

At  Mauch  Chunk,  January  9,  1868,  Mr.  Beltz- 
uer  married  Miss  Christiana  Theaubaugh,  of  that 
city.  Ten  children  were  born  of  their  union, 
viz.:  Elizabeth  C,  wife  of  Harry  Clark,  of  Home- 
stead, Pa.;  Mary  W.,  wife  of  Burgoyne  McDow- 
ell, also  of  Homestead;  William  George,  deceased; 
Robert  John,  a  machinist;  Margaret  A.,  wife  of 
Frank  Walker,  of  Joliet;  Annie  E.,  EllaN.,  Au- 
gust, Jr.,  Roy  I.  and  Viola  F. 


EHARLES  HOLBERG.  In  the  prosecution 
of  his  work  as  contractor  and  builder  Mr. 
Holberg  has  proved  himself  to  be  an  indus- 
trious, energetic  and  persevering  man,  and  he 
has  gained  a  high  place  among  those  of  the  same 
occupation  in  Joliet.  When  he  came  to  this  city 
in  1882  he  secured  employment  in  carpentering, 
but  a  year  later  he  began  contracting  and  build- 
ing, and  has  since  given  his  time  entirely  to  the 
business.  In  the  city  of  Joliet  alone  he  has  built 
more  than  two  hundred  residences,  besides  many 
in  the  country  and  in  adjoining  cities.  A  num- 
ber of  houses  he  has  built  for  himself,  and  these 
he  has  disposed  of  at  fair  prices;  but  one  on 
Henry  avenue  that  he  built  he  has  occupied 
since  as  a  residence,  and  he  also  has  his  shop 
there.  He  has  been  given  the  contract  for  a 
number  of  store  buildings  and  public  structures, 
including  the  Evangelical  Association  Church  at 
Lockport,  111. 

Of  Swedish  birth  and  lineage  Mr.  Holberg  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Mathilda  (Abrahamson)  John- 
son. His  paternal  grandfather  was  killed  in 
young  manhood,  and  the  maternal  grandfather, 
Abraham  Abrahamson,  was  a  farmer,  who  spent 
his  entire  life  in  Sweden.  John  Johnson  has 
been  a  lifelong  farmer  and  is  still  living  in  the 
neighborhood  familiar  to  him  from  childhood. 
In  religion  he  and  his  wife  are  Lutherans.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom 
are    living,    two    in   Sweden,    Charles    in  Joliet, 


Mrs.  Legren  in  South  Dakota,  and  Erik  in  Joliet. 
The  eldest  of  the  family,  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Westerbotten,  Sweden,  May  30,  1857,  and 
was  reared  near  Omio,  where  he  attended  public 
schools.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  cabinet-maker's  trade,  at  which 
he  served  for  five  years,  and  later  secured  em- 
ployment in  carpentering.  In  accordance  with 
the  government  requirements,  he  spent  two 
years  in  the  Swedish  army.  Concluding  to  seek 
a  home  in  the  United  States  he  crossed  the  ocean 
in  1882  and  at  once  settled  in  Joliet,  where  he 
has  since  gained  a  good  trade  and  many  friends. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet  Builders'  Associa- 
tion, among  whose  members  he  is  well  known. 

Though  he  is  a  loyal  American  Mr.  Holberg 
has  never  forgotten  the  land  of  his  birth  and  the 
home  of  his  parents.  He  keeps  alive  his  inter- 
est in  his  old  country  by  association  with  those 
of  his  nationality  and  by  membership  in  various 
organizations  composed  of  Swedes.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Republican  Club.  In 
the  building  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  he 
took  a  leading  part  and  is  now  serving  as  a  mem- 
ber of  its  board  of  trustees.  He  was  married  in 
Lockport,  111.,  to  Miss  Mary  Anderson,  a  native 
of  the  same  laen  in  Sweden  as  himself.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children  living,  Charles 
M.,  John  and  Hilda,  and  lost  one  daughter, 
Minnie,  at  the  age  of  six  years. 


3 OHN  O.  CONNOR.  The  position  of  Braid- 
wood,  in  the  center  of  an  important  coal  dis- 
trict, has  naturally  attracted  to  it  a  large 
number  of  practical,  skillful  miners,  among 
whom  none  is  more  worthy  of  mention  than  Mr. 
Conner,  the  present  mayor  of  the  city.  Both  by 
native  gifts  and  by  training  he  is  fitted  for  the  re- 
sponsible task  of  superintending  valuable  mines. 
Having  had  experience  in  every  department  of 
mining  he  thoroughly  understands  the  work. 
He  has  gradually,  by  the  exercise  of  energy,  good 
judgment  and  perseverance,  worked  his  way  from 
a  humble  position  to  one  of  influence  and  impor- 
tance,   and    is    now    general    manager   and   part 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


609 


owner  of  the  Co-operative  coal  mine.  This  mine, 
which  has  a  vein  of  two  hundred  and  ten  feet, 
produces  an  average  of  sixty  tons  per  day,  and 
its  output  is  steadily  increasing. 

Mr.  Connor  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1854  and 
left  that  country  in  1869,  accompanying  an  uncle 
to  the  United  States.  He  first  settled  at  Lemont, 
111.,  where  he  attended  school  for  a  time.  In 
1873  he  came  to  Braidwood  and  secured  work  as 
a  laborer  in  the  mines.  Through  his  determina- 
tion to  succeed,  backed  by  perseverance  and  indus- 
trious habits,  he  soon  became  a  practical  miner, 
working  up  through  the  different  grades  of  min- 
ing. In  1896  he  went  to  Springfield,  111.,  and 
took  an  examination  before  the  state  board  of 
examiners  for  statistics  of  labor,  from  whom  he 
received  a  certificate  entitling  him  to  act  as  mine 
manager.  Since  1891  he  has  owned  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  Co-operative  mine,  situated  within  the 
city  limits  of  Braidwood.  His  attention  is  closely 
given  to  his  duties  as  manager  of  this  mine,  and 
it  is  largely  due  to  his  efficient  oversight  that  the 
mine  has  proved  a  profitable  investment  for  its 
owners.  He  has  always  been  very  considerate  of 
the  men  in  his  employ  and  has  shown  a  thought- 
ful interest  in  their  welfare.  It  is  said  that  he 
pays  the  highest  wages  of  any  mine  owner  in  the 
place,  and  certainly  it  is  true  that  in  every  way 
he  has  endeavored  to  live  up  to  the  golden  rule 
in  his  relations  with  his  men. 

Because  Mr.  Connor  has  been  so  engrossed  in 
his  work  as  mine  manager,  it  must  not  be  sup- 
posed that  he  is  neglectful  of  the  duties  of  citizen- 
ship. He  has  ever  been  loyal  to  his  adopted 
country.  During  the  many  years  of  his  residence 
in  Braidwood  he  has  been  to  the  people  all  that  is 
required  in  good  citizenship  and  public  enter- 
prise. As  an  alderman  (an  office  that  he  held  for 
four  years) ,  he  worked  in  the  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple; and  this  same  trait  has  been  very  noticeable 
in  his  administration  as  mayor,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1899.  The  town  has 
had  in  him  an  unswerving  friend,  ever  alert  to 
serve  its  best  interests,  and  generous  in  his  con- 
tributions toward  movements  tending  to  the  gen- 
eral advancement.  For  years  he  has  been  one  of 
the  leading  Democrats  of  this  part  of  the  county. 


In  1877  he  married  Miss  Mary  Horn,  by  whom 
he  had  seven  children.  He  and  his  family  oc- 
cupy a  beautiful  home  in  Braidwood.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  the  Home  Forum  and 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  of  which  latter 
lodge  he  is  president. 


(]  A.  PEDERSEN  came  to  Joliet  in  18S9  and 
has  since  been  identified  with  the  business 
O,  interests  of  the  city,  first  as  an  employe 
and  later  as  an  employer  of  others.  For  four 
years  he  was  employed  in  the  old  Red  mill  and  in 
that  time  gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
business.  Afterward  he  conducted  a  rented  mill 
on  Desplaines  street  for  two  and  one-half  years, 
remaining  there  until  the  property  was  con- 
demned by  the  drainage  board,  when  he  rented 
his  present  mill  at  No.  211  Collins  street.  This 
mill  is  operated  by  an  engine  with  twenty  horse- 
power and  has  a  capacity  of  twenty  tons  a  day, 
or  ten  tons  in  twelve  hours.  It  is  one  of  the 
largest  feed  and  grist  mills  in  the  city,  and  the 
products  are  sold  to  the  wholesale  trade.  The 
owner,  being  a  man  of  energy  and  determi- 
nation, has  won  the  confidence  of  the  business 
element  of  the  city  and  the  esteem  of  his  asso- 
ciates. 

A  son  of  Nels  and  Ella  Pedersen,  natives 
respectively  of  Denmark  and  Sweden,  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Jutland,  Denmark,  December 
19,  1864,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  in  America. 
When  advanced  in  years  the  father  joined  his 
children  in  the  United  States  and  is  now  living 
retired  in  Joliet.  During  his  boyhood  our  sub- 
ject had  the  advantage  of  travel  with  a  gentle- 
man in  different  European  countries,  and  mean- 
time he  gained  a  good  knowledge  of  German, 
French  and  English.  In  1884  he  came  to  this 
country,  and,  after  spending  six  months  in  Chi- 
cago, proceeded  to  Will  County,  where  he  was 
employed  on  a  farm  in  Greengarden  Township. 
From  there  he  came  to  Joliet  in  1889.  He  began 
in  business  without  any  means,  but  his  integrity 
and  enterprise  have  given  him  a  good  position 


6io 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


among  the  business  men  of  his  town .  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  but  does  not  take  an  active 
part  in  politics  or  local  affairs.  In  religion  he 
adheres  to  the  Lutheran  faith,  in  which  he  was 
reared.  He  was  married  in  Joliet  to  Miss  Dorris 
Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Denmark.  They 
have  three  children,  William,  Anne  and  Ellen. 


(JOSEPH  McCLINTOCK.  Although  a  quar- 
I  ter  of  a  century  has  elapsed  since  the  death 
Q)  of  Mr.  McCliutock,  he  is  still  remembered 
by  the  older  residents  of  this  county.  As  a 
pioneer  his  name  is  deserving  of  perpetuation  in 
local  annals.  Coming  to  America  in  1849,  the 
same  year  found  him  in  Will  County,  which  at 
that  time  contained  none  of  the  improvements 
which  it  now  boasts.  The  land  was  unimproved, 
the  towns  small  and  unimportant,  and  the  sur- 
roundings those  of  the  frontier.  During  the  sub- 
sequent years  of  his  life  he  labored  to  place  his 
land  under  cultivation  and  devoted  himself  to  his 
chosen  work  with  painstaking  and  self-sacrificing 
care. 

While  Mr.  McClintock  was  himself  an  Irish- 
man by  birth  and  parentage,  he  was  of  Scotch 
descent.  His  father,  Robert,  spent  much  of  his 
life  in  Count}-  Antrim,  but  in  1850,  the  year  after 
his  son  crossed  the  ocean,  he  followed  with  his 
family  and  settled  in  Kendall  County,  but  in  185S 
retired  to  Joliet,  where  he  died.  His  wife,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  had  died  in  Scotland.  Of 
their  marriage  Joseph  was  the  only  child,  al- 
though by  his  father's  second  marriage  four 
children  were  born.  When  he  came  to  America 
our  subject  spent  a  short  time  in  Pennsylvania 
and  Michigan,  then  went  to  Chicago,  and  from 
there  came  to  Will  County.  At  the  time  of  his 
father's  settlement  across  the  Plainfield  line,  in 
Kendall  County,  he  purchased  land  with  him, 
but  in  1857  sold  out  there  and  settled  on  the 
Plainfield  road,  in  Joliet  Township,  where  he  im- 
proved a  large  farm  three  miles  from  the  court 
house.  There  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  his  death,  in  1875. 

In  Plainfield,  August  26,  1853,  Mr.  McClintock 


married  Miss  Eleanor  McDougal,  who  was  born 
in  County  Derry,  Ireland,  a  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Mary  (Smith)  McDougal,  natives  of  the 
same  county.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Jacob 
Smith,  was  born  near  Colerain,  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry. Her  paternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Mc- 
Dougal, a  farmer  of  County  Derry,  was  a  son  of 
Joseph,  Sr.,  who  removed  from  Scotland  to  Ire- 
land. Edward  McDougal  was  a  farmer  in  Ire- 
land in  early  life,  but  spent  his  last  years  in 
Joliet,  where  he  died  at  eighty-four  years.  His 
wife  died  in  New  Jersey.  Of  their  six  children 
all  but  one  attained  mature  years,  but  Mrs.  Mc- 
Clintock is  now  the  only  survivor.  She  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1851  and  the  next  year  set- 
tled in  Plainfield,  where  she  soon  became  the  wife 
of  Mr.  McClintock.  After  her  husband's  death 
she  continued  to  manage  the  farm  for  seven  years, 
but  in  1882  rented  the  place  and  bought  a  resi- 
dence in  Joliet ,  where  she  has  since  made  her  home. 
Possessing  great  energy  and  activity,  as  well  as 
good  business  judgment,  she  has  been  interested 
in  the  real-estate  business  and  has  built  a  num- 
ber of  residences  on  the  west  side.  She  is  hap- 
piest when  busy,  and  with  her  home  duties  and 
business  interests  finds  sufficient  to  engross  her 
attention,  although  she  also  gives  time  and 
thought  to  charitable  work  and  to  the  activities 
of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church,  with  which 
she  is  identified. 


HON.  JABEZ  HARVEY,  postmaster  at 
Wilton  Center  since  1875,  was  born  in  the 
province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  January  20, 
183 1,  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Nancy  (Fletcher)  Har- 
vey. His  father,  who  was  born  in  the  same  prov- 
ince in  1807,  was  the  youngest  of  twelve  children, 
and  attained  a  more  advanced  age  than  any  of 
the  others,  being  eighty-seven  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  the  fall  of  1837  he  came  to  Illinois, 
driving  with  a  team  of  horses  the  entire  distance 
of  fifteen  hundred  miles.  He  spent  a  winter  in 
Tazewell  County,  then  came  to  Will  County  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  New  Lenox. 
Three  years  later  he  came  to  Wilton  Township 
and  bought  government  land  three  miles  northeast 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


611 


of  the  present  site  of  Wilton  Center.  At  the  time 
he  came  to  Wilton  Township,  in  1841,  it  had  but 
two  families.  In  1844  he  went  to  Five-Mile 
Grove,  Manhattan  Township,  and  ran  a  dairy  for 
four  years,  when  he  returned  to  Wilton  Town- 
ship, remaining  here  until  his  death,  in  January, 
1894.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  Both 
of  the  grandfathers  of  our  subject,  Lemuel  Har- 
vey and  Isaac  Fletcher,  were  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land and  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  after 
which  both  settled  in  Canada,  accepting  the  offer 
of  the  British  government  to  give  land  to  all  who 
would  settle  there. 

In  1850  our  subject  went  to  California,  spend- 
ing four  months  in  the  trip  overland.  He  located 
twelve  miles  south  of  Downeyville  and  engaged 
in  mining;  also  carried  on  a  miners'  store.  In 
1852  he  returned  via  the  Isthmus,  his  first  ride 
on  a  railroad  being  across  the  Isthmus.  He  ar- 
rived home  January  1,  1853,  and  soon  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  one-half 
mile  west  of  Wilton  Center.  In  December  of  that 
year  he  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Welliver,  a  native 
of  Butler  County,  Ohio.  After  his  marriage  he 
settled  down  to  farming.  In  1858  he  established 
a  mercantile  business  in  Wilton  Center,  which  he 
has  since  conducted.  In  1864  he  took  a  second 
trip  across  the  plains  in  quest  of  gold,  going  to 
the  mines  at  Virginia  City,  but  finding  a  great 
crowd  there  he  sold  his  outfit  and  returned  home. 
Indians  were  very  troublesome,  and  caused  a  de- 
lay of  a  month  at  Salt  Lake.  The  return  trip  of 
seventeen  hundred  miles  was  made  by  stage.  On 
his  return  he  resumed  mercantile  pursuits.  For 
twenty-two  years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
after  which  he  refused  to  serve  longer.  For 
twenty-one  years  he  was  township  treasurer,  an 
office  that  his  son,  Judd  E.,  now  holds.  In  1872 
he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature,  in  which 
he  served  two  sessions.  Frequently  he  has  been 
a  delegate  to  county,  district  or  state  conventions. 
His  service  as  postmaster  covers  a  longer  contin- 
uous period  than  that  of  any  other  postmaster  in 
the  county.  In  1892  he  was  elected  supervisor 
of  Wilton  Township  and  served  for  a  term.  After 
an  intermission  of  two  years  he  was  again  elected 
and  served  for  two  terms.     He  is  now  president 


of  the  Pioneers'  Society  of  Will  County,  in  which 
organization  he  has  been  very  influential.  His 
wife  died  June  18,  1897,  leaving  four  children, 
Everett  E.,of  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  EttieE.,  who 
is  married  and  lives  in  Milford,  Iowa;  Judd,  a 
partner  in  his  father's  business;  and  Jay  C. 


(JOHN  G.  WILHELMI  has  been  engaged  in 
I  contracting  and  building  in  Joliet  since  1891. 
(2/  For  a  year  he  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Wilhelmi  &  Wagner,  but  since  then  he  has  been 
alone.  Among  his  most  important  contracts  may 
be  mentioned  those  for  the  E.  Porter  Brewing 
Company's  plant,  St.  Patrick's  school,  the  Ger- 
man society  hall  on  North  Hickory  street,  the 
high  school  at  Lockport,  the  high  and  ward 
schools  at  Sandwich,  111.,  and  the  building  for 
school  district  No.  6,  Joliet  Township.  Besides 
these  he  has  had  a  large  number  of  contracts  for 
residences  and  stone  buildings  in  Joliet  and  else- 
where. He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet  Builders' 
Association,  of  which,  at  this  writing,  he  is  the 
treasurer. 

In  Jackson  Township,  this  county,  Mr.  Wil- 
helmi was  born  December  2,  1864.  His  father, 
John  Adam  Wilhelmi,  was  a  native  of  Hamburg, 
Germany,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  land.  In  1 853  he  came  to  America.  After 
one  year  in  Detroit  he  settled  in  Joliet,  where  he 
lived  for  two  years.  In  1856  he  established  his 
home  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  Township,  and  after 
a  time  purchased  property  on  section  29,  Joliet 
Township,  where  he  carried  on  farm  pursuits 
until  his  death,  in  March,  1896,  at  seventy-three 
years.  He  took  an  interest  in  local  matters  and 
held  the  offices  of  school  director  and  highway 
commissioner.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Margaret  Wirtz,  was  born  in  Coblentz, 
Germany,  and  died  in  Joliet  in  1890.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing survive:  J.  C. ,  a  contractor  in  Hastings, 
Neb.;  Barbara,  wife  of  John  Korst,  of  Jackson 
Township;  N.  H.,  a  machinist,  in  Chicago; 
Anna,  wife  of  Frank  Kramer,  of  Joliet;  J.  G.; 
and  Lizzie,  Mrs.  William  Pelkey,  of  Joliet. 


6l2 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


From  three  years  of  age  our  subject  was  reared 
in  Joliet  Township,  where  he  attended  school  and 
grew  to  manhood,  with  a  fair  knowledge  of  farm 
work.  His  taste,  however,  was  rather  in  the 
line  of  carpentering  than  in  agriculture,  and  when 
he  was  eighteen  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  with 
Mr.  Wagner,  whose  partner  he  later  became.  He 
has  continued  steadily  at  his  work  and  has  met 
with  unvarying  success,  being  rightly  judged  to 
be  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  painstaking  con- 
tractors in  the  city.  He  owns  the  old  family 
homestead  of  twenty-seven  acres  on  the  Elwood 
road,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Joliet,  where 
he  has  a  comfortable  residence.  In  Joliet,  in 
1890,  he  married  Miss  Emma  Richter,  who  was 
born  in  Mackinaw,  111.,  and  grew  to  womanhood 
in  Lockport.  They  have  three  sons,  Richter  A., 
Frederick  C.  and  Clarence  W.  The  family  are 
connected  with  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  in  the  building  of  which  Mr.Wilhelmi's 
father  assisted.  He  is  connected  with  the  West- 
ern Catholic  Union  and  is  also  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


0ANIEL  PATTERSON,  a  farmer  and  stock- 
man of  Wheatland  Township,  was  born  iu 
Dumfriesshire,  Scotland,  October  13,  1829,  a 
son  of  John  Patterson.  In  1849  he  crossed  the 
ocean  on  the  "Hottinger,"  and  after  a  stormy 
passage  of  six  weeks  he  landed  in  New  York. 
Thence  he  traveled  by  river  and  canal  to  Buffalo, 
and  from  there  via  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  from 
which  point  he  drove  to  Will  County.  For  three 
years  he  was  with  his  brother,  one  mile  east  of 
his  present  home.  Later,  with  another  brother, 
James,  he  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  partly  broken  laud  where  he  now  lives.  The 
improvements  on  this  place  have  been  made  un- 
der his  supervision.  At  different  times  land  has 
been  added,  until  the  two  brothers  now  own  four 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  They  gave  their  atten- 
tion principally  to  the  raising  of  oats  and  corn, 
and  to  the  breeding  and  feeding  of  Durham 
cattle. 

By  his  marriage  to  Jane  Williamson,  a  native 


of  Scotland,  Mr.  Patterson  had  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  attained  mature  years,  namely: 
William,  a  farmer  of  Wheatland  Township; 
Margaret,  wife  of  George  Smith;  Robert,  John, 
Mary,  Frank,  Grace  and  Laura. 


W|  UNGO  PATTERSON,  of  Wheatland  Town- 
Y  ship,  was  born  in  Dumfriesshire,  Scotland, 
\S  September  22,  1S14,  and  was  the  eldest  of 
the  eleven  children  of  John  and  Jane  (Hall)  Pat- 
terson. In  1S41  he  came  to  America,  spending 
six  weeks  in  an  old  sailing  vessel  on  the  Atlan- 
tic, and  finally  landing  in  New  York.  After 
three  years  in  that  state,  in  1844  he  came  via 
the  lakes  to  Illinois  and  settled  iu  Will  County, 
where  he  began  farming  on  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  open  prairie.  He  broke 
the  land  and  made  necessary  improvements.  As 
he  prospered  he  bought  other  land  until  he  farmed 
a  large  tract.  Iu  addition  to  the  raising  of  wheat 
and  oats,  he  gave  considerable  attention  to  Dur- 
ham cattle.  About  1885  he  retired  from  active 
work,  to  enjoy  his  declining  years  in  the  midst  of 
the  comforts  a  life  of  frugality  made  possible. 

In  New  York  state  Mr.  Patterson  married 
Agues,  daughter  of  Robert  Clow,  a  pioneer  of 
this  county.  They  had  seven  children,  viz.: 
Johu,  a  farmer  in  Indiana;  Robert,  a  farmer  in 
Dupage  Township;  William,  in  the  same  town- 
ship; Sarah,  who  married  Robert  Wightmau  and 
lives  on  the  home  place;  Agnes,  who  married, 
but  is  now  deceased;  Adam,  who  cultivates  a 
farm  adjoining  the  homestead;  and  Helen,  who 
died  iu  infancy. 


(31  LBERT  H.  SMITH,  who  owns  and  occupies 
LI  a  thirty  five-acre  farm  in  the  suburbs  of 
J  I  Crete,  was  born  October  12,  1845,  in  the 
town  of  Bloom,  Cook  County,  just  across  the  line 
from  Crete  Township.  His  father,  John  C. 
Smith,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Illinois  in  1835  and  settled  in  this 
county,  of  which  the  family  were  pioneers. 
Several  years  later  he  entered  a  claim  to  govern- 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


613 


metit  land  in  Bloom  Township  and  began  the 
raising  of  stock  and  general  farm  products.  In 
an  early  day  he  served  as  township  collector. 
Although  he  was  only  thirty-eight  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  had  accumulated  five  hundred  acres. 
His  father,  Timothy  Smith,  was  born  and  reared 
on  Long  Island,  where  he  engaged  in  tailoring, 
but  after  coming  west  he  gave  his  attention  to 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  took  part  in  the 
wars  with  the  Indians.  Fraternally  he  was  a 
thirty-second  degree  mason,  and  in  religion  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
died  in  this  county,  when  eighty-nine  years  of 
age. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of 
John  C.  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  England  and 
settled  in  Bloom  Township  in  an  early  day,  be- 
coming owner  of  what  was  later  known  as  Colum- 
bia Heights.  Mrs.  Smith  died  when  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age,  leaving  three  children.  The 
older  son,  Wesley,  died  in  1865,  when  twenty- 
three  years  old,  and  the  only  daughter,  Louise 
J.,  is  the  wife  of  J.  R.  Morris,  of  Bloom  Town- 
ship. When  our  subject  was  three  years  old  his 
mother  died,  and  three  years  later  his  father 
passed  away,  leaving  him  an  orphan.  He  was 
taken  into  the  home  of  his  grandfather,  Smith, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  he  was  sixteen. 
Afterward  he  lived  with  an  uncle  on  a  farm  and 
worked  out  by  the  month.  When  he  married  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  his  grandfather's  land  in 
Bloom  Township  and  made  his  home  there  for 
some  time,  but  finally  removed  to  his  present  farm 
adjoining  the  limits  of  Crete.  He  still  owns  one 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  acres  in  Bloom  Town- 
ship, which,  with  the  exception  of  five  years 
when  the  land  was  rented,  he  has  since  conducted. 

November  25, 1869,  Mr.  Smith  married  Marian, 
daughter  of  Squire  Willard  Wood,  founder  of 
Crete,  whose  sketch  is  given  on  another  page. 
They  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely: 
Anna  L.;  Willard  J.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  at  Chicago  Heights;  Florence,  wife 
of  Charles  A.  Noble,  recorder  of  Will  County  and 
a  resident  of  Joliet;  Wesley  A.  and  Clark  C,  who 
are  with  their  parents.  Mrs.  Smith  is  identified 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 

32 


faith  the  children  were  reared.  Mr.  Smith  is  an 
active  worker  in  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
the  only  native  of  America  holding  office  in  Crete 
Township.  He  has  the  position  of  highway  com- 
missioner, in  which  he  is  serving  his  third  term. 
Besides  his  general  farm  work  he  has  given  con- 
siderable time  to  the  stock  business,  and  has  met 
with  good  results  in  the  breeding  of  Clydesdale 
horses  and  Jersey  cattle. 


ILLIAM  McCOWAN.  In  choosing  the 
business  of  a  contractor  and  builder  Mr. 
McCowan  selected  an  occupation  for  which 
his  mental  gifts,  disposition  to  labor,  his  tastes 
and  his  previous  opportunities  admirably  quali- 
fied him.  Since  1882  he  has  made  his  home  in 
Joliet,  where  he  is  known  as  a  thorough  master 
of  his  trade.  He  has  had  the  contracts  for  the 
erection  of  a  number  of  substantial  business 
houses  and  private  residences  in  this  cits'. 
Realizing  that  "a  man's  house  is  his  castle,"  it 
is  his  aim  that  this  "castle"  shall  be  solidly  con- 
structed so  as  to  withstand  the  constant  wear  of 
wind  and  weather,  and  at  the  same  time  he  en- 
deavors to  construct  a  building  that  will  be  pleas- 
ing in  exterior  appearance  and  convenient  in  in- 
terior appointments. 

A  member  of  an  old  Scotch-Presbyterian 
family,  Mr.  McCowan  was  born  in  Perthshire, 
Scotland,  in  May,  i860,  a  son  of  Alexander  and 
Elizabeth  (Drummond)  McCowan,  natives  of  the 
same  shire.  His  father,  who  is  still  living  and  is 
now  (1899)  eighty-five  years  of  age,  made  weav- 
ing his  trade  through  all  his  active  life,  and  the 
same  occupation  was  followed  by  his  grandfather, 
Duncan  McCowan.  The  wife  and  mother  died 
at  seventy-six  years  of  age.  Of  her  eleven  chil- 
dren all  but  two  are  living,  three  sons  being  in 
the  United  States.  William,  who  was  seventh  in 
order  of  birth,  was  reared  in  the  parental  home 
and  attended  the  national  schools.  From  seven- 
teen to  twenty  years  of  age  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship at  the  stone  mason's  trade,  meantime 
gaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  stone-cutting 
and  brick-laying.     Later  he  worked  at  his  trade 


614 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  Glasgow.  In  the  spring  of  1SS2  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  landing  in  New  York  and  from 
there  proceeding  to  Joliet,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment at  his  trade.  After  some  years  he  be- 
gan in  business  for  himself  as  a  contractor  and 
builder  of  stone  and  brick  buildings. 

Prior  to  leaving  Scotland,  Mr.  McCowan  mar- 
ried, in  Glasgow,  Miss  Mary  Mackey,  a  native  of 
Edinburgh,  and  they  have  two  children,  Annie 
and  William.  The  family  attend  and  are  con- 
nected with  Central  Presbyterian  Church.  In 
his  currency  views  Mr.  McCowan  is  a  believer  in 
the  free  coinage  of  silver  and  is  strongly  opposed  to 
monometallism,  which,  in  his  opinion,  tends  to 
benefit  the  few  at  the  expense  of  the  many. 


ROBERT  B.  CLARK,  of  Joliet,  was  born  in 
Paisley,  Scotland,  May  23,  1840,  a  son  of 
John  and  Catherine  (McNab)  Clark.  He 
was  one  of  fourteen  children,  four  of  whom 
survive,  namely:  Jane  B.,  wife  of  Hiram 
Shingler,  of  Amity,  Mo.;  Allen,  a  farmer  of 
Clay  County,  Tex.;  Robert  B.;  and  Catherine, 
who  married  James  W.  Shingler  and  lives 
in  Joliet.  His  father  was  born  in  Renfrew- 
shire, in  the  lowlands  of  Scotland,  in  1804.  In 
boyhood  he  learned  to  weave  Paisley  shawls. 
Immigrating  to  America  in  1842,  he  settled  in 
Wellington  County,  Ontario,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  won  the 
esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  the  regard  of  his 
associates,  and  was  a  leading  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  For  several  terms  he 
served  as  school  trustee.  His  wife  was  a  native 
of  Invernesshire,  in  the  highlands  of  Scotland. 
She  died  in  1862. 

Educational  facilities  were  meager  in  the  coun- 
try regions  of  Canada  when  our  subject  was  a 
boy;  hence  he  had  little  education  besides  that 
which  he  obtained  by  self-culture.  In  the  fall 
of  1865  he  came  to  the  States.  During  the  winter 
he  worked  in  the  lumber  regions  of  Wisconsin 
and  Minnesota.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he  came 
to  Joliet  and  secured  employment  in  the  Illinois 
state   penitentiary,    where  he    remained   for  ten 


years  as  a  guard  and  for  one  year  was  foreman  in 
the  cigar  factory  of  Fuller  &  Fuller,  at  the 
prison.  His  next  work  was  in  the  transfer  and 
trucking  business,  which  he  conducted  for  seven 
years,  meantime  doing  much  hauling  for  contract- 
ors at  the  penitentiary.  In  1890  he  purchased 
four  hundred  acres  of  land  near  Spirit  Lake, 
Iowa.  He  has  also  been  identified  with  the  prop- 
erty interests  of  Joliet.  In  1882  he  built  a  resi- 
dence at  No.  118  Second  avenue,  and  seven  years 
later  he  erected  his  present  home  at  No.  112 
Sherman  street,  which  is  one  of  the  handsome 
residences  of  the  city.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  always  supporting  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  party.  In  religion  he  is  connected 
with  Central  Presbyterian  Church.  The  first 
marriage  of  Mr.  Clark  took  place  in  1872  and 
united  him  with  Mar}*  J.  Baker,  who  was  born 
in  the  County  of  Peel,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  died 
in  Joliet  in  1884.  Three  of  the  four  children 
born  of  this  marriage  are  living:  Robert  Ezra, 
Mary,  Agnes  and  William  Garfield.  Mrs.  Mary 
Clark  was  a  daughter  of  William  Baker,  who 
was  born  in  Canada,  a  son  of  Michael  Baker.  In 
early  life  he  engaged  at  the  trades  of  carpenter 
and  wheelwright,  but  later  turned  his  attention 
to  farming.  He  was  a  skilled  mechanic,  and 
always  did  considerable  work  in  that  line. 

In  1S86  Mr.  Clark  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sadie  Beardsworth,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Hill) 
Beardsworth.  She  was  only  eighteen  months 
old  when  her  mother  died.  Leaving  the  child 
with  the  maternal  grandparents,  George  and  Ann 
Hill,  the  father  came  to  America.  Ten  years 
later  he  returned  to  England,  and  this  time 
brought  his  daughter  back  with  him  to  America. 
For  a  short  time  he  was  employed  in  a  rolling- 
mill  in  New  York  City.  Next  he  went  to  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  where  he  rose  to  the  important  position 
of  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Reading  mills. 
After  twelve  years  in  that  city  he  removed  to  To- 
peka,  Kans.,  where  he  became  superintendent  of 
the  rolling-mills,  continuing  in  the  position  until 
they  were  destroyed  by  fire  one  year  later.  He 
then  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Joliet,  where 
he  was  foreman   of  the  B    mill  for  two   years. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


615 


When  the  mills  were  closed  down,  although  he 
was  importuned  to  remain  by  his  employers,  he 
left  the  city  and  went  to  Portland,  Me.,  where  he 
was  foreman  of  the  Portland  rolling-mills.  Later 
he  was  made  superintendent  of  the  mills,  which 
position  he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  one  of  the  ill-fated  passengers  of  the  steamer 
"Portland,"  which  sank  with  all  on  board,  No- 
vember 28,  1898.  In  religion  he  was  connected 
with  the  Church  of  England. 


REV.  W.  J.  McNAMEE,  pastor  of  St.  Mary's 
Catholic  Church  in  Joliet,  is  considered  one 
of  the  able  men  of  his  diocese  and  is  also 
active  in  temperance  work,  being  at  this  writing 
first  vice-president  of  the  Total  Abstinence  Union 
of  Illinois  and  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  organiza- 
tion. He  was  born  June  20,  1859,  in  Legga, 
near  Ballinamuck,  County  Laugford,  Ireland,  a 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Ward)  McNamee,  also 
natives  of  that  county.  His  father,  who  was 
born  in  1809,  grew  to  manhood  oh  the  farm 
owned  by  his  father,  John,  Sr.,  and  is  still  living, 
at  ninety  years,  on  the  same  homestead,  his 
twin  brother,  William,  living  a  mile  from  his 
place.  His  wife  is  also  living  and  is  eighty-five 
years  of  age.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  sons 
and  five  daughters  now  living,  of  whom  three 
sons  and  one  daughter  are  in  America,  the  daugh- 
ter making  her  home  with  her  brother,  W.  J.  Of 
the  sons,  John  J.,  who  was  educated  in  America, 
is  now  chaplain  at  Forest  Castle,  Mount  St.  Vin- 
cent, on  the  Hudson;  another  son,  Joseph,  is  as- 
sistant pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  Church  in  Chicago. 
A  cousin,  Joseph,  son  of  William  McNamee,  is 
pastor  of  St.  Theresa's  Catholic  Church  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm  until  fifteen  years  of 
age,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  at  that  time  began 
to  study  for  the  priesthood.  At  first  he  was  a 
pupil  in  a  diocesan  school,  after  which  he  com- 
pleted the  course  in  philosophy  and  theology  in 
All  Hallow's  College  in  Dublin.  In  that  college 
he  was  ordained  June  24,  1883,  by  Bishop  Crane, 
of  New  Zealand,  and  at  the  same  time  he  was  as- 


signed to  the  Chicago  diocese.  Coming  imme- 
diately to  America,  he  was  for  six  months  assist- 
ant pastor  of  St.  Mary's,  Evanston,  111.,  then  was 
transferred  to  Holy  Angels  Church  in  Chicago, 
where  he  remained  for  nine  years  as  assistant 
pastor.  In  1892  he  established  a  new  congrega- 
tion in  Aurora,  purchased  and  remodeled  a  build- 
ing and  bought  property  adjoining  with  a  paro- 
chial residence.  This  parish  bore  the  name  of 
the  one  with  which  he  had  been  identified  in  Chi- 
cago. He  remained  there  until  February  10, 
1897,  when  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Mary's 
Church  in  Joliet. 

The  original  location  of  St.  Mary's  was  on  the 
corner  of  Scott  and  Van  Buren  streets,  but  when 
the  building  on  that  site  was  burned,  a  new 
building  was  erected  on  North  Ottawa  street, 
where  the  congregation  owns  a  quarter  of  a 
block,  with  the  finest  edifice  in  the  city.  The 
membership  is  large  and  the  various  sodalities 
are  in  excellent  working  condition.  The  church 
is  not  only  next  to  the  oldest  among  the  Catholic 
churches  of  the  city,  but  it  is  also  one  of  the  most 
harmonious  and  successful.  An  academy  is  car- 
ried on,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Sisters  of  Lo- 
retto,  in  connection  with  the  church,  and  St. 
Mary's  parochial  school  affords  excellent  educa- 
tional opportunities  for  the  younger  children. 
This  school  was  remodeled  in  1898,  a  steam  plant 
being  put  in  and  other  improvements  made.  ■  The 
four  hundred  and  fifty  pupils  are  under  the  charge 
of  nine  teachers  from  the  convent  of  Loretto. 
Many  of  the  graduates  of  the  high  school  receive 
county  teachers'  certificates,  the  course  of  in- 
struction being  sufficiently  thorough  to  enable 
graduates  to  carry  011  educational  work  success- 
fully. 

Under  the  supervision  of  the  pastor  the  work  of 
St.  Mary's  moves  on  harmoniously.  He  gives 
his  personal  attention  to  all  matters  connected 
with  the  work  and  looks  carefully  after  the  spirit- 
ual needs  of  his  parishioners.  Besides  his  work 
as  pastor  he  is  serving  as  chaplain  of  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Knights  and 
Ladies  of  America.  While  he  has  always  been 
devoted   to  his  work,  even  to  the  point  of  self- 


6i6 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sacrifice,  he  has  occasionally  allowed  himself  a 
vacation,  and  twice  has  returned  to  his  old  home, 
in  1887  and  1896,  at  both  of  which  times  he 
toured  through  the  British  Isles  and  visited 
many  points  of  historic  interest. 


EHARLES  P.  JOHNSON  has  been  engaged  in 
the  building  business  in  Joliet  since  Novem- 
ber, 188S.  Among  the  many  residences  for 
which  he  has  been  given  the  contracts  are  those 
owned  by  Messrs.  Henry  Sehring,  Goldberg, 
Bremmond,  Elmer  Henry  and  Henry  Shreffler. 
Besides  the  residence  which  he  occupies,  on  the 
corner  of  Maple  and  Strong  avenues,  he  has 
built  other  houses  for  himself,  including  four  on 
Meeker  avenue,  one  on  Sheridan  street,  two  on 
Chase  avenue,  one  on  Harris  avenue  and  two  on 
Maple  avenue,  a  number  of  which  he  has  sold. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet  Builders'  Associa- 
tion. Among  the  Swedish-American  citizens  of 
Joliet  he  holds  a  prominent  place.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  Swedish  Temperance  LTnion,  and 
has  served  on  the  board  of  trustees  and  deacons 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  also  was  a 
member  of  the  building  committee  at  the  time  of 
the  erection  of  the  Swedish  Orphans'  Home. 
The  Northwestern  Mutual  Life  Association  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  number  him 
among  their  members.  In  politics  a  Republican, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  Club  and  has 
served  on  the  county  central  committee  of  the 
party. 

In  Tornea,  Skane,  Sweden,  Mr.  Johnson  was 
born  June  5,  1858,  a  son  of  John  and  Benta  John- 
son. His,  father,  who  was  a  son  of  Lewis  John- 
sou,  a  farmer,  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed,  in  addition  to  wagon-making 
and  contracting,  and  he  was  considered  an  expert 
mechanic  in  wood.  He  died  at  forty-two  years 
of  age  and  his  wife  when  thirty-eight.  They 
were  the  parents  of  one  son  and  six  daughters,  of 
whom  four  are  living,  all  but  one  being  in  Amer- 
ica. When  fourteen  years  of  age  our  subject  was 
apprenticed  to  the  carpenter's  trade  under  an 
uncle,  a  builder  and  farmer,  with  whom  he  re- 


mained for  three  years.  Later  he  was  employed 
as  a  journeyman.  He  served  for  two  years  in 
the  Twenty-fifth  Army  Corps,  Swedish  Infantry. 
Ma  the  steamer  "  City  of  Paris"  Mr.  Johnson 
came  from  Liverpool  to  New  York  in  1S81  and 
arrived  in  Joliet  in  April  of  that  year.  For  a  year 
he  worked  for  William  Davidson  of  this  city.  In 
1882  he  went  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  during 
one  winter  attended  the  city  schools,  the  next 
winter  being  a  student  in  the  night  schools.  He 
worked  on  a  farm  in  Rock  Island  County,  111., 
then  became  a  sawyer  and  millwright  in  a  saw- 
mill in  Davenport.  Jul}-,  1882,  found  him  har- 
vesting in  Minnesota.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  secured  employment  on  the  Burlington, 
Cedar  Rapids  &  Northern  Railroad.  Next,  re- 
turning to  Davenport,  he  resumed  work  in  the 
mill,  where  he  remained  steadily  for  some  time, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  months  spent  in  put- 
ting up  a  mill  in  Cloquet,  Carlton  County,  Minn. 
In  1885  he  began  contracting  and  building  in 
Davenport.  He  continued  there  until  the  spring 
of  188S,  when  he  went  to  Wausau,  Wis.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  While  in  Davenport  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Karen  Swauson,  who  was  born  in 
Skane,  Sweden.  Of  the  eight  children  born  to 
their  union  six  are  living,  namely:  Josephine, 
Elfie,  Hedwig,  Tissing,  Victor  and  Charles  N. 


REV. CHRISTOPHER  PATRICK  FOSTER. 
In  his  work  as  pastor  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Joliet,  Father 
Foster  has  been  particularly  successful.  This 
congregation  was  organized  in  1S86  by  Father 
Gaulet,  and  was  an  outgrowth  of  St.  Mary's, 
comprising  families  in  this  part  of  the  city.  The 
founder  of  the  church  was  succeeded  by  Father 
Foster,  who  was  appointed  to  the  pastorate  Sep- 
tember 28,  1888.  He  found  a  small  building  on 
South  Ottawa  street,  and  soon  enlarged  and  re- 
modeled the  building,  which  now  has  a  frontage 
of  almost  five  hundred  feet.  In  connection  with 
the  church  is  a  parochial  school  with  two  hun- 
dred pupils,  in  charge  of  the  Ladies  of  Loretto. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


617 


Besides  his  work  in  Joliet  he  has  been  in  charge 
of  a  mission  at  Manhattan,  which  he  established 
in  1890;  there  he  erected  a  handsome  edifice, 
which,  owing  to  the  remarkable  growth  of  the 
congregation,  was  in  1895  enlarged  to  double  its 
original  capacity.  The  membership  now  com- 
prises fifty  families,  and  in  the  church  there  are 
the  various  sodalities,  including  temperance  or- 
ganizations for  boys,  societies  for  young  men  and 
also  for  young  women,  a  League  of  Sacred  Heart 
and  others.  At  this  writing  he  is  state  chaplain 
of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  with  which  he  is 
actively  connected. 

The  Fosters  are  an  old  Scotch  family  that  set- 
tled in  the  west  of  Ireland.  Edward  Foster  was 
born  in  County  Gal  way,  Ireland,  and  in  1849 
removed  to  Manchester,  England,  where  he 
worked  at  the  merchant  tailor's  trade.  Cross- 
ing the  ocean  in  1865,  he  settled  in  Rushville, 
Ind.,  where  he  had  a  tailoring  establishment. 
In  1877  he  removed  to  Indianapolis,  where  he 
has  since  been  similarly  employed.  He  is  still 
living  in  that  city,  and  is  now  seventy  years  of 
age.  His  marriage  united  him  with  Mary  J. 
Haley;  a  member  of  the  Scotch  family  of  Wal- 
laces who  migrated  to  Sligo,  Ireland.  Her 
mother,  who  was  a  Miss  Wallace,  was  a  convert 
to  Catholicism,  and  reared  the  children  in  that 
faith.  Of  seven  children  comprising  the  family 
of  Edward  Foster,  four  are  living,  three,  Thomas 
J.,  William  and  Edward,  being  in  business  with 
their  father  in  Indianapolis,  assisting  him  in  the 
management  of  his  two  places  of  business  in  that 
city. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Man- 
chester, England,  August  24,  1855.  His  pri- 
mary education  was  secured  in  Christian  Broth- 
ers' school  in  Manchester.  After  coming  to 
America  he  studied  in  Rushville.  When  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  entered  St.  Joseph's  Seminary 
at  Bardstown,  Ky.,  where  he  studied  the  clas- 
sics, and  later  spent  one  year  in  St.  Xavier's 
school  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  an  institution  un- 
der the  supervision  of  the  Jesuits.  Next  he  ma- 
triculated in  St.  Mary's  of  the  West,  where  he 
studied  philosophy  and  theology,  completing  the 
course  in  1879,  after  which  he  spent  six  months 


in  Niagara  College.  Later  he  accepted  a  position 
as  instructor  in  the  advanced  course  of  rhetoric 
and  belles  lettres  at  Bourbonnais  Grove,  Kanka- 
kee County,  111.,  in  St.  Viateur's  College,  one  of 
the  best  institutions  in  the  state.  On  the  24th 
of  June,  1 88 1,  he  was  appointed  assistant  pastor 
of  St.  John's  Church  on  Eighteenth  and  Clark 
streets,  Chicago,  where  he  was  under  Rev.  John 
Waldron,  a  venerable  and  honored  priest  of  the 
archdiocese.  His  ordination  to  the  priesthood 
was  in  charge  of  Archbishop  Feehan  of  Chi- 
cago. On  the  death  of  Father  Waldron,  June 
24,  1882,  he  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Butler,  with 
whom  Father  Foster  remained  until  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Sacred  Heart  Church  in  Joliet. 
He  is  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments,  fitted  by 
natural  gifts  and  a  thorough  education  for  suc- 
cessful pastoral  work,  and  his  long  pastorate  in 
his  present  connections  speaks  volumes  for  his 
fidelity  and  self-sacrificing  devotion  to  the  cause. 


r~RANK  JACKSON,  who  is  a  successful 
rS  building  contractor  of  Joliet,  was  born  in 
I  Ledsham,  Yorkshire,  England,  October  i, 
1852.  His  father,  Thomas  Jackson,  a  farmer, 
was  a  member  of  a  family  that  had  been  promi- 
nent in  the  same  locality  for  five  hundred  years, 
and,  as  far  back  as  the  record  extends,  the  ances- 
tors were  farmers  and  bore  the  name  of  Thomas. 
Our  subject's  father  was  born  at  Brotherton,  in 
1828, and  there  married  Jane  Morritt,  by  whom  he 
had  seven  children, three  now  living,  viz.:  Thomas, 
who  holds  a  prominent  government  position  in 
England;  John  and  Frank,  who  are  business  part- 
ners. The  maternal  grandfather,  Francis  Morritt, 
who  was  a  wealthy  farmer,  laid  the  first  railroad- 
tie  for  the  first  railroad  built  in  the  world,  his 
name  being  cut  in  the  stone  tie.  This  road  was 
built  from  Stockton  to  Darlington.  He  was  a 
son  of  Col.  Francis  Morritt,  a  giant  in  stature, 
seven  feet  and  two  inches  tall,  and  an  officer  both 
in  the  Crimean  war  and  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 
At  Kippiz  and  Ridsdale  academies  our  subject 
obtained  his  education.  When  thirteen  he  was 
apprenticed  to   the  building   trade.     After    five 


6i8 


OEXEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years  of  work  he  became  so  proficient  that  his 
employer  gave  him  charge  of  a  crew  of  men,  and 
he  superintended  the  construction  of  important 
buildings  in  various  parts  of  Europe.  In  this 
way  he  traveled  extensively  during  the  course  of 
his  business  life  in  the  old  world.  For  seven 
years  he  served  in  the  volunteer  force  under  the 
Queen  of  England. 

The  year  1878  found  Mr.  Jackson  in  America. 
Landing  in  Philadelphia,  he  went  from  there  to 
Houtzdale,  Pa.  Four  months  later  he  arrived  in 
Chicago,  where  he  spent  eighteen  months,  and 
during  that  time  he  drove  the  first  nail  ever  put 
in  the  Pullman  plant.  From  Chicago  he  went  to 
Meridian,  Miss.,  and  for  two  years  he  worked  in 
the  south.  Returning  north  he  settled  in  Houtz- 
dale, Pa.,  where  he  became  a  contractor.  After 
two  3*ears  he  came  to  Braidwood,  111.,  and  there 
met  W.  H.  Odell,  who  started  him  in  business. 
He  erected  practically  all  of  the  buildings  in  the 
town.  In  1885  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he  at 
once  took  a  high  place  as  a  contractor,  and  was 
given  contracts  for  many  prominent  buildings. 
He  had  the  contract  for  the  building  of  the 
Keeley  plant  at  Dwight,  111.,  and  has  in  his  pos- 
session the  only  bust  of  Dr.  Keeley  owned  by  a 
private  individual.  In  1892  he  retired  from  con- 
tracting and  did  not  resume  until  July,  1S99, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother, 
and  since  then  the  firm  of  Jackson  Brothers  has 
become  one  of  the  best-known  in  the  city. 

December  24,  1887,  Mr.  Jackson  married  Miss 
Margaret  Bale,  who  was  born  in  England,  and  in 
childhood  was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents, 
the  family  settling  in  Mahanoy  City,  Pa.,  in 
187 1 ,  when  she  was  two  years  old.  In  1873  they 
moved  to  Houtzdale,  Pa.,  and  in  1882  came  to 
Braidwood,  111.,  remaining  there  until  they  set- 
tled in  Joliet,  in  1886.  Six  children  were  born 
to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson,  but  Clara 
J.  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

In  politics  Mr.  Jackson  has  been  an  active 
Democrat.  In  1892,  1S93  and  1S94  he  served  on 
the  board  of  aldermen,  during  which  time,  in 
recognition  of  his  faithful  service,  his  constitu- 
ents presented  him  with  a  gold  star.  He  has 
been  repeatedly  urged  to  accept  renomination  for 


alderman,  but  always  declines.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  the  Sons  of  St.  George;  Paul 
Revere  Lodge  No.  371,  K.  of  P.;  Banner  Lodge 
No.  391,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and  has  held  all  of  the  chairs 
in  the  local  camp,  Order  of  Foresters,  which  for 
two  years  he  represented  in  the  grand  lodge. 


HARRY  M.  GIAVER,  chief  clerk  of  the 
Great  Western  works  of  the  American  Tin 
Plate  Company  at  Joliet,  was  born  in 
Tromsoo,  Norway,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1869. 
His  father,  Hans,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same 
place  as  himself,  and  a  prominent  merchant  there, 
was  especially  interested  in  handling  the  products 
of  the  fisheries.  Active  in  local  affairs,  he  held 
an  office  similar  to  that  of  city  councilman,  and 
aided  in  promoting  enterprises  for  the  benefit  of 
his  town.  He  was  a  member  of  a  family  that 
originated  in  Denmark,  whose  representatives 
were  prominent  merchants  and  some  of  whom 
held  high  rank  in  the  ministry.  He  is  now 
living,  retired  from  business  pursuits,  in  his  na- 
tive town.  By  his  marriage  to  Birgitte,  daugh- 
ter of  John  R.  Scheldrup,  a  merchant,  he  had 
four  sous,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  an  attorney;  the 
second,  our  subject,  is  the  only  member  of  the 
family  in  America. 

At  fourteen  years  of  age  our  subject  left  the 
private  school  he  had  previously  attended  and  en- 
tered the  University  of  Christiana,  where  he 
studied  for  four  years,  graduating  in  18S8,  when 
nineteen  years  of  age.  It  had  been  his  expecta- 
tion to  enter  the  ministry,  but,  his  mind  having 
more  of  a  commercial  than  a  professional  bent,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits.  For 
four  years  he  was  interested  with  an  uncle  in  the 
fish  and  oil  business.  Iu  1893  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  World's  Fair. 
He  was  so  pleased  with  the  country  that  he  de- 
cided to  remain.  His  first  position  was  iu  Chi- 
cago, with  a  cousin  of  his  father,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  contracting  firm  of  J.  G.  Giaver  & 
Co. ,  and  during  the  three  years  he  was  there  he 
had  charge  of  the  office  work.  Next  he  was 
with    the   Calumet    Furnace    Company  in  South 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


619 


Chicago.  In  1896  he  came  to  Joliet  and  accepted 
a  position  with  the  firm  in  whose  interests  he  has 
since  worked.  When  the  name  of  the  firm  was 
changed  to  the  American  Tin  Plate  Company  his 
ability  was  recognized  by  his  promotion,  in  Au- 
gust, 1S97,  to  the  position  of  chief  clerk,  and  this 
responsible  office  he  has  since  filled  with  great 
efficiency.  Though  not  active  in  politics  he  is 
a  stanch  Republican.  He  was  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  faith  and  is  a  believer  in  the  doctrines 
of  that  church.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
Iron  Link  Lodge  No.  751,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  of  Iron- 
dale. 


"GBERT  PHELPS,  who  came  to  Joliet  in 
>)  1870,  was  born  in  Middlebury,  Vt.,  Decem- 
mm,  ber  8,  1835,  a  son  of  Samuel  S.  and  Electa 
(Satterlee)  Phelps,  natives  respectively  of  Litch- 
field, Conn.,  and  Vermont.  His  father,  who  was 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  served  as  paymaster  in 
the  army,  settled  in  Middlebury,  Vt.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  While  serving 
33  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Vermont  he 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  in  1839, 
and  served  his  country  in  that  capacity  until 
185 1.  His  oldest  son,  Edward  J.,  an  attorney  in 
Burlington,  Vt.,  was  minister  to  England  under 
the  first  administration  of  Grover  Cleveland. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  classmate  of 
Admiral  Dewey  in  the  Norwich  military  school. 
In  1856  he  graduated  from  Union  College  at 
Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  had  charge 
of  a  private  school  in  Louisiana  and  also  studied 
law,  returning  to  Middlebury  in  1859.  The 
next  year  he  went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  he 
studied  law  in  his  brother's  office,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  early  in  1861.  When  the  war 
began  he  was  commissioned  May  14,  1861,  first 
lieutenant  in  the  Nineteenth  United  States  Infan- 
try, in  which  he  served  with  valor.  He  was  de- 
tached at  first  as  recruiting  officer,  and  then  was 
engaged  in  mustering  duty  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 
March  16,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  captain. 
During  the  last  year  of  the  war  he  took  part  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  had  the  command  of 
the  regiment  on  the  march  through  Georgia. 


After  the  war  Mr.  Phelps  engaged  in  the  claim 
business  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  for  a  year,  then  ran 
a  flouring  mill  at  Maumee  City,  that  state,  for 
two  years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Joliet,  where  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  W.  C.  Goodhue, 
later  was  with  Judge  Benjamin  Olin,  but  is  now 
alone  in  the  practice  of  law.  For  some  years  he 
was  president  of  the  school  board.  It  was  due 
to  his  efforts  that  the  public  library  was  estab- 
lished in  Joliet.  He  was  president  of  the  old 
Joliet  Historical  Library  Association,  which  pre- 
sented to  the  city  a  library  that  has  since  been 
enlarged  to  thirteen  thousand  volumes.  Since 
1890  he  has  been  president  of  the  Library  Asso- 
ciation, which  is  now  formulating  plans  for  a  new 
public  library  building  that  will  be  a  credit  to 
the  city  and  a  source  of  pride  to  every  citizen. 

In  Logansport,  Ind.,  Mr.  Phelps  married  Miss 
Belle  Jerolaman,  whose  father,  Dr.  George  M. 
Jerolaman,  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson 
as  physician  to  the  Indians,  and  was  placed  in 
charge  of  their  removal  to  the  more  remote  west. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  have  two  daughters  and  one 
son. 


GjKORGE  S.  HOUSE,  one  of  Joliet' s  leading 
|_  attorneys  and  progressive  citizens,  is  a  mem- 
\^Jl  ber  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Illinois.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Chester  House,  came  west 
from  the  vicinity  of  Rome,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y., 
in  1831,  and  located  three-quarters  of  a  section 
of  land  on  the  Ausable  River,  twelve  miles  west 
of  Joliet.  On  his  laud  was  the  old  Fox  Indian 
trail  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  lakes.  The 
farm  continued  to  be  his  home  until  his  death, 
and  is  now  occupied  by  his  sole  surviving  son; 
since  the  deed  made  was  made  transferring  the 
property  from  the  government  to  Mr.  House, 
the  only  papers  drawn  up  were  the  original  own- 
er's will  and  the  later  deed  of  our  subject's  father, 
transferring  his  interest  in  the  homestead  to  the 
present  owner.  Chester  House  was  a  pioneer 
in  every  sense  of  the  word.  When  he  came  west 
he  walked  from  Chicago  to  his  claim.  Joliet  was 
not  then  in  existence.  The  country  was  in  its 
primitive  wildness.     He  built  the  first  hewn-log 


620 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


house  in  all  the  region  and  it  became  the  land- 
mark for  travelers.  When  Hon.  Joel  Matteson 
came  to  this  county,  Mr.  House  went  to  Chicago 
with  his  team  and  brought  the  Matteson  family 
and  their  household  goods  back  with  him.  The 
goods  were  packed  in  straw  in  Jefferson  County, 
X.  V.,  and  were  unpacked  on  the  House  home- 
stead, the  place  being  clearly  marked  by  a 
growth  of  Canada  thistles,  which  sprang  up  from 
among  the  straw. 

Rodney,  son  of  Chester  House,  was  born  in 
Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  and  learned  the  wagon- 
maker's  trade  there.  In  1833  he  came  west  and 
settled  on  the  north  edge  of  what  is  now  Grundy 
County  (then  Cook),  when  he  entered  a  claim. 
In  the  winter  of  1835-36  he  built  a  dwelling  on 
Chicago  street  in  Joliet.  In  the  spring  of  1836, 
his  wife  joined  him  here.  He  opened  a  wagon 
shop  on  Chicago  street.  In  1858  he  erected  a 
new  house  on  Scott  street,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death,  at  ninety  years.  During 
his  early  life  he  was  an  old  line  Whig,  and  upon 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  became 
identified  with  it.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Joliet,  and  after- 
ward served  as  a  deacon  as  long  as  he  lived. 
He  continued  at  his  trade  until  he  was  seventy- 
five,  when  he  retired.  His  life  was  prolonged 
far  beyond  the  usual  duration  of  man's  existence, 
but  he  was  fortunate  in  retaining,  to  a  large  ex- 
tent, his  faculties  of  mind  and  body.  On  the 
ninetieth  anniversary  of  his  birth  his  remains 
were  interred  in  a  cemetery  near  his  home.  No 
pioneer  of  the  town  was  more  respected  than  he, 
and,  although  he  did  not  accumulate  property  or 
gain  wealth,  he  gained  that  which  is  more  to  be 
desired — the  esteem  of  his  associates  and  the  love 
of  his  friends.  Before  leaving  New  York  he 
married  Miss  Julia  Stillman,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons,  GeorgeS.  and  Rodney  (both  of  Joliet), 
and  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 

When  our  subject  was  nine  years  of  age  his 
mother  took  him  to  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  he  pre- 
pared for  college  in  the  academy  there.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  Hamilton  College 
at  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  took  the  regular 
course  of  stud}*,  graduating  in   1S56.     He  then 


matriculated  in  what  is  now  Columbia  law  school, 
and  three  years  later  graduated  with  a  high 
standing.  Although  he  had  no  intention  of 
practicing  law  in  New  York  state,  he  took  the 
examination,  with  the  others  of  his  class,  before 
the  board  of  examiners  for  admission  to  the  bar 
of  that  state;  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiv- 
ing the  highest  grades  of  any  candidate.  His 
examiners  were  men  of  national  fame — Roscoe 
Conkling,  Judge  Allen,  of  the  eastern  district  of 
New  York,  and  Judge  Denio,  who  was  afterward 
judge  of  the  court  of  appeals  of  New  York. 

Returning  to  Joliet,  Mr.  House  entered  the 
law  office  of  McRoberts  &Goodspeed,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  a  short  time.  His  license  to 
practice  in  New  York  secured  him  admission  to 
the  courts  of  Illinois,  without  further  examina- 
tion. After  a  short  time  in  the  office  of  Uriah 
Osgood,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  bim,  and 
the  two  remained  together  until  1863,  when  Mr. 
House  went  south,  and  was  engaged  as  auditor 
and  cashier  in  the  office  of  the  general  disbursing 
quartermaster  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  under  Gen- 
eral Donaldson.  In  1867  he  came  back  to  Joliet, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  pro- 
fessional work.  His  career  has  been  remarkably 
successful.  It  is  said  by  those  qualified  to  know, 
that  there  has  not  been  an  important  case  in 
Joliet  during  the  last  twenty-five  years  in  which 
he  was  not  interested.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  attorney  for  the  Chicago  &  Wilmington 
Coal  Company,  the  largest  coal  company  in  the 
state.  For  twenty-five  years  he  has  held  the 
position  of  attorney  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road. While  his  is  a  general  practice,  yet  he 
has  been  particularly  interested  in  corporation 
law,  and  his  largest  success  has  been  achieved 
in  that  department  of  the  profession.  In  the  ses- 
sion of  1890,  when  the  labor  element  was  so 
strong  that  five  bills  were  passed  in  its  interests, 
namely:  the  truck  store  bill,  weekly  pay  bill, 
gross  weight  bill,  check-weighman's  bill  and 
screen  bill — the  passage  of  these  bills  put  all 
business  at  the  mercy  of  operatives  and  employes. 
Mr.  House  was  retained  to  fight  the  measures. 
He  carried  all  of  them  to  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  where  they  were  declared  unconstitutional. 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


621 


These  same  bills  were  passed  and  declared  con- 
stitutional in  West  Virginia.  He  was  then  asked 
to  go  to  West  Virginia  and  argue  for  a  rehear- 
ing. This  he  did,  the  result  beiog  that  the  de- 
cision was  finally  reversed.  While  he  is  a  be- 
liever in  Republican  principles,  yet  he  has  never 
been  active  in  politics,  preferring  to  give  his  at- 
tention wholly  to  his  professional  activities. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  House  took  place  June 
27,  i860,  and  united  him  with  Miss  Virginia  A. 
Osgood,  whose  father,  Hon.  Uriel  Osgood,  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  attorneys  and  bankers 
of  his  day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  House  are  the  parents 
of  six  children,  viz.:  George  C,  who  is  an  en- 
gineer on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  and  re- 
sides in  Bloomington,  111. ;  Harry  O.,  who  is  with 
the  Illinois  Steel  Company  in  Joliet;  Caroline 
V.,  wife  of  Frank  E.  Chamberlin,  of  Joliet; 
Gould,  a  dentist  in  Joliet;  I.  Robert,  who  is  in 
his  father's  office;  and  Hazel. 


EAPT.  JOSEPH  V.  DUSSEAU,  whose  home 
has  been  Joliet  since  childhood,  is  better 
known  as  Joseph  Duso,  the  latter  style  of 
spelling  having  been  adopted  by  his  older  brother, 
Narcisse,  at  the  time  that  their  father  went  to 
California;  and  since  then,  as  everyone  has  per- 
sisted in  writing  the  name  by  its  abbreviated 
form,  the  latter  has  been  used  instead  of  the 
original  and  correct  spelling.  His  father,  Au- 
gustus, a  son  of  Victor  Dusseau,  was  born  in 
Canada,  a  descendant  of  early  French  settlers  of 
that  country.  In  the  fall  of  1846  he  brought  the 
family  via  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  thence  by  teams 
to  Aurora,  111.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1847  began 
farming  near  that  town.  In  1854  ne  traveled 
across  the  plains  to  California,  where  he  remained 
for  four  and  one-half  years,  and  on  his  return 
engaged  in  farming  in  Minnesota,  later  settling 
in  St.  Anthony,  that  state.  In  1863  he  came  to 
Joliet,  where  he  died  three  years  later.  He  mar- 
ried Olive  Lanou,  daughter  of  a  farmer  and  de- 
scendant of  an  old  French-Canadian  family. 
She  was  born  in  Canada  and  died  there,  while  on 
a  visit  to  relatives,  in  1890.     Of  her  seven  chil- 


dren all  but  two  are  still  living.  The  oldest  son, 
Narcisse,  who  was  a  soldier  in  a  Missouri  regi- 
ment during  the  Civil  war,  died  in  Colorado. 
Two  sons  and  a  daughter  live  in  Joliet,  one 
daughter  in  Canada  and  another  in  Minnesota. 

The  next  to  the  eldest  of  the  family,  Joseph  V. , 
was  born  at  St.  John's,  Canada,  July  8,  1844.  In 
the  fall  of  1 85 1  he  came  with  his  mother  and 
father  to  Joliet.  He  was  only  ten  years  of  age 
when  he  began  to  earn  his  livelihood  by  working 
as  a  driver  on  the  canal  between  LaSalle  and 
Chicago.  After  some  seven  years  as  driver  he 
began  steering.  In  1869  he  became  master  of  the 
"E.  Burnham,"  and,  after  two  years,  master  of 
another  boat,  which  he  bought  in  1S73  and 
operated  until  1882,  when  he  sold  it.  Later  he 
had  charge  of  a  stone  boat  for  seven  years  and 
then  ran  another  stone  boat  for  four  and  one-half 
years,  after  which  he  ran  steamboats.  The  ex- 
posure in  all  kinds  of  weather,  which  his  busi- 
ness had  rendered  necessary,  brought  on  rheu- 
matism, and  for  two  years  he  was  unable  to  en- 
gage in  any,  work.  In  August,  1897,  he  resumed 
work  on  a  steamboat,  and  this  he  has  since  oper- 
ated, engaged  in  transporting  flour  and  wheat  to 
and  from  Chicago  for  Norton  &  Co.  He  has 
been  on  the  canal  since  1854  and  is  probably  the 
oldest  canal  man  in  Joliet. 

In  Chicago,  December  27,  1874,  Captain  Dus- 
seau married  Miss  Louise  Civalier,  who  was  born 
in  Montreal  and  came  to  Joliet  at  fourteen  years 
of  age.  Eight  children  were  born  of  their  mar- 
riage, namely:  Joseph  and  Olive,  who  died  at  the 
ages  of  fourteen  and  ten  mouths  respectively; 
Florence;  Louise;  Estella;  William,  who  was 
only  one  month  old  at  death;  George;  and  Edna, 
who  died  in  1897,  at  six  years  of  age.  Joseph 
Civalier,  father  of  Mrs.  Dusseau,  was  born  in 
Canada,  son  of  Laurent  Civalier  and  member  of  a 
French-Canadian  family.  He  became  a  horse 
dealer  and  veterinary  surgeon.  In  1863  he  re- 
moved to  the  Lake  Superior  region,  but  the  next 
year  came  to  Joliet,  and  in  1868  settled  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  now  resides,  at  seventy-five 
years.  He  married  Lucy  Malboeuf,  who  was 
born  in  Montreal  and  died  in  Chicago;  she  was  a 
daughter  of  Lucien  Malboeuf,  a  Canadian  and  by 


622 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


trade  a  tanner.  In  religion  Captain  Dusseau  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  St.  Patrick's  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  Politically  he  has  always  been 
a  stanch  Republican  and  may  be  counted  upon  to 
cast  his  vote  in  support  of  party  principles. 


(3G)ALTER  L.  ERIKSEN,  a  successful  san- 
\  A  /  itary  engineer,  has  made  Joliet  his  home 
VV  since  18S6.  A  member  of  an  old  Danish 
family,  he  was  born  in  Copenhagen,  Denmark, 
February  17,  1S69,  a  son  of  Hans  P.  and  Maria 
(Nilsen)  Eriksen,  and  a  grandson  of  Erik  Erik- 
sen,  a  cabinet-maker  and  furniture  dealer  now 
residing  in  Greenville,  Montcalm  County,  Mich. 
His  father,  who  was  also  a  cabinet-maker, 
brought  the  family  to  America  in  the  fall  of 
1870  and  settled  in  Sheffield,  111  ,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  for  a  time. 
Later  he  built  a  carriage  shop  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  manufacture  of  carriages  and 
wagons,  continuing  in  that  business  until  he  died 
in  1879.  His  wife,  who  still  lives  at  Sheffield,  is 
a  lineal  descendant,  on  her  mother's  side,  of 
French  ancestry,  her  grandfather,  Francis  Fran- 
cie,  a  member  of  a  wealth}'  family,  having  mi- 
grated from  France  to  Denmark. 

The  older  of  two  sons,  of  whom  the  younger, 
Alexander,  died  in  1879  at  eight  years  of  age, 
W.  L.  Eriksen  was  reared  in  Sheffield,  where  he 
studied  in  the  public  school.  Since  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  has  been  self-supporting.  He 
served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  tinner's  trade  in 
his  home  town,  remaining  under  an  employer  in 
Sheffield  for  three  years.  In  1S86  he  came  to 
Joliet,  where  at  first  he  worked  at  the  tinner's 
trade  for  Strong,  Bush  &  Haudwerk.  In  18SS 
he  was  made  foreman  in  charge  of  the  depart- 
ment of  plumbing,  gas-fitting  and  heating.  His 
work  was  satisfactory,  and  he  proved  himself  an 
efficient  and  reliable  man.  While  filling  the  po- 
sition of  foreman  he  entered  upon  the  study  of 
sanitary  engineering  in  the  International  Corre- 
spondence School  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  from  which, 
after  four  years,  he  received  the  degree  of  S.  E. 
in  1898.     Meantime  he  had  resigned  his  position 


in  order  to  start  in  business  for  himself.  He  has 
since  taken  a  partner,  enlarged  the  business,  and 
is  now  located  at  No.  Soo  Jefferson  street,  where 
he  has  built  up  an  excellent  trade  in  his  chosen 
line  of  sanitary  engineer. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Eriksen  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  in  politics  votes 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  in  religion  holds 
membership  with  the  Richards  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  was  married,  in  Joliet,  to 
Miss  Emma  McDade,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  this  city,  her  father,  Chauncey  McDade,  hav- 
ing been  an  early  settler  here.  She  is  of  Scotch 
descent  on  the  paternal  side,  while  through  her 
mother  she  traces  her  lineage  to  France. 


GlXEL  H.  CHRISTENSEN,  M.  D.,  a  prac- 
I  I  ticing  physician  of  Joliet,  was  born  in 
/ 1  Hove,  Sjalland,  Denmark,  June  13,  1867,  a 
son  of  Jens  and  Susanna  Maria  (Brammar) 
Christensen.  On  his  mother's  side  he  descends 
from  an  old  and  noble  family  of  Denmark.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  who  was  a  prominent 
apothecary  of  Christianhaven,  was  a  brother  of 
Bishop  Brammar,  Bishop  of  Jutland,  and  the  last 
of  those  that  had  power.  Jens  Christensen,  who 
was  the  son  of  a  large  landed  proprietor  of  Jut- 
land, was  professor  of  schools  for  years,  retiring 
when  seventy  years  of  age,  and  dying  ten  years 
later.  In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran.  He  was 
a  man  of  honorable  character  and  upright  life. 
His  wife  was  sixty-five  at  the,  time  of  her  death. 
Of  their  nineteen  children  eleven  attained  years 
of  maturity.  Most  of  the  sons  became  soldiers 
in  the  army,  but  one  was  an  architect  and  an- 
other a  professor.  A  sister  married  Zacharias 
Niedson,  the  most  prominent  Danish  poet  of 
to-day. 

Dr.  Christensen,  who  was  one  of  the  youngest 
of  the  children,  represents  the  thirteenth  genera- 
tion in  descent  from  Hans  Tausen,  archbishop  to 
King  Frederick  II.  He  graduated  from  the  high 
school  of  his  native  town  in  1S83,  after  which  he 
attended  Soro  Academy  until  his  graduation  in 
1S8S.      Meantime    he   had    begun    the   study  of 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


623 


medicine  under  private  preceptorship,  and  after- 
ward attended  lectures  in  Copenhagen.  In  1892 
he  came  to  America  and  spent  some  time  in 
Kenosha,  Wis.,  where  he  attended  the  high 
school  and  also  studied  medicine.  Later  he  took 
the  course  of  lectures  in  Hahnemann  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
March,  1897,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  During 
the  same  time  he  completed  the  course  in  the 
Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso. 
In  1897,  through  his  appointment  as  interne  at 
Silver  Cross  Hospital,  Dr.  Christensen  came  to 
Joliet.  After  one  year  in  the  hospital  he  began 
to  practice  medicine  and  surgery  and  has  since 
built  up  a  valuable  patronage  among  the  people 
of  the  city.  He  has  his  office  in  the  Cutting 
building.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Desplaines 
Medical  Society.  Everything  pertaining  to  his 
profession  receives  his  warm  interest.  He  keeps 
abreast  with  all  the  developments  in  therapeutics, 
and  is  justly  recognized  as  a  skillful  physician, 
whose  position  in  his  profession  has  been  secured 
by  intense  application  and  constant  study. 


0  J.  HULTGREN  is  one  of  the  leading 
?\  Swedish-American  builders  in  Joliet,  and 
\~),  has  been  quite  successful  in  his  work  in 
this  city.  Among  his  most  important  contracts 
have  been  those  for  the  Eastern  Avenue  Baptist 
Church,  the  addition  to  the  Eastern  Avenue 
school,  Lull's  block  on  Cass  street,  St.  Joseph 
Hospital  annex,  the  Swedish  Mission,  and  many 
residences,  including  his  own  home  on  the  corner 
of  Stirling  and  Stevens  avenues.  In  partnership 
with  Alfred  Weinberg,  in  1898  he  built  an  oat- 
meal mill,  an  addition  to  the  E.  Porter  brewery, 
a  brick  store  on  the  corner  of  Oneida  and  Center 
streets,  and  another  on  Jackson  street. 

In  Jonkoping,  Smaland,  Sweden,  Mr.  Hult- 
gren  was  born  February  9,  1851,  a  son  of  Jolieii- 
nes  and  Anna  (Isaacson )  Hultgren.  His  mother, 
who  was  born  in  Sweden  in  182 1,  and  is  still  liv- 
ing in  that  country,  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Isaac- 
son, a  farmer.  Our  subject's  father,  who  was 
born  in  Smaland  in  1819,  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  and  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  own- 


ing two  mills.  His  last  years  were  devoted  to 
farm  pursuits,  and  he  died  on  a  farm  at  the  age 
seventy-five  years,  in  1896.  Of  his  six  children, 
three  daughters  and  one  son  are  now  living,  the 
daughters  all  remaining  in  Sweden.  The  son, 
our  subject,  early  learned  the  miller's  trade  and 
remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty- 
one,  after  which  he  was  foreman  on  the  Eastern 
Trunk  Line  Railroad  in  Sweden.  For  seven 
years  he  engaged  in  railroading  and  putting  up 
telegraph  lines,  after  which  he  began  stonemason 
work  on  the  railroad.  He  also  built  a  few  base- 
ment foundations  on  contracts. 

Coming  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1882,  Mr. 
Hultgren  spent  three  months  in  Arlington  as  a 
railroad  employe.  In  August  he  came  to  Joliet, 
and  for  two  summers  he  worked  in  a  stone 
quarry.  He  soon  became  interested  in  a  quarry 
with  Wenberg  Bros.,  with  whom  he  worked  as  a 
mason.  He  accompanied  them  to  Englewood, 
111.,  remaining  with  them  as  a  workman  for  two 
years.  Afterward,  for  six  years,  he  was  their 
foreman  in  Joliet,  putting  up  many  buildings  for 
them.  While  out  hunting,  March  3,  1891, 
through  an  accident  his  right  limb  was  shot  below 
the  knee,  and  he  was  so  seriously  injured  that  for 
seven  months  he  was  unable  to  leave  his  room. 
When  finally  he  began  work  again,  in  the  fall  of 
of  1892,  he  became  a  partner  of  Louis  Wenberg, 
but  after  two  years  the  partnership  was  dissolved, 
and  he  has  since  been  alone,  with  the  exception 
of  1898,  when  he  put  up  some  buildings  in  con- 
nection with  Alfred  Wenberg. 

In  Sweden,  1874,  Mr.  Hultgren  married  Miss 
Anna  K.  Magnuson,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
place  as  himself.  Her  father,  Magnus,  was  a  son 
of  John  Vermo,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Swedish 
army.  Magnus  continued  to  cultivate  a  farm 
until  his  death.  He  married  Inga  Elisa,  daugh- 
ter of  Johannes  Elisa,  a  farmer  in  Sweden.  They 
became  the  parents  of  two  children,  Mrs.  Hult- 
gren and  a  daughter  still  living  in  Sweden.  By 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  nine  chil- 
dren were  born,  namely :  Carl  A. ;  Mrs.  Thilda  C. 
Davis,  who  lives  in  Joliet;  AlmaS.;  Lydia,  de- 
ceased; Minnie;  Emma  E.;  David,  Enoch  and 
Isaac. 


624 


GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Hultgren  is  a  member  of  the  Joliet  Build- 
ers' Association  and  the  Swedish  Republican 
Club,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Republican 
party.  In  the  Swedish  Mission,  of  which  he  is 
a  member,  he  has  for  some  time  held  the  office  of 
deacon  and  is  also  interested  in  Sunday-school 
work.  

0AMUEL  PORTER  AVERY  is  one  of  the 
Nk  leading  attorneys  of  Joliet.  During  the 
Q)  eighteen  years  he  has  made  his  home  in 
this  city  he  has  become  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  its  resources  and  conditions,  and  is  a 
stanch  friend  to  improvement  and  progress  here, 
along  all  lines.  As  an  attorney  he  possesses  un- 
usual ability  and  knowledge,  and  to  each  and 
every  case  placed  in  his  hands  he  gives  earnest 
attention  and  care,  neglecting  no  point  that  may 
be  turned  in  favor  of  his  client.  In  his  profession 
he  commands  the  respect  and  high  regard  of  all 
who  know  him,  his  record  being  that  of  an  up- 
right, just  man,  who  under  no  circumstances  will 
stoop  to  deceit  or  chicanery. 

The  Avery  family  was  established  in  America 
in  a  very  early  day.  Christopher  Avery  landed 
at  Salem,  Mass.,  June  12,  1630,  coming  from 
Wiltshire,  England,  on  the  transport  "Arbella" 
with  Gov.  John  Winthrop.  He  settled  in  Glouces- 
ter, where  he  was  selectman  from  1646  to  1654; 
he  moved  to  Boston  in  1658  and  to  New  London, 
Conn.,  August  8,  1665;  was  made  freeman  of  the 
colony  in  1669  and  died  at  New  London  March 
12,  1679.  His  only  son,  James,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land about  1620,  and  married  Joanna  Greenslade, 
of  Boston,  November  16,  1643;  removed  to  New 
London  in  1650;  was  chosen  townsman  in  1660, 
holding  the  office  twenty  years;  was  ensign  lieu- 
tenant and  captain  of  the  only  training  band  of 
the  town;  saw  active  service  in  King  Phillip's 
war;  was  twelve  times  elected  to  the  general 
court  from  1650  to  1680;  commissioner  of  the 
peace  and  assistant  judge  of  the  county  court. 
In  1665  he  moved  to  Poquonoc  Plains  (now  the 
town  of  Groton),  where  he  built  "The  Hise  of 
the  Avery's,"  recently  destroyed  by  fire;  he  died 
in  1694.  His  sixth  child  was  John;  John's 
fourth  child  was  Elisha;  and  Elisha'sson,  Elisha, 
was  born  in  17 18,  and  married  Elizabeth  Brown 
Minor,   of  Stonington,   Conn.     Their  son,   Rev. 


Joseph  Avery,  born  April  13,  1743,  married 
Deborah,  daughter  of  Hezekiah  and  Rebecca 
(Mead)  King,  of  Marshfield,  Conn.,  in  1772,  and 
died  March  3,  18 14.  During  the  latter  part  of 
his  life  he  was  a  missionary  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  western  New  York,  a  sparsely  settled 
region.  His  son,  Samuel,  was  born  at  Sag  Har- 
bor, L.  I.,  March  30,  1773;  married,  February 
n,  1796,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Noah  and  Re- 
becca (Porter)  Langdon,  of  Tyringham,  Mass. 
Noah  Langdon  was  captain  of  the  Eighth  Tyring- 
ham Company  of  the  First  Berkshire  Regiment 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  at 
Bennington  and  Saratoga.  Samuel  Avery  re- 
moved to  and  became  a  farmer  in  Oneida  Coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  where  his  eight  children  were  born. 
Of  these  Samuel  K.,  born  in  1810,  became  a 
farmer  in  Oneida  Count}-,  and  there  married 
Aseuath,  daughter  of  Abel  and  Asenath  (Smith) 
Wilder.  Abel  Wilder  was  a  descendant  of  Na- 
thaniel Wilder,  who  settled  in  Lancaster,  Mass., 
in  1630,  and  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  Oneida 
County,  where  his  daughter  was  born  and  edu- 
cated. The  marriage  of  Samuel  K.  Avery  and 
Aseuath  Wilder  was  solemnized  in  1S36  and 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children.  In  1S47 
the  family  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Kendall 
County,  where  two  sons,  Samuel  P.  and  John  F., 
were  born.  The  parents  owned  a  large  farm 
(one-half section)  near  Lisbon,  Kendall  County, 
and  there  remained  until  death;  the  paternal 
grandparents  also  died  there. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  acquired 
principally  in  the  schools  of  Newark  and  York- 
ville,  111.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began 
to  teach  school,  which  he  followed  for  three  win- 
ters in  Illinois  and  one  in  New  York  state.  He 
began  the  study  of  law  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  with 
Jesse  Sheppard,  city  attorney,  and  E.  B.  Fenner, 
state's  attorney,  and  later  continued  to  read  under 
A.  W.  Windett  in  Chicago.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  June,  1876.  Immediately  afterward  he 
began  to  practice,  establishing  his  office  in  Mor- 
ris, Grundy  County.  In  1882  he  came  to  Joliet, 
where  for  two  years  he  was  a  partner  of  J.  B. 
Fithian,  and  since  then  has  been  alone,  conduct- 
ing a  general  practice  of  law  in  its  various  de- 
partments. His  attention  is  given  unreservedly 
to  his  profession,  and  he  is  not  connected  with 
any  secret  organizations  or  social  clubs;  nor  is  he 
active  in  politics,  although  a  stanch  Republican 
and  deeply  interested  in  local  affairs.  He  was 
married  in  Laddonia,  Mo.,  to  Miss  Kate  Wilder, 
daughter  of  Judge  B.  H.  Wilder.  They  are  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Laura,  Wilder  and 
Arthur. 


INDEX 


Adler,  Jacob 119 

Agnew,  John 389 

Ahlvin,  Victor 254 

Akin,  Hon.  Edward  C 495 

Aldrich,  Fenner tiOl 

Alexander,  Henry 480 

Alexander,  Robert 429 

Allen,  Chester  S 331 

Anderson,   Swan 258 

Antram,  Caleb  E 581 

Arbeiter,  George  J 143 

Arnold,  George  M 583 

Arnold,  Hon.  John  W 89 

Ashley,  James  R 288 

Avery,  S.  P 624 

B 

Backstroni,  John  E 254 

Bailey,  Bernard 557 

Baker,  John  C 439 

Baldwin,  David  C 205 

Baldwin,  H.  E 183 

Barber,  Royal  E 31 

Barber,  William  C 33 

Barker,  Howard  S 582 

Barr,  Charles  V 395 

Barr,  Richard  J 4S1 

Barrett,  David  D 462 

Barrett,  John  O 470 

Barrett,  William  F 456 

Bates,  Albert  J 222 

Bates,  William  O 223 

Bayard,  Ephraim 211 

Beattie,  James  C 576 

Beckwith,  Albert  G 408 

Bedford,  John H05 

Beggs,  James  W 35 

Beggs,  Rev.  S.  R 35 

Behrens,  Henry 585 

Beltzner,  August 007 

Bennett,  Nathan 529 

Bennitt,  Col.  Fred 592 


Bensson,  Nels 598 

Bettenhausen,  Conrad  C 145 

Bieth,  Xavier 394 

Biggins,  James 5X6 

Bissell,  Martin  C 23 

Blakely,  U.  S.  G 42 

Blim,  Charles,  M.  D 107 

Blood,  Charles  F 487 

Booth,  Keokuk  B .".Oil 

Bowen,  Capt.  E.  G IIS 

Bowen,  Frank  L 239 

Bowen,  James  R 117 

Boyer,  Hon.  Charles  E 41 

Boyer,  Elizabeth 41 

Brannon,  Londus,  M.  D 498 

Braun,  Joseph,  Jr 155 

Briggs,  Col.  Albert  W 533 

Brisbane,  Joseph  C 478 

Brooks,  John  Y 527 

Brossman ,  Jacob 583 

Brown,  Elias 497 

Brown,  Jesse  B 570 

Brown,  J.  Stanley 001 

Brown,  Nathaniel  J 134 

Bruce,  Eben  S   504 

Bruce,  William  J 184 

Brunson,  EHel  S 311 

Bryant,  William  H 363 

Buck,  George  A 574 

Buck,  Werden 549 

Burgess,  George 401 

Burke,  Bernard  E 187 

Burke,  Thomas 179 

Bush,  John  E 40 

Bush,  Joshua 403 

Buss,  Henry  E 98 

c 

Cagwin,  Merrilt  0 62 

Calkins,  Alfred  S 351 

Campbell,  George  M 201 

Carpenter,  Allen  P 383 

Carpenter,  Mrs.  Allen  P 383 

Carpenter,  Henry  S 384 


Carter,  Charles  E 359 

Caton,  William  P 577 

Chalstrom,  John  E 255 

Chamberlin,  Charles  G 195 

Chamberlin,  Oliver  S 427 

Chamberlin,  S.  S 195 

Christensen,  A.  H.,  M.  D 022 

Christmann,  Henry 542 

Clark,  R.  B 014 

Clayes,  Charles 127 

Clement,  Arthur  C 415 

Clinton,  Capt.  G.  0 343 

Clow,  William  M 100 

Cole,  E.  P 598 

Collins,  Horatio 350 

Comiskey,  John 590 

Conant,  Andrew  E 375 

Conant,  Lewis 376 

Conkling,  Charles  H 364 

Connor,  John  0 608 

Connor,  William 277 

Conrad,  John 491 

Cook,  George  B 306 

Cook,  William 585 

Coppage,  E.  W 496 

Corbin,  Alfred  T 162 

Corlett,  Hon.  John 291 

Corrie,  William 520 

Cotton,  Augustus  B 004 

Cowing,  George  J 448 

Cowing,  John  C 447 

Cromwell,  P.  I.,  M.  D 47 

Currey,  Col.  John 499 

Curtiss,  R.  J.,  M.  D 545 

Cutler,  C.  E.  B 367 

Cutler,  Jasper  Y 424 

Cutter,  Nehemiah  H 87 

D 

Dahlberg,  Nils  L 251 

Daly,  John 563 

Daly,  Thomas 563 

Dando,  Meshack 567 

Daras,  Alexandre 273 


626 


INDEX. 


Darling,  Col.  D.  H 485 

Davidson,  Alexander ,538 

Davidson,  William 122 

Davis,  George  B 334 

Davison,  William  E 551 

Day.  John 482 

Demmond,  M.  G 423 

Dempsey,  John  J 353 

Dempsey,  Thomas  F 43 

Dibell,  Hon.  Dorrance 51 

Dickinson,  0.   C 100 

Diersen,  John  W 5SS 

Dillman,  A.  Clinton 523 

Dittrich,  Lawrence 386 

Dixon,  Thomas 535 

Doescher,  J.  Charles 123 

Dougall,  William,  M.  D 188 

Douglas,   William 130 

Drauden.  Felton 369 

Drew,  Hon.  Samuel  J '_".'.! 

Ducker,  George  A 42S 

Ducker,  James 342 

Duncan,  Dr.  S.  Finley 142 

Dunne,  Rev.  P.  W 458 

Dusseau,  Joseph  V 021 

E 

Eib,  Amos 534 

Eib,  Augustus 499 

Eib,   George 141 

Elwood,  Hon.  J.  G 229 

Elwood,  Nelson  D 22S 

Elwood,  Ward  P 245 

Erickson,  P.  A 404 

Erik  sen.  Walter  L 622 

Eriksson,  August 280 

Etberidge,  Edward 532 

Evarts,  John  1 44 


Fahrner,  John,  M.  D 535 

Famam,  Lyman  \V 80 

Feil,  John 56 

Fellows,  Elisha  C 389 

Ferriss,  James  H Is;1, 

Fithian,  Col.  John  B 22] 

Flagg,  George  W 345 

Flick,  Joseph 24;; 

Flynn,  John  C 582 

Folk,  J.  W.,  M.  D 312 

Folkers,  Johnson :,  1  - 

Forkel ,  Frederick 431 

Forsy the,  Hon.  David Ill 

Foster,  C.  P ,\16 


Foster,  Giles  D 405 

Francis,  A.  Allen 61 

Francis  Family,  The 57 

Francis,  John 4S4 

Eraser,  Charles  E 483 

Fraser,  Samuel   B 298 

Frazer,  James  D 466 

Frederick,  L.  J.,  M.  D 450 

Fredrick.  John 450 

Furhs,   Edward 113 

G 

Garnsey,  Charles  B 595 

Giaver,  H.  M 618 

Gifford,  Edson 392 

Gifford,  Willard  W 392 

Gillett,  Abner  C 553 

Glidden ,  Stephen 34 

Godfrey,  Austin 47 3 

Goldberg,  Maj.  Max 407 

Goodspeed,  Judge  F 595 

Goodwin,   Erwin 565 

Gorman,  Timothy 330 

Goss,  George 425 

Gotts,  Mrs.   Mary  E 553 

Gottschalg,  Henry 414 

Goudy,  Robert 590 

Gougar,  Lewis  F 77 

Gougar,  William 74 

Grant,  John  A 315 

Grassle,  Fred 378 

Gray,  John  W 377 

Greenwood,  Aaron 376 

Greenwood,  William  W 003 

Gross,  Alexander 218 

Groth,  Adam 577 

Gurney,  George  F 329 

H 

Hackney,  Clement 398 

Hackney,  Robert  H 39s 

Haley,  James 349 

Haley,  Michael  C 547 

Haley,  P.  C 133 

Hall,  Frank  H 1S4 

Hallock,  Hon.  A.  B 463 

Hamlin,  G.  B.,  M.  D 4*3 

Hamlin,  Xorman  S 178 

Hammond,  Lewis  J 352 

Harting,  John 2*4 

Harvey.  Hon.  Jabez 610 

Hatch,  John  A 534 

Hausser,  Simon 279 

Haven,  Hon.  Dwight 290 


Hayden,  Daniel 177 

Hayden,  John 491 

Hayes,  Gen.   P.  C 587 

Hazelton,  Nelson  E 548 

Heggie,  James  G 23S 

Henderson,  Judge  Hugh 515 

Henderson,  John  D 516 

Henry.  Jacob  A 584 

Henschen,  Henry 372 

Herath,  John  R 360 

Herbert,  James  B 406 

Herschbach ,  Thomas 117 

Hewes,  Daniel  E 249 

Hewes,  Rev.  Samuel 230 

Hibner,  John 90 

Higgins,  Daniel  F 391 

Higinbotham,  Harlow  N 210 

Higinbotham,  Henry  D 208 

Hilton,  A.  N 55S 

Hoag,  Asahel 408 

Hogan,  Stephen  F .246 

Holberg,  Charles 608 

Holm,  Henry  J 161 

Holmberg,  Rev.  G 258 

Holmes,  Myron  P 17S 

Hood,  Dr.  Samuel 443 

Horton,  Joseph  P 282 

Hostmer,  Charles  W 441 

House,  George  S   619 

Howard,  Edgar  E 139 

Howk,  Andrew  J 3S8 

Hubenet,   Frank 47S 

Hulshizer,  William  H 371 

Hultgreu,  S.  J 623 

Humphrey,  Horace 319 

Hunt,  Mark  W 347 

Hunter,  Thomas  R 394 

Hunter,  William  H 3' '4 

Hurd,  Joseph  L 320 

Hutchinson,  William  F 335 

I 
Ingoldsby,  Felix 594 

J 

Jackson,  Frank 017 

Jackson,  Col.  F.  A 455 

Johnson,  Charles  J 259 

Johnson,  C.  P 616 

Johnson,  Ernest 256 

Johnson,  Frank  A 300 

Johnson,  Gustav  V 252 

Johnson,  Joseph  A 263 

Jones,  John  M 604 

Jump.  D.  W.,  M.   D 401 


INDEX. 


627 


K 

Keith,  Charles  W 54] 

Keith,  William  F 412 

Kelly,  Joseph  A 500 

Kelly,  Hon.  Thomas  J 42(1 

Keltie,  Howard  T 486 

Keniston,  Hon.  Jerry 15(3 

Kiep,  Philip  J 556 

Kirkham,   John 217 

Kirkpatrick,  K  ,  M.  D 97 

Klint,  John 253 

Knapp,  Selah 36 

Kobliska,  John  D 310 

Koenig,  Henry  \V 505 

L 

Labo,  Joseph 239 

Lambert,  Col.  John 566 

Lane,  John,  Sr 467 

Lanfear,  William  H 511 

Langdon ,  Thomas 521 

Larned,  E.   R. ,  M.  D VM 

Larson,  Charles  A 186 

Larson,  John 291 

Lentz,  David  H 374 

Leser,  Henry   573 

Lewis,  Cyrus  A 55^ 

Lichtenwalter,  Henry  H 164 

Lindgren,  Alfred  J 477 

Lindstrum,  N.  Peter 189 

Linn,  W.  D.  B 521 

Longshore,  John  G 283 

Lotz,  Hon.  Jacob  F 227 

Love,  James  W 536 

Lundahl,  Olagus  B 459 

Lundstrum,  Alick 4~>7 

Luth,  August  G 465 

Lyons,  William  J 202 

M 

McAllister,  Capt.  Edward...    .171 

McClellan,  Edward  R 514 

McClintock,  Joseph 610 

McCowan,  William 613 

McDonald,   Asa 4 .". 7 

McDonald  Family,  The 437 

McDonald,  John 149 

McDonald,  Jonathan  S 437 

McDonald,  Leon 437 

McGovern,  Rev.  James  J 2(il 

McKenna,  Charles  A 421 

McMasters,  William  F 512 

McNatnee,  Rev.  W.  J 615 


McNaughton,   Coll 43:'. 

McNeill,  James  K 2(12 

Marsh,  Frank  E 31(1 

Marsh,  Horatio  N 206 

Martin,  Augustus  R 404 

Martin,  Jesse 405 

Mason,  Daniel  C 166 

Mason,  Truman  A 167 

Massey,  George 316 

Matter,  Elton  E 86 

Matteson,  Hon.  Joel  A 20 

Maue,  August 522 

Mersinger,  Philip 501 

Miller,  James  W 358 

Milne,  Robert 75 

Morgan,  Erwin  C 411 

Morgan,  Henry  W 264 

Morgan,   William 325 

Morrison,  Capt.  R.  J 267 

Moss,  George  B 42 

Mount,  Hon.  John  B 513 

Munch,   Rev.   Mother   Alexan- 
der  165 

Munch,  Ferdinand 271 

Munroe,  Maj.  E.  S 1(13 

Munroe,  George 19 

Munroe,  Hon.  George  H 17 

Murdie,   Andrew 269 

Murphy,  Hon.  E.  J 216 

Myers,  Elias 586 

N 

Neese,  Thomas  J 130 

Newkirk,  Frank 599 

Newkirk,  James  E 575 

Nicholson,  Francis  479 

Niver,  Morris 519 

Noble,  Charles  A 305 

Noel,  Abraham  G 474 

North,  Selah  P 78 

Northam ,  Leni 591 

Norton,  Hon.  I.  C 299 

o 

Ochsner,  Albert 273 

O'Connell,  Hon.  John 278 

Odell,  Rev.  D.  D 12S 

O'Donnell,  James  L 151 

Olin,  Andrew 25(1 

Olson,  Charles 257 

Osgood,  Hon.  Uri 601 

Owen,  Rev.  Francis 347 

Owens,  J.  C,  M.  D 46S 


Page,  Nathaniel 333 

Palmer,  George 365 

Parker,  Silas  I 420 

Patterson,  Daniel 612 

Patterson,  James  W 146 

Patterson ,  John  P 73 

Patterson,  Mungo 612 

Patterson,  Thomas  H 28] 

Peairs,  G.  M.,  M.  D 469 

Pearson,  Capt.  F.   W 373 

Peart,  Joseph 311 

Pease,  Sidney  B 432 

Pedersen,  J.  A 609 

Perkins,  A.  J.,    M.  D 173 

Perry,  Joseph  F 348 

Petty,  W.  Louis 357 

Phelps,  Albert 57 

Phelps,  Egbert 619 

Piepenbrink,  John  O 106 

Tilcher,   Robert 354 

Plant,  Francis  W 597 

Poison,  Peter 393 

Porter,  Hon.  Edwin 69 

Porter,  Harvey  B 444 

Purdy,  Kenneth  L 356 

Q 

Quinn,  John  F 502 

R 

Randall,  Albert  T 232 

Ranft,  John 196 

Rathje,  Henry  A 244 

Raynor,  G.  C,  M.   D 190 

Reed,  Samuel  Benedict 593 

Reichmann,  Joseph 287 

Rhode,  Rev.  Polycarp 270 

Richards,  Isaac  W 105 

Riley,  Thomas  H 555 

Robertson,  Daniel 349 

Robinson,  Christopher  C 73 

Robinson,  Mrs.  L.  A 73 

Rose,  Joseph 537 

Rose,  Samuel 150 

Rost,  Charles 215 

Rowley,  Phineas  K 585 

Rowley,  Walter  H 597 

Ruhe,  William 185 

Ruland,  Acker 325 

Rulien,  P.  G.,  M.  D 260 


628 


INDEX. 


Sage,  Olin  A 409 

Savage,  Hon.  Aoios 303 

Schager,  Anton 568 

Scheidt,  Anthony  M 366 

Scholt,  Fred  J 112 

Schweppe,  Herman 10S 

Scofield,  Amos  H 193 

Scroggs,  Joseph  C 277 

Searles,  F.  W.,  M.  D 92 

Sehring,  Fred 509 

Sehring,  Henry 509 

Sehring,  Louis  J 509 

Sennitt,  John 3% 

Shaffner,  Ephraim  L 537 

Sherwood,  Mrs.  Cornelia  M.    .  .152 

Shiffer,  William  H 321 

Shreffler  Andrew  H 07 

Shreffler,  John  D 70 

Shutts,  John 234 

Simpson,  William 323 

Skeel,  John  F 324 

Smith,  Albert  H 612 

Smith,  Charles  C 85 

Smith,  Mrs.  Charles  C 85 

Smith,  Christopher  J 340 

Smith,  Henry  B 460 

Smith,  Horace  S   95 

Snapp,  Hon.   Henry 517 

Snapp,  Henry  Douglas 5Si) 

Snapp,  Howard  M 518 

Spears,  William  E 366 

Speicher,  A.  S 4">2 

Spencer,  Herbert  W 368 

Sprague,  Charles  N 416 

Sprague,  Frank 443 

Sprague,  Thomas  J 445 

Sproat,  Thomas  W 410 

Stafford,  William  F 588 


Stanner,  Thomas  B 600 

Starr,  Abijah  R 539 

States,  Frank,  Sr 606 

Stauffenberg,  Peter 470 

Steeu,  Hon.  William  H 101 

Stellwagen,  Henry 174 

Stevens,  Hubert  A 361 

Stevens,  Jerome   P 529 

Stevens,  Walter  D 54'.i 

Stevenson,  Thomas ~>71 

Stoos,  Alfred  J 451 

Stoos,  Joseph 438 

Stowe,  Francis  F 530 

Straight,  Willis  A 449 

Strong,  Albert  M 584 

Strong,  William   A 440 

Stryker,  Frederick  R 210 

Sundstrom,  Charles 252 

Sustersic,  Rev.  F.  S 422 

Svensou,  C.  Oscar 572 

Swinbank,  Thomas 314 

Swival,  Henry 52S 

T 

Tait,  Thomas 233 

Tengdin,  Charles  G 272 

Theiler,  John 237 

Theiler,  John,  Jr 243 

Thompson,  Maj.  J.   M 54 

Thorp,  G.  G 589 

Tobias,  Job  M 199 

Truby,  Henry  T 559 

Turner,  S    S 395 

Twining,  Hiram 006 

Tyler,  Simeon  S 442 

V 

Vance,  George  L 355 

Vauder  Bogart,  Frank  S 322 


Vanderhoof,  Mrs.  Frances  M..371 

Van  Duser,  Edward  H 440 

Van  Fleet,  Alfred 339 

Van  Home,  Augustus  C -V.4 

Van  Home,  Cornelius  C 554 

Vibelius,  Rev.  John 260 

w 

Wagner,  Anthony 5ii4 

Walker,  Rev.  William  B 503 

Wall,  John  F 121 

Walsh,  James 429 

Weed,  Miss  Frances  M 24 

Weeks,  Judge  Charles  H 297 

Weeks,   Horace '.Hi 

Wenberg,  Alfred 596 

Werner,  E.   H.,  D.  D.  S 506 

Werner,  F.   W.,  M.  D 140 

Whipple,  Levi 385 

White,  Thomas 45 

White,  William  H 128 

Whitley,  Noah 387 

Whitley,    Robert 413 

Wilhelmi,  J.  G 611 

Wilke,  Hon.  Frederick 25 

Willard,  Erastus  W 546 

Williams,  Stephen  J 384 

Williamson,  John 531 

Wilson,  Edward  L 431 

Wilson,  J.  F 603 

Wilson,  Leonard  G 99 

Witwer,  Clem  S ii7 

Wood,  Willard 250 

Woodruff,  Charles  E 402 

Woodruff,  George  H 29 

Woodruff,  H.  W..  M.    D 30 

Woodruff,  Simeon 419 

Woods,  Robert  M 446 

Worthley,  H.  S.,  M.  D 397 


f^ 


^-Oc 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  URBANA 

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GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORO  OF 


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025387934 


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